Are You Kidding?

     New segment here on the blog - Are You Kidding? Exploring current events and headlines - then ripping them to shreds(OK, not ripping anything). Headlines will fall into five categories;
            1) old 'school props (OSP) - acknowledge positives out there because there is more good than bad
            2) wiley veteran move (WVM) - favorite expression from my Mr. Brown; zigging when you should!
            2) nummy-nut (NN) - foolish yet harmless, silly yet harmless, head scratching yet harmless
            3) no way (NW) - foolish but should know better
            4) just plain wrong (JPW) - self explanatory
            5) are you kidding? (AYK) - wrong, foolish, stupid, beyond head scratching

     For our first installment of "Are You Kidding?" let us examine the levels of the Baylor basketball web.
     Britney Briner or Griner - girl let me tell you one thing and it won't be two things (mommie's phrase). Genetics gave you height, God gave you athleticism - you worked with these gifts, made yourself a good basketball player. These gifts allowed you a top notch education at Baylor University. You are drafted #1 into the WNBA (also a gift, forged from the sacrifices of women who were ostracized, criticized, stigmatized. Women who dared dream of playing a game they love. The WNBA exists because other women paid their way through college(no scholarships before
Title IX). Women who had to prove they were straight not deny they were gay. Women who had to hide their love, their lives for fear of repercussions.
     Mularkey asked you to hide your sexuality - MULARKEY(isn't it ironic the coaches name is Mularkey(sp)?) Only folks living under rocks believe there are no female basketball players who happen to be gay. Only ignorant folks believe there are no male basketball players who happen to be gay. 10% darling! 10% of the human race is gay! A basketball team typically holds 12 players - one of y'all is gay.
     Baylor is a top notch university. Mularkey an up and coming coach. She knew signing you was her ticket to Pat Summitville. Geno Aurimeatown! She risked her career, her future, her children's future - by telling you to keep your sexuality under your hat? AYK!
     What is the matter with you? No one cares if you are gay or straight. No one cared when you were in college and no one cares now. You can dunk a basketball in a live game! You can dominate with your defense! Don't care who you love - just pray you know love.
     Mularkey, I think that is the coaches name she gets a WVM for her no comment. Dignifying your NN interview by not saying anything. She saved your PR(public relations) butt! That is how you felt your pro-basketball career should begin? Were you missing the headlines? Were you afraid of your success? Little girl have you looked at fans attending a WNBA game? NO ONE is shocked there are some sisters in the crowd. Who do you think is buying the tickets to the games you will play?
     My goodness I know there is still a HUGE amount of bigotry attached to gay/lesbian/transgender folsks. I know fine young men and women commit suicide because they are gay. I know society wants "don't ask, don't tell, don't show." Society gets a big AYK!! We have miles to go before we sleep - we all know that.
     The audacity you have Ms. Briner, what is the matter with you? Creating a controversy where there was not one. You don't advance civil rights of our people by being on the six 0'clock news. You advanced civil rights by being on Sports Center! You are an athlete. You can scream from mountain tops; "I am gay!" Go ahead, feel free - you are free to do that because men and women before you sacrificed.
     ESPN The Magazine JPW - classless! Were subscriptions down? The reporter on this story must be trying to make a name for him/herself. No, I did not even investigate if it was a man or a woman. Did not want to know. Did not need to know. Why? Why create a controversy? What is your point? Did Jayson Williams coming "out" scoop your story?
     It is so heartbreaking, no athlete should deny who they are. As a society we are better than that. Yes, we have made progress. Obama's second inauguration was the first time the word "gay" was used in an inaugural speech. Really? Is that possible? We are better than that.
     10% folks. Plain and simple. Clean and true. If you have 20 folks in your family reckon someone is gay. If you work with 30 people reckon someone is gay. There are people on the train, plane and highway who are gay. Stop the presses! This is bush league foolishness. We are better than this!
     Shame on you Ms. Briner or Griner - shame on you for sensationalizing one aspect of you. One thread of your life quilt that is irrelevant to us. You are one fine basketball player. Your family loves you. Your fans love you. I love to watch you play. Why do you want to be a victim? Doesn't make sense. Given tremendous gifts you have a great education and a professional career doing something your reportedly love. Growing up we could not dream of being professional athletes. We could not DREAM it because there was nothing to dream about. But you, you knew from a young age your God given gifts could get you a great education and a professional career. You could dream it. You achieved it. Enjoy it, savor it, relish in your accomplishments - if you want people to know you also happen to be a lesbian, that is fine. Go out to dinner with your girlfriend/partner/wife. Next year when you win your rookie of the year award, (barring injury) thank your significant other. Right there on prime time television. The camera will pan to her as she wipes a tear from her eye. As she sits there with your family and friends and other athletes. People at home will say; "Oh how sweet she is crying." Yes, some people, the AYK people will write nasty things and protest ESPN, the WNBA, even send you hate mail. That sucks beyond words. Don't give them gasoline. Don't allow ignorance to change who you are. Rise above bigotry and hate.
     Brittney, go on and live a wonderful, happy life. Fill it with friends, family, love and peace. Play basketball, fly a plane, teach, coach, manage a business, own a business. You can do whatever you want - Please, Please, Please
do not use your gifts as a vehicle to celebrity. Don't disrespect the men and women who paved your road. You are better than that - WE are better than that!