Though the NFL is yet to have an openly gay player an interesting story has surfaced about the legendary Packers & Redskins Coach Vince Lombardi. It seems that Lombardi
was aware that players on his teams were gay & he not only did not have a problem with it but he made sure other teammates wouldn’t make it a problem. It seems that in 1969
Ray McDonald who was a running back on Lombardi’s Redskins had been arrested in 1968 for having sex with another man in public. In the Lombardi biography “When Pride Still Mattered” author David Maraniss stated that Lombardi told his assistants he wanted them to work with McDonald to help him make the team, “And if I hear one of you people make reference to his manhood, you’ll be out of here before your ass hits the ground.” Lombardi’s daughter Susan confirms that her father would have been thrilled to have a player like Jason Collins, the NBA center who came out this week stating, “My father was way ahead of his time. He was discriminated against as a dark-skinned Italian American when he was younger, when he felt he was passed up for coaching jobs that he deserved. He felt the pain of discrimination & so he raised his family to accept everybody, no matter what color they were or whatever their sexual orientation was. I think it’s great what Jason Collins did, because it’s going to open a lot of doors for people. Without a doubt my father would’ve embraced him & would’ve been very proud of him for coming out.” Let this be a valuable inspiration & wake-up call for all professional athletes to finally come out. Updates to Come…:)
LISTEN: Gay Filmmaker Rolla Selbak Speaks OUT
OUTTAKE VOICES™ NOW ON HUFFINGTON POST...:)
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