UMass Guard Derrick Gordon Is College Basketball’s First Openly Gay Player

[Dooley]

I respect Gordon and his decision to come out publicly. I hope he has a great career at UMASS and the team rallies around him similar to the kid on the Missouri football team this past season. I credit his toughness to do this considering there will be a fair amount of jackhole tough guys in the stands of opposing arenas he goes to that will say stupid things. Here's hoping he shuts them all up with his play on the court and his actions off it. I'll be rooting for him, that's for sure.

 

[BluffCityHsky]

I've said before that I work at UMass and I want to share something with you guys...Gordon called Coach Kellogg Sunday night to tell him what he had to say and was very excited to make it public.....here is what Kellogg told him and I won't use quotes because I can't relay it that way...but here is what Kellogg said.....One of two things is about to happen...Either Coach Cal is going to win a NC or UConn is going to to win NC's in both men and women which will never be done again..... let's not take any of the shine off either of those things...can we please just wait until Wednesday?
The reason I tell you guys this is because Kellogg is a class act that respects what you guys were about to accomplish. Do I expect this to change how any of you guys view UMass?...no. The reason I'm sharing this is that despite everything, there are people at UMass that respect you guys and what you've accomplished

Growing up not having cable and having to watch channel 22 a bunch, ended up watching a decent amount of UMASS basketball in early 90s. Always loved DK, always hated Cal. By all accounts DK was always solid in Memphis community when he was assistant down here. Not surprised by this revelation about him. It's about time we started the games back up so you guys can at least get a solid loss on your schedule each year for RPI purposes

 

[nelsonmuntz]

What this kid did is a BIG DEAL to him don't belittle it. This is not happening every day.

Holding a press conference to tell people who he sleeps with so everyone can tell him how brave he is when there are few or no repercussions for doing so is a big deal because he wants it to be a big deal. I know people who came out 30 years ago. THAT was bravery. This? Meh.

Good for him. I imagine he told everyone that matters in his life long before this. Let's not act like he is a Freedom Rider.

 

[Matrim55]

The reason I tell you guys this is because Kellogg is a class act that respects what you guys were about to accomplish. Do I expect this to change how any of you guys view UMass?...no. The reason I'm sharing this is that despite everything, there are people at UMass that respect you guys and what you've accomplished

And you should know that despite everything, some (many?) of us wish that UMass was in the AAC. It'd be great for both programs to have a next-door rival that can get both fanbases worked up.

Plus if UMass becomes really good, that marginalizes BCU even more.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Holding a press conference to tell people who he sleeps with so everyone can tell him how brave he is when there are few or no repercussions for doing so is a big deal because he wants it to be a big deal. I know people who came out 30 years ago. THAT was bravery. This? Meh.

Good for him. I imagine he told everyone that matters in his life long before this. Let's not act like he is a Freedom Rider.

I would encourage you to look at this from a bigger picture standpoint. He decided to come out this way because he wanted to be a role model for other kids. He saw how Jason Collins coming out and playing in the NBA impacted him, and he wanted to be the guy that helped other college kids

He could have just told his teammates and coaches and played it low key like Sam did last year. But...he wanted to be open about it to help other kids who struggle with this. Calling him a hero may be a bit strong...but this is certainly newsworthy and he deserves credit for his courage.

 

[swami7774]

Coming out as gay in Amherst, Massachusetts is hardly heroic.

 

[UMass]

Coming out as gay in Amherst, Massachusetts is hardly heroic.

Agree..Amherst is a liberal, forward thinking kind of town. But that is just his temporary home. He actually came out as a black man from Plainfield, NJ. Can't imagine that was all that easy. And I also agree that we should stop with the "hero" talk. I think what he did showed a lot courage for sure but I for one think we should reserve the hero label for more deserving accomplishments.

 

[noeynox]

Boomer Esiason brought up a good point. Used to be that a black QB in the NFL was a big deal and had to be talked about, celebrated and scrutinized. Now it is absolutely no big deal and no one even mentions race when discussing QB play. I look forward to the day when a player being gay gets the same type of attention. It's great for the young man to feel comfortable enough to do that, and maybe it helps some kid in middle school or HS, but overall I watch sports for entertainment and could care less who the players sleeep with on their personal time.

 

[G0UCONN]

Let me get this straight...UMess still has a hoops program? Is it D1?

Gutsy move by the Gordon kid. Is he a good player? Pulling for him to play well and to have no problems.

 

[uconnric]

Coming out as gay in Amherst, Massachusetts is hardly heroic.

I don't care where it is, it still takes courage to come out with this in this day and age, especially if you are an athlete. He's a public figure and not all his games are played in Amherst, Mass.

 

[swami7774]

I don't care where it is, it still takes courage to come out with this in this day and age, especially if you are an athlete. He's a public figure and not all his games are played in Amherst, Mass.

I don't give a damn whom Derrick Gordon sleeps with. Nor do I give a damn whom Jason Collins, or anyone, sleeps with. I speak for many in saying I'm tired of being lectured that I MUST care. I don't, and I won't.
Can they play? That's all I care about. You don't get brownie points for being part of whatever social strata happens to be in vogue.

 

[UMass]

Westboro Baptist Church has tweeted Daniel Malone from the Republican twice so far that they are coming to UMass to protest over Gordon. I certainly hope they end up in Southwest. That will be the last you hear from those whack jobs!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I don't give a damn whom Derrick Gordon sleeps with. Nor do I give a damn whom Jason Collins, or anyone, sleeps with. I speak for many in saying I'm tired of being lectured that I MUST care. I don't, and I won't. Can they play? That's all I care about. You don't get brownie points for being part of whatever social strata happens to be in vogue.

You'll never get it. It's okay. Your team's days are numbered anyway.

 

[Inyatkin]

Coming out as gay in Amherst, Massachusetts is hardly heroic.

Because all his teammates are from Amherst. All his games are played in Amherst. He'll never play anywhere but Amherst. Makes sense.

 

[Leebo]

I'm tired of being lectured that I MUST care.

Go ahead and not care all you want, no one is making you.

 

[swami7774]

You'll never get it. It's okay. Your team's days are numbered anyway.

My "team"? What does that mean?
As for not "getting it", you're the one who doesn't get it. You apparently look at people as members of groups; black, white, gay, whatever.
I don't. I see people as individuals who are more than their skin color or sexual preference. I'd say I "get it" much more than you do.