Baffoe: Let’s Mock Idiotic Reactions To Jason Collins’ Coming Out
By Tim Baffoe-
(CBS) There’s been a lot of talk of being “entitled to one’s opinion” these past few days. That phrase, often trotted out when a pretty divisive issue is being discussed, is usually a defense by people with a flimsy argument who will eventually be proven wrong. Regardless, you are allowed to have a dissenting opinion on an otherwise logical issue, for better or worse.
What you don’t get, though, is a right to be taken seriously when it comes to being intentionally ignorant on otherwise slam dunk topics. Bigotry would fall into that, ranging from outlandish attempts at oppression to passive attempts at making a group of people inferior based on something that cannot be controlled. Any person that would criticize Jason Collins for coming out as openly gay on Monday is a bigot. This is not debatable, though usually bigots themselves will cry foul at being labeled just for perpetrating hatred taught to them by other equally stupid people. “Why, if I’m opposed to homosexuals being treated as equals, am I labeled a bigot?” Well, because you’re a bigot, one of traditionally many bigots who bemoan (incorrectly) how the country has grown to vilify or oppress those who have always had it easier than everyone else. Or the “I’m not saying, I’m just saying” crowd of veiled hatred. Those like the poor Tim Brando, who doesn’t understand why people are mad at him for saying what Collins did isn’t heroic and giving celebrity credence for all those people who need semantics to justify prejudice. Brando is part of that long oppressed group of straight white Christian married males that have only produced forty-two of our forty-four presidents. You shall overcome, Tim.
Brando wasn’t the only victim of Collins’ choice to hijack the media and force people to say the truth nobody wants to hear. Chris Broussard’s sources told him that Collins is theologically inferior to him. Bubba Watson supported Broussard because his name is Bubba. Mike Wallace doesn’t understand how a gay man could not be attracted to women. “New York sports radio host Mike Francesa, a rancid veal breast wrapped in Today’s Man microfiber blends and comically bulletproof self-regard, wrote the story off as a ‘dramatic attempt to sell a magazine, I guess.’” Lance Briggs was… something. And then he wasn’t.
And those are just some famous people. The Internet provides a forum for so many not famous people to share thoughts that their grandchildren are going to eventually be very embarrassed about. Let’s have some fun with a few of those, shall we?
Living in homosexuality means you're living in sin. Pray for Collins and all of those who support sin.
Justin Owens (@justinowens15) April 29, 2013
This fella here is a quarterback at Arkansas Tech, a place that is what we Yankees call an “oxymoron.” I’d first like to commend Owens for declaring that he takes the Bible literally and in other words is sacrificing any possibility of playing football on Sundays for the sake of his faith (ditto his slave). That’s being dedicated. Stupid, but dedicated. Also, let me point out that he plays for a team called the Wonder Boys, far and away the least homoerotic team name in college football.
Cannot believe they have been talking for hours about the NBA player that's gay...who cares?!
❤ ME ❤ (@GOTMAOWN21) April 29, 2013
Seriously, all major news outlets and publications, don’t you understand how foolish you’re being by talking about this topic that nobody cares about? Man, everybody in the media really dropped the ball on this one. When will they learn that news doesn’t consist of instances of revolutionary change or politics or social commentary? What tickles our collective fancy is astrology and Maury exposing people.
hell nah I think there is a gay nba player kill me god
ʎʇʇoɔs (@DammScott) April 29, 2013
Well, I mean, if you’re going to ask for it…
Don't worry about the government taking away your rights and spying on you. Pay attention to that gay nba player.
metatron (@CosmicMetatron) April 29, 2013
The Boston Marathon bombing didn’t work, so the next trick Big Government is playing on us is pulling the rainbow wool over our eyes so that we can’t see the real truth, man. Boil a kettle and google Ron Paul to learn more.
The WNBA may have a star player now...N.B.A. Center Jason Collins Comes Out as Gay, via @nytimes nyti.ms/Zg1sMb
Zaimprimis (@ZaiTheRuler) April 29, 2013
Oh, because being a homosexual man is like being a woman. I get it. I’m sure it sounds way funnier in a Jamaican accent.
