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Better To Be Gay Than Christian in the NFL
When University of Missouri defensive lineman Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday — becoming the first openly gay player in the NFL — he laid a big wet one on his boyfriend in front of the cameras. In response, Miami Dolphins Defensive Back Don Jones tweeted out “OMG” and “Horrible.” The Dolphins were swift in their punishment. Jones has been fined and suspended.
But what about all those nasty tweets leveled against openly Christian Tim Tebow? Oh, that doesn’t matter. Because, you know, Christians deserve it. It takes courage to come out as an openly gay player in a society that is orgasmic about everything gay. But to stand up for your faith in the midst of a culture that is hostile to it, well, that’s just “annoying,” as one tweet said about Tebow.
The hypocrisy isn’t going unnoticed. According to The Blaze, DeMarcus Walker—a sophomore defensive end for Florida State—tweeted:
Later, Walker posted the following cartoon:
He got some backlash:
That last tweet is not exactly right. You can’t legally lose your job for being gay or for being religious, not according to the EEOC. That’s called discrimination (more specifically stereotyping when applied to sexual orientation) and it’s against federal law.
And how about the one that implies there’s something wrong with being Christian. But being gay? There’s nothing wrong with that? Maybe not, but now it’s wrong to be a Christian? Since when? What was it Isaiah said? “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter”? We live in those days (and, yeah, go ahead and crucify me for quoting Scripture).
So now we have it straight: We can tweet all sorts of nastiness about Christians with impunity, but if we tweet anything remotely negative about a gay person, then we will be punished.
The hypocrisy is stunning. But more than that, we have on display—once again—the cultish mindset of an influential portion of American society. The central doctrines of the cult (of which uncritical support of anything related to homosexuality is one) must be upheld, and anyone who criticizes those doctrines—or anyone who does not submit to them—must be demonized. This is why the brainwashed masses don’t care about or even see the hypocrisy. Their “truth” is all that matters.
Victor Davis Hanson recently lamented the hypocrisy of the left in a post at National Review Online and concluded that if you say the “right things” it doesn’t matter how much of a hypocrite you are. Al Gore can live lavishly, leaving behind a massive carbon footprint wherever he goes, and it doesn’t matter. The NAACP can honor people like Donald Sterling as long as they get a big check. And now, the NFL can punish anyone who criticizes a gay player while turning a blind eye to those who malign Christians.
Hanson believes liberalism will fall under the weight of its own hypocrisy. That would be true if people cared about truth. But they don’t. They care only about the cult doctrines. The hypocrisy of the cult leaders or even the hypocrisy of the group doesn’t matter. All that matters is the “truth” they have created. Hold to the truth as defined by those in power and you won’t be punished—in fact, you’ll be celebrated. Don’t submit to the teaching of the cult, and you will be excoriated. Just ask Brendan Eich. Now ask Don Jones.
Published in General
I’m going to take this argument further and compare it to the Donald Sterling fiasco. He of course said something that was rude, crude, and ignorant but the severity of his punishment had everything to do with avoiding what I refer to as “Scottie Pippen-like sulking” and a distraction from winning. I think Michael Sam crossed a line that was far different in nature, but potentially equally destructive to his league.
Nope. First, you did not mention Quinn or any other player in your piece and Quinn was criticized and later apologized. Second, I am quite certain that you do not have any first hand knowledge of what was or was not said on the field. I assure you that much worse than mocking is involved in the back and forth of on-the-field professional football.
So, OMG just meant “One Moment of Glee” and “Horrible” as in “It’s just horrible that we don’t see more of this on draft day”? Franco, I think the NFL Players Association could use a man like you.
Denise, my impression is that most teams begin games with a team prayer. A large majority of players are Christians. It’s common to see a player point up to God, or kneel and pray after a touchdown or when a teammate or opponent is seriously injured. Many players list God among their many thank-yous after a great victory. In the locker room you’d see lots of explicitly Christian tattoos.
We have one example of a guy (Tebow) who was mocked for being far more overt about his faith than any other player, and some of his detractors recanted and apologized.
Based on that, I have a hard time agreeing with your title. I’ll predict if Sams is as continuously overt about gay culture as Tebow about his faith, people will get sick of it and mockery will follow.
