Maybe Jason Collins wasn't the first

[Phishfan]

According to this story major league baseball has an openly gay athlete in the '70's but the sportswriters would not cover it as a story back then. I'm guessing no one else has heard this either?

http://news.yahoo.com/meet-glenn-burke-first-openly-gay-pro-athlete-114500819.html

[Dave Gray]

I knew about this guy, but the story is that he came out after he was already retired.  The thing that is special about Collins is that he is a current active player, as of this year, and plans to continue his career.  ...so it will be an openly gay man in the locker room.

[Sunstroke]

Collins is in that gray area between being the last guy on an NBA bench and the next guy on his living room couch... He may not be an openly gay man in any locker room next season. The timing of this announcement, combined with Collins' "on the way out" status makes me wonder if he's using this announcement to:

A) Extend his career a few years...  You may think this is silly, but any team that says "no" to Collins for his next contract will automatically get the "Are they saying 'no' because Collins is gay?" scrutiny.
B) Prepare for his life outside of basketball. I can only imagine he's got a book deal or two lined up, and the topic of these books will have very little to do with being a basketball player, and everything to do with being gay.

[Phishfan]

I knew about this guy, but the story is that he came out after he was already retired. 

I guess that depends on what story is being told. This one says he was open but the media would not cover it. It even goes so far as saying the Dodgers knowing he was gay and knowing he played for them tried to convince him to have a cover up marriage.

[Spider-Dan]

Collins is in that gray area between being the last guy on an NBA bench and the next guy on his living room couch... He may not be an openly gay man in any locker room next season. The timing of this announcement, combined with Collins' "on the way out" status makes me wonder if he's using this announcement to:

A) Extend his career a few years...  You may think this is silly, but any team that says "no" to Collins for his next contract will automatically get the "Are they saying 'no' because Collins is gay?" scrutiny.
B) Prepare for his life outside of basketball. I can only imagine he's got a book deal or two lined up, and the topic of these books will have very little to do with being a basketball player, and everything to do with being gay.

Agreed wholeheartedly.

[Sunstroke]

I applaud courage, when displayed for courage's sake... I simply question the timing of this announcement, and the motivations that are behind it.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9403433/bruce-arians-arizona-cardinals-fans-biggest-obstacle-gay-player

I think Bruce Arians is right.  The biggest problem would not be coaches or other players but opposing fans.

I am generally supportive of people choosing their own lifestyle and support Collins decision.  But if a Jets player was the first openly gay player in the NFL you can bet your ass, I would be making homophobic jokes. 

[Dave Gray]

^ This is true of anything about a player.  There is some asshole out there that would yell at someone whose kid died.  But you hear people regularly make fun of divorces, drug abuse history, etc.  Fans (as a collective) will be cold-hearted to everyone.  Expect that.