Outsports has learned from various sources that openly gay Mike Survillion, the narrator and one of the stars of Logo’s gay-basketball series Shirts & Skins, has received an offer from the ABA’s San Francisco Rumble. Survillion’s amateur Rock Dogs team played a game against the Rumble earlier this year, losing 51-41.
Survillion talks at length during the show about his hope of playing professional basketball. In particular, Survillion talks to former NBA player John Amaechi about that hope. Amaechi acknowledges the young guard’s skills but told him he had to learn how to become a team leader on and off the court.
This has long been the way experts have believed one of the four major sports leagues would have its first openly gay active player: An out player would simply be too good to pass up either in a draft or as a free agent.
This makes Survillion the second openly gay male professional basketball player in the U.S. Survillion’s Rock Dogs teammate, DeMarco Majors, played with the ABA’s Hawaii team even while he was training for the Gay Games (where he won gold). Amaechi was out to friends while he played in the NBA, but he was not out to the public in general or the press.
on Nov 16th, 2008 at 1:09 am
I saw Shirts & Skins for the first time today and really enjoyed it. Wtg Mike! Good Luck!
on Nov 17th, 2008 at 3:11 am
Mike is an outstanding young man who will succeed in any field. He has the drive and ability and can express himself well. I wish him only the best!
on Nov 17th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I applaud Mike for being able to move towards and acheive his dreams. He always seemed so genuine and humble.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:32 am
I am so proud of Mike! On the show Shirts and Skins, he said that one of his goals was to become a professional player in Europe, but actually made it into a higher-ranking league. I’m glad God has blessed him and I wish him continued success. He always seemed so humble and I can imagine that he must have been glowing once he got the offer.
on Nov 19th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Thats so great. I loved the show so much, and particularly Mike as he dealt with his sexuality and coming out issues. He’s a great talent and I wish him the best of luck and future success.
on Nov 21st, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Mike is a genuine guy. He may be a small person but he has a big heart. He can achieve anything he put his mind to. I LOVE him dearly besides being my lil brother, he’s a great listener as well. I commend him on everything he does. I’m behind 100% lil brother. Do what u think is best for you…Love ya