Well, sorry to have to correct you again, but if you go back and read the comments in the thread, you will see that I did mention Quinn in the comments. I never said I put it in the post (please clearly read what I wrote in response to you in #22). Like I said in my comment, Quinn said something critical of Tebow’s faith and was never punished. He did apologize. Jones was punished whether he apologizes or not. Second, I never said anything about what the players say on the field. I was referencing the time when a player (and I think a couple did it) who mimicked his stance on the field. If either of these things were done to a gay player, then the players would be punished.
Ryan:
I’m not sure I disagree with D. C.’s argument so much as I see a clear logical flaw to it. See comment number 32. Dismissing my criticism with “Nope” (as she did) was, I thought, inappropriate. Does that make sense?
It’s about when you are overt. Tebow is overt. Sam is overt (I’m sure there are other gay players in the NFL). When it comes to being overt and being free to criticize, it’s better to be gay than a Christian in the NFL. I stand by the title. It was meant in this context.
Stop digging.
Please read what I wrote carefully. My critique was of the logic used in the post, not a later comment. Are you really suggesting that the “Tebowing” phenomenon was meant to mock his faith? I am afraid I must disagree with that as well. It clearly spread as other players imitated Tebow’s celebration after a TD.
Again, you’ll have to fill me in on Tebow if I missed something important. But my impression is that Tebow was imitated and mocked, and people said they were annoyed his actions and wanted him to tone it down — in a league where public displays of Christianity are the norm as I pointed out in my previous comment.
Sam, on the other hand, had his actions condemned as “horrible” in a solemn moral judgment, in a context where he is the smallest minority in the league. And the Dolphins don’t want their employees doing this. I don’t see these as equivalent.
First, I don’t even know that Jones’ tweet had to do with homosexuality per se or whether he thought the blatant kiss was horrible. I do see an equivalency in Tebow’s display of his Christianity and Sam’s display of his homosexuality. Tebow was criticized for being disingenuous. He was mocked as “quarterback Jesus” etc. This was done with impunity. One word from a critic of Sam’s display and the guy is punished. The two can be compared, and in it appears that in the NFL you can mock Christians but not homosexuals. But you and I can disagree on that point. :) Surely, you agree in this culture there is allowance for criticism of Christianity where there is not allowance for criticism of homosexuality–and this intolerance is growing?
Amen to that. Oops, there goes my chance at an NFL contract . . .
You need to rotate your computer 90 degrees before uploading!
Seriously, does it do it even if you rotate the picture first, resave it, then upload it?
Maybe his pictures are tired and just need a nap.
I agree with you, D.C. – Hanson believes liberalism will fall under the weight of its own hypocrisy. That would be true if people cared about truth. But they don’t. They care only about the cult doctrines.
VDH is right in the very long run, of course. But for the foreseeable future and well beyond I’m afraid, the truth is out of style, out of bounds, and off the radar screens of the majority of people. The “truth” is now whatever the world’s ‘cult doctrines’ as you say, decree.
We will have anal sex and we will enjoy it and we will steadfastly refuse to examine any of the myths about homosexuality or the consequences, though they blare at us from the headlines all the day long. It’s the triumph of the adolescent will… and it ends about as well as Carrie’s prom night.
I love this post Denise because it focuses on all my favorite topics: men and football and business interests!
I think Tebow suffered from the very typical ‘good boy’ versus ‘bad boy’ hazing that all fraternity members undergo; I’m less inclined to worry about his experience because he truly didn’t threaten any player on a personal level. Unfortunately, my point will never be validated because TT never succeeded in the pros.
Sam has been given the same opportunities, but I am worried his proclivities may truly compromise the mental and emotional balance of the team and that is unforgiveable when one signs a contract for millions of dollars. Yes, there are gay players in the NFL but they have chosen not to advertise it. Most people are willing to accept behavior different than their own if it isn’t shoved into their faces.
Two thing here. I believe because Tim Tebow was so overt in demonstrating his faith, the media was never going to give him a break. Even though lots of players point upward after scoring a touchdown, Tebow would kneel after throwing or running one in, and that was going too far.
As for not succeeding, the modern NFL is not geared towards his type of offense, which I think would be short passes and a strong running game (with the QB as a threat to run). No team would draft the players neccessary to build a successful offense around him.
