The latest pro athlete to come out is … a Welsh rugby player? I don’t know why I’m so surprised that English National team and Cardiff Blues winger Gareth Thomas is gay; is it just because he doesn’t look the stereotype? That’s rather shallow of me. Anyway, it wasn’t such a secret to his teammates over the past three seasons, but now the world knows. And it’s a rather brave move on his part, I must say. But what have been the general repurcussions of coming out in such a manly sport?
From the London Daily Mail:
Since that confession to his closest circle of friends three years ago, Gareth says his team-mates at his club, the Cardiff Blues, now know – and apparently don’t care.
Today, however, he has taken the remarkable decision to go public. It’s his choice. No one has forced his hand.
“I wasn’t sure if I ever wanted to let people know, and, to be honest, I feel anxious about people’s reactions and the effect it might have on my family.
“It’s been really tough for me, hiding who I really am, and I don’t want it to be like that for the next young person who wants to play rugby, or some frightened young kid.
“Sometimes I felt so alone and depressed. I’ve stood on so many cliff edges.”
“If anything, rugby was my saviour. On the pitch I could forget who I was, escape all the confusion,” says Gareth, who retired from international rugby in 2007 but plans to continue playing with the Cardiff Blues for as long as he can.
Now the question is, when is an American pro athlete going to come out? Several have done so following retirement, but no one currently playing in a major pro sport in the U.S. has admitted to being gay.
Interesting, since Esera Tuaolo, a defensive lineman in the ’90s who came out after retiring from the NFL, told the Kansas City Star that there are at least 10 gay players currently in the NFL.
“I don’t want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player first and foremost. I am a man,” Thomas said. “I’d love for it, in ten years’ time, not to even be an issue in sport, and for people to say: ‘So what?’ “
***
Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas comes out [Outsports]
British Lions rugby legend Gareth Thomas: ‘It’s ended my marriage and nearly driven me to suicide. Now it’s time to tell the world the truth – I’m gay’ [London Daily Mail]
Pro sports lacing in gay tolerance [Chicago Now]
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- Big Gay Ben - Dec 22, 2009 at 3:51 PM
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Rugby is ghey.
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- vic - Dec 22, 2009 at 4:23 PM
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greco-roman wrestling too. i think thats it. definately not bowling, thats just plain dorky.
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- THE VILLAGE IDIOT - Dec 22, 2009 at 4:54 PM
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Hmmm …
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, HOW DID THIS PERSONS TEAM MATES LEARN OF HIS ABERRATED SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES??
TOO OFTEN FINDING AN ERRANT HAND IN THE AREA OF ONES CROUCH IN A HEAP OF HUMANITY OR …
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- Pooty Tang - Dec 22, 2009 at 4:55 PM
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I always thought football was gay. Men in spandex jumping on each other.
Cage wrestling, now THAT’S really gay. Men in Speedos dry humping in a cage. When one guy is on his back with his legs wrapped around the top guys neck, and the religious right doesn’t complain, well . . . . that’s just weird.
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- Robin - Dec 22, 2009 at 5:04 PM
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go to youtube and look at some rugby tackle videos. the hits in rugby are 10x more intense than american football tackles and it is done without padding! Gareth Thomas is more of a man than you will ever be.
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- Pity the Fool - Dec 22, 2009 at 5:44 PM
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How many rugby players are carried out of games strapped to boards, per week, in a season? If their careers last longer than the average 3.5 yrs in the NFL, then you’ve got a point. An NFL player’s body sustains more damage than your ball-carrying soccer player. Prove me wrong.
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- T Walker - Dec 22, 2009 at 5:48 PM
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That is a sick response.
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- MRTSUCKS - Dec 22, 2009 at 6:18 PM
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Prove you wrong…..
Personally I have played in a rugby game…where they didn’t carry him off on a stretcher to a hospital..they carried him off on a stretcher….to the morgue….
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- girly - Dec 22, 2009 at 6:24 PM
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so let me see if i have this right; rugby boys hold each other and then get real physical piling on each other and then one comes up with a ball in his hand and scores? so what, at least its not in his mouth, oops! or is it?
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- BILL - Dec 22, 2009 at 6:43 PM
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You’re an idiot. Just live and let live. Jeez!
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- dennis - Dec 22, 2009 at 8:41 PM
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no comment
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- Ricardo - Dec 22, 2009 at 10:27 PM
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NFL teams in the US have 50 players on a roster. That means, there’s probably 5 on each of the 32 NFL Teams. Now, if we presume that it’s less than that. In a company of 50 people, there has to be at least ONE gay person right? So in the NFL, there has to be at least 32 fellas who like the fellas. It only makes sense.
Can’t wait till all the old people die in America, and we can get over this gay obsession. American’s under 40 for the most part don’t care. It’s mostly old people in America that obsess on gays.
In 20 or 30 years, the gay issue will be dead.
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- Pity the Fool - Dec 23, 2009 at 9:10 AM
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Rrrrrriiiiiiiiiiight. And while we’re bragging on a blog…I’ve flown solo to the moon & back (twice); been the MVP of a Superbowl, World Series, and an NBA Finals; killed & skinned a grizzly bear with a spork; and single-handedly kicked Chuck Norris’ ass (while still in his prime).
Rugby players on average don’t even retire before the age of 30, and most start playing professionally in their late teens. As stated before, the avg span of an NFL career is 3.5 years. The numbers can’t be argued against.
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- JoseOle - Dec 23, 2009 at 12:37 PM
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Now the question is, when is an American pro athlete going to come out?
Um never.
As for the pissing match at to who is tougher rugby players or football players that is a retarded arguement that will never be over. That is like comparing sharks vs. gorillas.
killed & skinned a grizzly bear with a spork…….. must have been some spork, and it’s illegal to hunt/kill grizzlies the authorities will be knocking on your door any minute now, unless you were three and your name is Crockett.
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- Cameron Wassink - Feb 23, 2010 at 2:11 AM
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The Olympics is almost over and the 2012 Summer Olympics are coming up … Where can I search for speedos used by the athletes ??
