OT: ASU OL Chip Sarafin comes out
Edward 'Chip' Sarafin has become the first active player in NCAA football to come out publically regarding his sexuality. I'm sure this will turn into a firestorm of opinions, positive and negative. Personally, I applaud this individual to have the courage in making this announcement. Its truly a historical event as I believe that Michael Sam and Chip are breaking new ground in college athletics' environment. Link: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11349933/edward-chip-sarafin-arizona-state-sun-devils-announces-gay
August 14th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^
good for him, and ASU.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^
Frankly, I could not care less what the man--or any person--prefers from a sexual standpoint.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
The responses to these stories show that we have grown as a nation. If there's a divide among people's responses today, it's that some say "that's courageous and great" and others say "who cares about people's sexual preference?" Just a few years ago that divide was between "that's great / who cares" and "this is sick/wrong/unacceptable."
August 14th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
There's no question that we have grown as a nation. But unfortunately, I don't think those who think that this is "sick/wrong/unacceptable" are completely gone (I made the mistake of scrolling to the comments section on ESPN's article...serves me right for looking at ESPN).
But as all human equality movements go, there will be continued bumps in the road. I guess we can take solace in the fact that hopefully the worst is behind us. I applaud Chip for his courage.
August 14th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
I agree. That group is now being seen as the fringe crazies, though, rather than just one side of a reasonable two-sided argument. That's a major change since just a few years ago.
August 14th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
just really sick of the story, the on-going story, that is the sexual orientation of athletes. It means about as much to me as if they were "coming out" as vegetarians. This is a been there-done that thing for the media at this point.
August 14th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
Not at all. Vegetarians have never been a discriminated group in our country, been subject to hate crimes, I've never heard of a vegetarian being closeted because he's afraid to come out, etc. It's not at all the same.
August 14th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
it is the same, but it has made its way into the sports consciousness too much now. Am I happy for gay people that they can and should feel welcome in sports? Yes. Do I want to hear Brent Musberger say "and now Thomas comes in to the game to spell Williams in the backfield. As you know, Thomas the 6'1-220 pound homosexual running back from Memphis was highly touted coming out of high school." No. It is not a "need to know" aspect of a person's makeup for the purposes of sport.
August 14th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
it wasn't, and that is why it was universally recognized as Jackassery.
August 14th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^
a double standard because the scale is tilted very far in one direction, the ratio is not 1 to 1 here. You are kind of describing a world where it is taboo for a straight person to discuss sexuality at all while it is acceptable for a homosexual to discuss their sex life in very specific terms, are you not. What Musberger did with whats-her-name was certainly a little pathetic and old-man-gross but would you say it was "offensive" to gay people?
August 14th, 2014 at 3:12 PM ^
What about when Ian Johnson proposed to his girlfriend right after the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma? You think the reactions would have been different if that had been his boyfriend?
The issue isn't what is "offensive" to one group or another. The issue is that right now, we still live in a world where heterosexual relationships can be publicly displayed with essentially no negative reaction, whereas the same isn't true with homosexual relationships.
August 14th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 6:17 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 4:59 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 6:19 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
Brent publicly ogling one of the MALE spectators (or players or coaching) on-air would be about the only time in history that he has been worth watching.
August 14th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
It's how he describes everything, and he owes his livelihood to it.
"You're lookin' live at historic Ryan Field for the 52nd clash between the renowned Duke Blue Devils and the storied Northwestern Wildcats." (in a voice conveying deep importance)
August 14th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
It's such a difficult thing to do, come out and face possible judgement from 100 teammates. I'm sure people will post silly comments about "how is this news" but take into accout the courage needed to come out. I'll be rooting for Mr. Sarafin.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
Personal beliefs aside, who cares. Play football. It should be a non-issue. Frankly, the more homosexual athletes that come out in a big announcement type public way are making it easier for the opposing viewpoint to make noise. That's just my opinion.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:15 AM ^
but the fact that the first person, or persons, that make the announcement are thrust into the limelight. Yes, it SHOULD be a non-issue, but nowadays it is. In 10 yrs, it won't be. Loosely compared to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball...it shouldn't have been as big of a deal because of the man's talent, but because of society it was. Its unfortunate, but its reality.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
across all of society/occupations, taking a beach-head for all blacks in 1947. The sports world was on the leading edge.
Sadly, the sporting world today is a considerable laggard with respect to its attitude toward gays.
It's definitely a sports story. As a society story, it's more along the lines of one more (highly visible) road that finally is getting built.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
And my comparison was, admittedly and stated, very loose. The way we are probably going to view it several years from now was more the comparison I was trying to make.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^
How giving an interview to a Tempe based LGBT sports magazine is coming out in a big announcement. But you obviously don't know the pressures that gay athletes face, and how important coming out is to each individual.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
You're correct. I don't know because I'm not gay, nor am I an athlete. I just think the less of a big deal they make about it, the less of a big deal everyone else will, too. Maybe my thought process is wrong on that, but that's just what I think would change things for them. Coming out is what it is. The bigger deal made, the bigger the response.
August 14th, 2014 at 10:14 AM ^
We should be making a big deal (by supporting him, of course). Pretending to be "color-blind" isn't helpful.
August 14th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
I don't think I should do anything. I'm a fan of a different school in a different conference. Michigan doesn't play ASU, and won't unless the stars align for a Rose Bowl matchup. He can do whatever he wants and I will cheer for Michigan. I'm not pretending to be color-blind, I'm saying let him be who he says he is, and play some football.
August 14th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
But I think these guys want it to be a big deal so others in their position see it and feel comfortable doing the same. Would Chip have felt as comfortable coming out had Michael Sam not been a big story? It's hard to know, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Chip saw the positive reaction Sam got and decided he could do that too. And I'm sure others in his position will be more likely to come out now because of it.
August 14th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
Don't mistake my apathy to this as not caring about people. As a Christian, I stake my life on caring about people. It's pretty silly to think that I, AFWolverine, from my corner of the internet is going to make a difference in a collegiate athlete's decision to be public about his personal life. Frankly, making a bunch of posts on the internet, whether here or some other site, saying congrats to him, or anyone else is faux concern for their plight as gay athletes. If you want to make a difference for them or help their cuase, be involved in an orgranization that promotes them. We could talk about this on MGoBlog every day til the end of time, but it truly won't make a difference until you put your feet and hands where your typing goes.
August 14th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
Regardless of whether you think anyone should make a big deal over a player coming out, the article clearly does not. If you read the article, it is clear that Sarafin's coming out is almost barely mentioned and added in an "oh, by the way" fashion, and focuses mostly on his interest in neurology and concussion saftey.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^
Congratulations to Mr. Sarafin for having the courage and determination to come out. Best of luck to him with the upcoming season.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
one of the very first people to BECOME sober, and publically announce it, yes...it would be a big deal and many would care.
August 14th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
and I think you and I are conceptually in violent agreement. Smaller numbers and percentages, in my opinion, make this an even bigger deal. But I'm having a little trouble understanding how you went from what I said before to what you said above...
August 14th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
There are 80,000 college players. Even if we assume that ONLY the 4% of the population who publicly identify themselves as gay are gay, that's 3,200 gay college players.
There are 1,696 NFL players. Again, even if we assume that (almost certainly low) 4% of the population is gay, that's 67.8 gay players (or 67 gay players and one gay slot receiver).
August 14th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
That deserves more than a +1 (as does your other post in this thread).
August 14th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
You are both disgraceful & embarrassing to the Michigan community.
August 14th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^
August 14th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
I thought it was a slot receiver joke