My only criticism of Tebow is that he was not willing to try another position. His ability to lead and motivate other players is unparalleled.
I have an anecdote about the Steelers/Broncos playoff game that Tebow won, but I’m at the word limit.
I don’t disagree with this, but here’s the difference: Tebow most likely could have gelled with his teammates and coaches which – as Bill Belichick would say- is everything. I’m not sure I’d compare the damage to team unity caused by Tebow’s overtness with that which may be incurred by Sam’s.
Here and there, this is true to varying degrees. The culture is not monolithic and it doesn’t change uniformly or monotonically. But yes, I generally agree with this statement.
Regardless, I think your title and the thesis of your post are total hyperbole and an invitation to ridicule. I clicked on the post when it showed up in my Facebook feed because I thought the title was unbelievable.
EThompson écrit: “Most people are willing to accept behavior different than their own if it isn’t shoved into their faces.” Exactly. Which also is to say: The publicity of sexuality in our culture is the sure sign of the breakdown in the distinction between public and private which simply mirrors the growth of statism and the Progressivism’s break-down in the public/private — i.e. private property, confiscatory taxation. ‘Tis the nub of the reason why you should be a social conservative as well as a fiscal conservative — or why the very distinction is ultimately meaningless. Bare bones of it all: a wold of sexual publicity = fewer Prada shoes and trips to Vienna for Snoots.
Oh no…
The Golden State Warriors recently fired coach Mark Jackson. This is a team that had 2 winning seasons and 1 playoff appearance in the 17 years before he was hired. In just 3 years with the team Jackson bested that, going 47-35 and 51-31 and making the playoffs each of the last 2 years. By all accounts his players loved him, yet he was fired anyway.
Why? Owners don’t have to explain themselves, but here’s former mayor Willie Brown in his column entitled What Warriors need is a salesman, not a preacher:
Chronicle sports editor Al Saracevic took the argument a step further, drawing a direct comparison to the Donald Sterling incident:
Oh, the horror. What a dangerous extremist!
Evidently, there is no room in the NBA (or in Northern California) for the First Amendment.
Be a forceful advocate of “marriage equality” and you’ll be a hero. Be a forceful advocate of “traditional marriage” and you’ll definitely go on HR’s “caca roster” and maybe lose your job.
Think there will be a tongue or no tongue rule?
Apparently there are 29 States where you can be fired for being gay.
(Including Missouri, where Michael Sam was hired??)
Don’t start with this nonsense. Nobody in the NFL is firing anybody for being gay, but how about a nod to tasteful behavior in public? As in:
1- Women in corporate America don’t need to show cleavage.
2- Men in corporate America shouldn’t wear cheap shoes.
3- You shouldn’t post an avatar with your mouth full.
Hello Zafar, so good to see you back in our little minefield! If we knew when you were on each day, we’d tune in, like expatriate Brits tuning in the World Service at 0900 daily.
I hope more and more 2010-2013 Ricochetti come back, expanding that minefield…perhaps the mines will be further apart…
(pre-Edit:) I see you’ve been on a bunch of world affairs posts that I’ve missed. I have to pay closer attention to the cues offered by the New Ricochet. Without sounding too Pollyanna-ish, the new format changes (Best of the Old, Best of the New!) and a little adaptability ought to make the same old feasts-and-fights Rico 2012 atmosphere viable–hell, irresistible! Again.
And I hope we can count on our antipodean correspondents!
The NFL isn’t firing anybody as you say, EThompson, but being gay and being Christian still carry different meanings in much of the country (true?), and while you can’t be fired for being Christian anywhere in the US you can (apparently, tell me if I’m wrong) be fired for being gay in 29 states. I don’t know if this makes it better to be Christian or Gay (surely a matter of opinion, some people even claim to be both) but it certainly is not easier being gay than being Christian in some substantive ways in many parts of the country. If a straight (Christian?) player had been shown kissing his girlfriend in similar circumstances would we even be having this conversation? I suspect that we wouldn’t, and that’s indicative of the real difference in situations for gays and Christians in American culture today.
Wrt good taste:
1 Yes
2 Yes
3 Guilty as charged ma’am. My only excuse is that I look better with noodles covering half my face, in fact I’d look even better if they covered the whole thing.