Rob
05-01-2013, 02:11 AM
Jason Collins said he has gotten "incredible" support since coming out as the first openly gay player in one of the four major U.S. pro sports leagues, and he hopes he may have made the path easier for others to follow.
Collins sat down for an interview that was aired by ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday, one day after the veteran NBA center revealed his sexuality in a first-person story posted on Sports Illustrated's website.
"I think, I know, in my personal life, I'm ready, and I think the country is ready for supporting an openly gay basketball player," Collins told ABC's George Stephanopoulos.
ABC aired the interview in two segments, with Stephanopoulos asking Collins in the second portion whether he hoped that other players would follow his example.
"I hope that every player makes a decision that leads to their own happiness, whatever happiness that is in life," Collins responded. "I know that I, right now, am the happiest that I've ever been in my life."
Collins said he went through something akin to a 12-step program while deciding to come out, dealing with emotions such as anger and denial.
"But when you finally get to that point of acceptance, there's nothing more beautiful than just allowing yourself to really be happy and be comfortable in your own skin," Collins said.
While Collins thinks that the world is ready for an openly gay player in basketball, former Steelers receiver and NBC analyst Hines Ward said Tuesday that he doesn't think the NFL is ready.
"I don't think football is ready. There's too many guys in the locker room and, you know, guys play around too much," he told NBC Sports Radio.
Ward said he hopes some player has the courage, however, and added that that person would have his support.
"I want people to live their lives for who they are and don't have to hide behind closed doors to do that," he said.
Collins averaged 1.1 points this season for the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. He will be a free agent this offseason and plans to continue his career.
"From my teammates, I'm expecting support because that's what I would do for my teammates," Collins told ABC. "A team is like a family. The NBA is like a brotherhood. And I'm looking at it like we all support each other on and off the court."
Two of Collins' teammates from the Nets teams that went to the Finals in 2002 and 2003 count themselves among the many NBA players supporting him.
Jason Kidd said he received a call from Collins wanting to talk about the situation.
"It takes a lot of courage of what he did," Kidd said. "But it's just going to make the world a better place at the end of the day."
Kenyon Martin said he "didn't have any inclination of anything like that" when asked if he knew about Collins' sexual orientation when they were teammates.
"Takes a brave man," Martin said. "I commend him for him having the courage to do it. I have no problem with it. He was my friend before and he will still be my friend."
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett says he's happy Collins can be himself while Jason Terry says it seems like a tremendous weight has been lifted from Collins. And Jeff Green called him an "awesome" teammate who set good screens.
Paul Pierce adds that Collins told him Monday morning he was gay. Coach Doc Rivers says Collins informed him a few days ago, but learning the news was a "nonfactor" for him.
Asked by Stephanopoulos what his story could mean to youth who play basketball and are worried about their futures because they are gay, Collins offered a simple piece of advice.
"It doesn't matter that you're gay. The key thing is that it's about basketball," Collins said. "It's about working hard, it's about sacrificing for your team. It's all about dedication. That's what you should focus on."
Arguably the best player on the planet, LeBron James echoed those sentiments Tuesday, while calling Collins "noble" and "strong."
"None of us should go around wondering about what other people think we should be," James said. "I think it's very strong of (Collins). I've got the utmost respect for Jason. If you can play the game, then that's all that matters at the end of the day."
In the second part of the ABC interview, Collins discussed what it was like to come out to his family and people closest to him. In the SI piece, Collins said that the first relative he came out to was his aunt, Teri Jackson, a San Francisco Superior Court judge, who he said already knew he was gay -- "so, I guess, she's good at reading people," Collins told ABC.
"When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story, like a CIA spy or something," Collins said.
His own twin brother, Jarron Collins, had no idea about his brother's orientation.
"I am really good at playing it straight," Jason Collins said, laughing at his own joke. "Maybe he needs to hang out with my aunt a little more, get a discerning eye like she has."
ABC said the interview was taped Monday night in Los Angeles.
Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press was used in this report.
While Collins thinks that the world is ready for an openly gay player in basketball, former Steelers receiver and NBC analyst Hines Ward said Tuesday that he doesn't think the NFL is ready.
"I don't think football is ready. There's too many guys in the locker room and, you know, guys play around too much," he told NBC Sports Radio.
Ward said he hopes some player has the courage, however, and added that that person would have his support.
"I want people to live their lives for who they are and don't have to hide behind closed doors to do that," he said.
Collins averaged 1.1 points this season for the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. He will be a free agent this offseason and plans to continue his career.
