For the record I always root for the underdog too bud. Be that a sports team or human elements of society. Part of my blue collar, organized labor and working class roots. I am a Mariners fan too for crying out loud. They are a West Coast variation of the Cubs.

The LBGT world has so few “poster boys” (or girls) in the world of athletics that are positive, traditional success stories compared to the straight world. That it might help to explain why many of us, including me, appreciate this story so much. Remember the real story is as much about Sims team (football/homophobic) accepting him as it is about Brian himself. Yes it might have been a bit easier for him to come out to his team but likely just as terrifying as these situations were to all of us. Sims was an Army brat which usually means these kids move sometimes 1-2x per year and become a bit introverted and self reliant/independent. He also has 2 parents who were Army Colonels for crying out loud. Couldn’t have been easy coming out to them. We shouldn’t assume anyone’s life is easy just that there are some high points of success by what ever you might define that as.
I don’t think any one here wants to celebrate this mans story at the expense of another gay mans story who didn’t have quite as smooth a coming out. I’m just enjoying the moment of a gay man getting some good press is all.
It is human nature to admire a person w/a unique aptitude to perform a task well that interests you but is not within your range of skills. Painters and sculptors have talents not shared by 0.1% of the population. Being good at a sport and thought enough of to be named captain is a bit more common but still a unique attribute. The most endearing attribute Sims has is he’s reported to be a decent man. A nice guy. That’s enough for me.

But you seem pretty nice.

Anyway, I could go on and on and on and on about this issue but it seems like it’s getting enough response as it is (perhaps annoyingly too much response). However, I can’t censor myself and walk on egg shells because I’ve done that too much in my life and that’s just not who I am naturally. It’s just this story has left a bad taste in my mouth. I’ve seen and heard it before. I can’t speak for Sims because I’m not in his shoes nor do I want to be because then I wouldn’t be me.

He’s already the All-American boy next door with perfect looks, perfect mind, body, etc. Football captain……just basically an invincible superman. Add on top of that, he turns out to be gay! BUT THAT’S OK because he has perfect teeth (I do to thanks to my orthodontist and father’s dental plan when I was 11) and a hot body. What nobody is realizing here is the other side of the gay male “spectrum” of those who weren’t that fortunate. They COULDN’T come out and be who they are openly because they didn’t have any of that and are still scarred from that today. You may not know that but it stays with them in later years. THEY may not even realize that themselves.

Alas, don’t be so quick to celebrate. All I see here is that we’ve basically just swallowed the same sugar-filled fat that mainstream straight society feeds the masses; drawn to it like flies. Forgive me for being so un-PC but by nature I am compelled to stick up for and lead those who are perceived as “nobodies” who were never even given a chance in life.

Quit thinking you have to be better than the best. Quit thinking you have to rub elbows with the best. Quit thinking you have to be a part of the status-quo. Be yourself and be the best of who YOU are. The grass is always greener on the other side and “when you get to Heaven, you will wish you were in Hell”. There’s no earning your way in because once you’re there, you can’t even make ONE screw up or you will be kicked out of their elite club. Stop thinking there’s anything wrong with you because there isn’t!

-”Give me a picket sign/Paint it blank and white like all those stupid teenage boys/We’re gonna need them where we’re going tonight”