Sad day when a professional basketball player(or anybody) comes out and says he is gay and encouraged to live proud and openly.
Phil Niederer (@PhilNiederer) April 29, 2013
Thankfully this guy is a youth pastor so that he can impress on children the importance of taking what feels natural but is deemed wrong by older people and pushing it way down into the pit of your psyche until you develop a complex that manifests itself in dangerous ways. Like becoming a homophobic youth pastor.
Jason Collins still sucks, only difference is now it's on and off the court
Dan Falvo (@notnickfaldo) April 30, 2013
Dude. Bro. Bro. Man. Bro. Dude. Bro. Sweet earrings, bro.
Dhat nba player pronounced he was gay
Myrone Most Hated(✘) (@Rip_Wendabi41) April 29, 2013
He look fruity
Myrone Most Hated(✘) (@Rip_Wendabi41) April 29, 2013
You would think with access to Score blogger-like funds this young man would be more the linguist.
@BuzzFeedAndrew I think @benshapiro is correct. How can you call a #7FootQueer a #HERO Are you kidding me? He's a disgrace to Black men.
Rap Referee™☻ (@RapReferee) April 29, 2013
What is not a disgrace to black men is using them, a historically discriminated against group, to be a massive hypocrite and dangerously ignorant. And to bravely do so behind an anonymous Twitter account no less.
I cannot believe the support that @jasoncollins34 is getting, I mean what he did was unforgiveable and I certainly wouldn't employ him
(@knicksfan89) April 29, 2013
Because you likely have upper management written all over you. And “unforgivable?” The guy didn’t shoot your dog.
I hate how our culture encourages being gay. Being politically correct is going to be the downfall of our society.
Logan Ross (@LilRoss11) April 29, 2013
This guy is a big hoops fan, judging by his other tweets. And it eats at him that he enjoys a sport that an openly gay man plays (better to keep the dozens of gay professional athletes closeted for our own peace of mind) because Logan is very insecure and has issues he’s afraid to address, as evidenced by his penchant for shirtless bro pics.
Tim Tebow is criticized for being such an open Christian athlete yet Jason Collins is praised for being a gay athlete? What is going on..
Jackson Higginbottom (@JacksonHigg) April 30, 2013
This is exactly what Marvin Gaye was talking about with lines like “For only love can conquer hate” and “Everybody thinks we’re wrong, but who are they to judge us…?” Poor Tebow. Always relegated to the back of the news.
If a athlete comes out gay, the president calls them with support, While an athlete who professes their faith in God is blasted in media.
Wiley J. Stidham (@wiley34) April 30, 2013
All those stories you read condemning someone for thanking God for helping them win a game (and making sure someone else lost it). They’re just everywhere. Don’t look for them. Just trust me. America hates religious athletes.
It was nice of those last two guys to take time away from being characters in a Jane Austen novel to tweet us their dumbassery, though.
Tim Tebow: I'm a Christian. Media: Keep it to yourself. Jason Collins: I'm gay. Media: You're an inspiration! #idontunderstand
Team Athlete Life (@TeamAthleteLife) April 30, 2013
Well, let me help you, ambiguous Twitter account that acts as a Quote of the Day calendar for mental defectives and uses a Nike logo to attract them. See, Tim Tebow is a straight, white Christian. If those qualities were of a Venn diagram, he’d fall into the least historically persecuted cross section in this country (even less persecuted if you add in that he’s a multimillionaire). Then if you made another Venn diagram of people who think in line with what you tweeted and those who eat glue with their feet, the two circles would become one. You know what a Venn diagram is?
Also, let’s acknowledge that people telling Tebow to “keep it to himself” is an exaggeration. He’s not persecuted for his faith; rather, people have grown tired of his disproportionate exposure vs. his talent. Admit, too, that his faith isn’t biological, it isn’t something he cannot control, and it isn’t something that would cause him to live a life ranging anywhere at any given time from being inconvenienced to having his civil rights violated. Funny how those of your ilk are usually the first to criticize a Muhammad Ali for refusing to fight in a war or a Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf for not acknowledging the national anthem the way that makes you comfortable. Stick to tweeting about “the grind” and leave the heavy stuff to those of us that can do more than create memes and t-shirts for a high school sports team.