"From my teammates, I'm expecting support because that's what I would do for my teammates," Collins told ABC. "A team is like a family. The NBA is like a brotherhood. And I'm looking at it like we all support each other on and off the court."
Two of Collins' teammates from the Nets teams that went to the Finals in 2002 and 2003 count themselves among the many NBA players supporting him.
Jason Kidd said he received a call from Collins wanting to talk about the situation.
"It takes a lot of courage of what he did," Kidd said. "But it's just going to make the world a better place at the end of the day."
Kenyon Martin said he "didn't have any inclination of anything like that" when asked if he knew about Collins' sexual orientation when they were teammates.
"Takes a brave man," Martin said. "I commend him for him having the courage to do it. I have no problem with it. He was my friend before and he will still be my friend."
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett says he's happy Collins can be himself while Jason Terry says it seems like a tremendous weight has been lifted from Collins. And Jeff Green called him an "awesome" teammate who set good screens.
Paul Pierce adds that Collins told him Monday morning he was gay. Coach Doc Rivers says Collins informed him a few days ago, but learning the news was a "nonfactor" for him.
Asked by Stephanopoulos what his story could mean to youth who play basketball and are worried about their futures because they are gay, Collins offered a simple piece of advice.
"It doesn't matter that you're gay. The key thing is that it's about basketball," Collins said. "It's about working hard, it's about sacrificing for your team. It's all about dedication. That's what you should focus on."
Arguably the best player on the planet, LeBron James echoed those sentiments Tuesday, while calling Collins "noble" and "strong."
"None of us should go around wondering about what other people think we should be," James said. "I think it's very strong of (Collins). I've got the utmost respect for Jason. If you can play the game, then that's all that matters at the end of the day."
In the second part of the ABC interview, Collins discussed what it was like to come out to his family and people closest to him. In the SI piece, Collins said that the first relative he came out to was his aunt, Teri Jackson, a San Francisco Superior Court judge, who he said already knew he was gay -- "so, I guess, she's good at reading people," Collins told ABC.
"When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story, like a CIA spy or something," Collins said.
His own twin brother, Jarron Collins, had no idea about his brother's orientation.
"I am really good at playing it straight," Jason Collins said, laughing at his own joke. "Maybe he needs to hang out with my aunt a little more, get a discerning eye like she has."
ABC said the interview was taped Monday night in Los Angeles.
Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press was used in this report.
ESPN
Collins sat down for an interview that was aired by ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday, one day after the veteran NBA center revealed his sexuality in a first-person story posted on Sports Illustrated's website.
"I think, I know, in my personal life, I'm ready, and I think the country is ready for supporting an openly gay basketball player," Collins told ABC's George Stephanopoulos.
ABC aired the interview in two segments, with Stephanopoulos asking Collins in the second portion whether he hoped that other players would follow his example.
"I hope that every player makes a decision that leads to their own happiness, whatever happiness that is in life," Collins responded. "I know that I, right now, am the happiest that I've ever been in my life."
Collins said he went through something akin to a 12-step program while deciding to come out, dealing with emotions such as anger and denial.
"But when you finally get to that point of acceptance, there's nothing more beautiful than just allowing yourself to really be happy and be comfortable in your own skin," Collins said.
While Collins thinks that the world is ready for an openly gay player in basketball, former Steelers receiver and NBC analyst Hines Ward said Tuesday that he doesn't think the NFL is ready.
"I don't think football is ready. There's too many guys in the locker room and, you know, guys play around too much," he told NBC Sports Radio.
Ward said he hopes some player has the courage, however, and added that that person would have his support.
"I want people to live their lives for who they are and don't have to hide behind closed doors to do that," he said.
Collins averaged 1.1 points this season for the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. He will be a free agent this offseason and plans to continue his career.
"From my teammates, I'm expecting support because that's what I would do for my teammates," Collins told ABC. "A team is like a family. The NBA is like a brotherhood. And I'm looking at it like we all support each other on and off the court."
Two of Collins' teammates from the Nets teams that went to the Finals in 2002 and 2003 count themselves among the many NBA players supporting him.
Jason Kidd said he received a call from Collins wanting to talk about the situation.
"It takes a lot of courage of what he did," Kidd said. "But it's just going to make the world a better place at the end of the day."
Kenyon Martin said he "didn't have any inclination of anything like that" when asked if he knew about Collins' sexual orientation when they were teammates.
"Takes a brave man," Martin said. "I commend him for him having the courage to do it. I have no problem with it. He was my friend before and he will still be my friend."
