Michael Sam Discusses Coming Out In Documentary

Michael Sam Discusses Coming Out In Documentary
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Michael Sam says in a TV documentary airing Saturday night that coming out as gay was the right thing to do.

The Oprah Winfrey Network said in a release that the 90-minute program followed by a one-on-one with Winfrey and Sam was the player’s first TV appearance since being cut by the Dallas Cowboys in mid-October. After one day of filming last spring, the Rams pulled the plug on the network’s plans for a Sam documentary during training camp. In a transcript released by the network, Sam called the NFL draft “the longest three days of my life.” The St. Louis Rams drafted Sam late in the seventh round.

Sam said the reassuring hand of his boyfriend, Vito, on his shoulder during the wait to get picked affirmed the decision last February to reveal his sexual orientation. Sam, a defensive end who was the SEC co-defensive player of the year.

“In that moment, I was like ‘I don’t care what happens. I made the right choice to come out,'” Sam said.

In a voiceover promo for the show, Winfrey questions whether Sam got a fair shot. Sam kissed his boyfriend as a national television audience looked on.

“Some say the kiss, the cake, it was all just too much,” Winfrey said. “Some say he wasn’t good enough. Others say he should have never come out.”

The Rams made Sam, the co-defensive player of the year at Missouri, the 249th overall pick out of 256 in the draft. He was among 21 players waived by the team to reach the 53-player limit before the season opener.

Echoing his remarks after drafting Sam with the 249th overall pick out of 256, coach Jeff Fisher said several times it was purely a football decision. The Rams were well-stocked with pass rushers, and undrafted Ethan Westbrooks grabbed the final defensive end spot.

“I will tell you this: I was pulling for Mike,” Fisher said then. “I really was, and I don’t say that very often. Mike came in here and did everything we asked him to do.”

On Twitter, roughly an hour after he was cut, Sam thanked the Rams and the city of St. Louis. He also wrote “The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy, this is a lesson I’ve always known. The journey continues.”

Sam spent seven weeks on the Cowboys’ practice squad before being released and is a free agent.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/27/michael-sam-coming-out_n_6385390.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Michael Sam Opens Up About the Other Gay NFL Players Who Reached Out to Him: VIDEO

Michael Sam Opens Up About the Other Gay NFL Players Who Reached Out to Him: VIDEO

Sam

In a promo for Oprah’s interview with Michael Sam that airs tonight, Sam talks about the gay men in the NFL who reached out to him to commend Sam for his courage being openly gay.

Sam wouldn’t specify the exact number, saying only that a “very few” contacted him, before adding: “there’s a lot of us out there.”

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP

And be sure to catch Oprah’s full interview with Sam tonight at 10:30 pm PT on OWN following the premiere of the Michael Sam documentary at 9 PT. 


Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2014/12/michael-sam-opens-up-about-the-other-gay-nfl-players-who-reached-out-to-him-video.html

Which City Provides The Sultriest Experience? Cast Your Vote And Win A Trip

Which City Provides The Sultriest Experience? Cast Your Vote And Win A Trip

imagesBali. Miami. Barcelona. Bangkok. Last Vegas. Mexico City.

There’s no shortage of sultry cities. Which is the sexiest of them all?

We’ve narrowed it down to these sex, er, six choices. Now it’s up to you to decide which should take home the top prize in the 2014 Best of GayCities.

Vote for your favorite sultry nominee–or write in your own–for a chance at a free trip for two to any destination in the continental U.S., courtesy of our friends at Hyatt.

Voting is easy. Just sign into your GayCities account and make your selections. You’ll automatically be entered into the prize sweepstakes.

Polls close January 5. You must be a US resident to win the prize. See the complete rules.

Graham Gremore

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/a5TUhO6-0I4/which-city-provides-the-sultriest-experience-cast-your-vote-and-win-a-trip-20141227

UK Soccer Player Gets Yellow Card for Kissing Opponent: VIDEO

UK Soccer Player Gets Yellow Card for Kissing Opponent: VIDEO

Mansell

Hoping to “defuse the situation” before it escalated further, Bristol Rovers midfielder Lee Mansell planted a kiss on the lips of opposing player J.J. O’Donnell during a confrontation last Friday.

Mansell was given a yellow card by the ref and by the looks of things O’Donnell probably didn’t give him his number after the game. 

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP

[via BBC]

 


Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2014/12/uk-soccer-player-gets-yellow-card-for-kissing-opponent-video.html