Tim Tebow gets cut from the Jets and bashed for his Christianity, while Jason Collins gets praised for being gay. This world sucks.
christian zervos (@ChristianZervos) April 30, 2013
It’s nice that you’ve been able to channel your own self-loathing into weightlifting. Keep lifting away your own lack of worth. Fill the void with creatine. Some awful, superficial person will love you someday.
Gay player, Jason Collins, from the NBA came out today....it's seriously sad that pro sports are embracing this situation #DontBeThatGuy lol
Jobin Reed (@JR15for6) April 30, 2013
Yeah, that pious world of sports. It’s seriously sad that somebody named you Jobin. And that you follow and retweet the account The Funny Racist. Certainly Pepsi and your high school must be proud of you. Maybe you should spend some time getting acquainted with Fieldhouse Media.
I respect Jason Collins coming out as the first openly Gay Athlete. Chris Bosh, Now the ball is in your court.
Chicago's Finest (@_Osawe) April 30, 2013
Nothing says you support Collins’ decision quite like being a homophobe in doing so.
Guys on the wizards are saying before they race to the locker room. Hey loser has to shower next to Jason Collins.
Allan Lim (@limjob) April 29, 2013
ROFL HE DOESN’T PLAY FOR THE WIZARDS ANYMORE LMAO HE DISCUSSED SHOWERING IN HIS SPORTS ILLUSTRATED PIECE LOL YOU’RE A PIECE OF GARBAGE
Jason Collins is so smart... Now the Wizards can't cut him even though he sucks #genius
Jack Jacobs (@JackJacobs36) April 30, 2013
Why hasn’t anybody thought of being gay just for the purposes of gainful employment before? All you whiners out there saying you can’t find work need to follow Jason Collins’ example.
An animal can figure out the right holes, #NBA flamer #jasoncollins can't.. Look out for double dribble on the defense, #HIV on the floor
Gerard Breukelman (@G_breukelman) April 29, 2013
Double dribble on the defense? That innuendo doesn’t even make sense. Put more effort into your hateful jokes. While bigotry is one thing, I will not have you ruining comedy, sir.
Make your basketball/gay sex puns clearer. Like this:
Jason Collins sucks at playing zone defense that's because he prefers man to man lol
ryan h (@b1rdmann33) April 29, 2013
See? Because man-to-man is a style of defense, and gay sex involves a man and a man. It works on so many levels.
Oh, hey, it’s Tim Brando’s producer who isn’t very bright. Doing something in the face of adversity in order to benefit others is heroic, whether that be militarily or socially or otherwise. Bullets and bombs need not be present for someone to further the cause of freedom and ending prejudice. Beg pardon if that doesn’t fit your comfortable mold of a hero. You and your host keep on trying to play semantics and look really bad doing so, though.
And, finally, the pièce de résistance from an old friend.
Serious question that will be misunderstood: Has any1 mentioned that real reason J Collins coming out is courageous is because he's black?
John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) April 29, 2013
I’m fairly certain that in my lifetime I’ll know a day when an athlete’s sexuality is not an issue. Unfortunately, there is still a whole lot of stupid out there to overcome until then.Tim Baffoe
Tim Baffoe attended the University of Iowa before earning his degree from Governors State University and began blogging at The Score after winning the 2011 Pepsi Max Score Search. He enjoys writing things about stuff, but not so much stuff about things. When not writing for 670TheScore.com, Tim corrupts America’s youth as a high school English teacher and provides a great service to his South Side community delivering pizzas (please tip him and his colleagues well). You can follow Tim’s inappropriate brain droppings on Twitter @TimBaffoe , but please don’t follow him in real life. He grew up in Chicago’s Beverly To read more of Tim’s blogs click here.