All of the speculation and controversy surrounding Michael Sam, the 6’2″, 260-pound gay defensive end from the University of Missouri and how he could impact the National Football League draft, speaks volumes about the NFL–as well as its testosterone culture and primal priorities.
For context, this country is in the midst of a societal 180 when it comes to gay and LGBT issues and attendant rights. The military has bought in. So has the Supreme Court. States are like falling dominoes in their opposition to gay marriage.
But there’s still the sense of wondering how the ultimate arbiter of gay acceptance, the NFL, will handle it. Drum roll, please.
For more context, this is, after all, a league that enabled the vicious, racist, bullying sub-culture of the Miami Dolphins. A league where a thug ethos easily morphed into a pay-for-dirty-play, New Orleans bounty program. A league where a star player, New England’s Aaron Hernandez, could wind up on death row. A league where a lionized, Hall of Famer to be, Ray Lewis, pled guilty to obstruction of justice and walked away from that notorious Atlanta murder case. A league with more Darren Sharpers than Ronde Barbers. A league entirely too familiar with police blotters and plea bargains.
The NFL, ironically, should be grateful for scandal diversion, one that could position it to look like it is welcoming a publicly-acknowledged gay player–and Sam is that as well as a consensus, early-round draft prospect. The NFL, frankly, should welcome the opportunity for conversations about gays–not gangstas. The NFL, which knows a thing or two about marketing coups and enlightened self interest, could actually score one for society absent the most noble of motives.