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett says he's happy Collins can be himself while Jason Terry says it seems like a tremendous weight has been lifted from Collins. And Jeff Green called him an "awesome" teammate who set good screens.
Paul Pierce adds that Collins told him Monday morning he was gay. Coach Doc Rivers says Collins informed him a few days ago, but learning the news was a "nonfactor" for him.
Asked by Stephanopoulos what his story could mean to youth who play basketball and are worried about their futures because they are gay, Collins offered a simple piece of advice.
"It doesn't matter that you're gay. The key thing is that it's about basketball," Collins said. "It's about working hard, it's about sacrificing for your team. It's all about dedication. That's what you should focus on."
Arguably the best player on the planet, LeBron James echoed those sentiments Tuesday, while calling Collins "noble" and "strong."
"None of us should go around wondering about what other people think we should be," James said. "I think it's very strong of (Collins). I've got the utmost respect for Jason. If you can play the game, then that's all that matters at the end of the day."
In the second part of the ABC interview, Collins discussed what it was like to come out to his family and people closest to him. In the SI piece, Collins said that the first relative he came out to was his aunt, Teri Jackson, a San Francisco Superior Court judge, who he said already knew he was gay -- "so, I guess, she's good at reading people," Collins told ABC.
"When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story, like a CIA spy or something," Collins said.
His own twin brother, Jarron Collins, had no idea about his brother's orientation.
"I am really good at playing it straight," Jason Collins said, laughing at his own joke. "Maybe he needs to hang out with my aunt a little more, get a discerning eye like she has."
ABC said the interview was taped Monday night in Los Angeles.
Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press was used in this report.
While Collins thinks that the world is ready for an openly gay player in basketball, former Steelers receiver and NBC analyst Hines Ward said Tuesday that he doesn't think the NFL is ready.
"I don't think football is ready. There's too many guys in the locker room and, you know, guys play around too much," he told NBC Sports Radio.
Ward said he hopes some player has the courage, however, and added that that person would have his support.
"I want people to live their lives for who they are and don't have to hide behind closed doors to do that," he said.
Collins averaged 1.1 points this season for the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. He will be a free agent this offseason and plans to continue his career.
"From my teammates, I'm expecting support because that's what I would do for my teammates," Collins told ABC. "A team is like a family. The NBA is like a brotherhood. And I'm looking at it like we all support each other on and off the court."
Two of Collins' teammates from the Nets teams that went to the Finals in 2002 and 2003 count themselves among the many NBA players supporting him.
Jason Kidd said he received a call from Collins wanting to talk about the situation.
"It takes a lot of courage of what he did," Kidd said. "But it's just going to make the world a better place at the end of the day."
Kenyon Martin said he "didn't have any inclination of anything like that" when asked if he knew about Collins' sexual orientation when they were teammates.
"Takes a brave man," Martin said. "I commend him for him having the courage to do it. I have no problem with it. He was my friend before and he will still be my friend."
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett says he's happy Collins can be himself while Jason Terry says it seems like a tremendous weight has been lifted from Collins. And Jeff Green called him an "awesome" teammate who set good screens.
Paul Pierce adds that Collins told him Monday morning he was gay. Coach Doc Rivers says Collins informed him a few days ago, but learning the news was a "nonfactor" for him.
Asked by Stephanopoulos what his story could mean to youth who play basketball and are worried about their futures because they are gay, Collins offered a simple piece of advice.
"It doesn't matter that you're gay. The key thing is that it's about basketball," Collins said. "It's about working hard, it's about sacrificing for your team. It's all about dedication. That's what you should focus on."
Arguably the best player on the planet, LeBron James echoed those sentiments Tuesday, while calling Collins "noble" and "strong."
"None of us should go around wondering about what other people think we should be," James said. "I think it's very strong of (Collins). I've got the utmost respect for Jason. If you can play the game, then that's all that matters at the end of the day."
In the second part of the ABC interview, Collins discussed what it was like to come out to his family and people closest to him. In the SI piece, Collins said that the first relative he came out to was his aunt, Teri Jackson, a San Francisco Superior Court judge, who he said already knew he was gay -- "so, I guess, she's good at reading people," Collins told ABC.
"When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story, like a CIA spy or something," Collins said.
His own twin brother, Jarron Collins, had no idea about his brother's orientation.
"I am really good at playing it straight," Jason Collins said, laughing at his own joke. "Maybe he needs to hang out with my aunt a little more, get a discerning eye like she has."
ABC said the interview was taped Monday night in Los Angeles.
Information from ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press was used in this report.
ESPN