Comments on: Marcellus Wiley: NFL has no tolerance for gays

By: Jim J

Jim J — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:55:10 +0000

“I don’t think Wiley is deserving of the level of condemnation Cyd has heaped on him.”

That makes two of us. I read Wiley’s comments in a positive light (for Wiley.)

What does a straight person have to do to avoid condemnation? Wave the Rainbow Flag on Christopher Street?

By: Tyler B. Real

Tyler B. Real — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:50:40 +0000

I have to disagree with Cyd Zeigler. If Marcellus says there would be no tolerance for gays, then sadly, id have to beleive him. THE MAN WAS IN THE LOCKER ROOM FOR YEARS! I’m gonna take his word.

As for my 49ers, ex-RB Garrison Hearst once said that fags wouldn’t be welcome in his locker room. So, I dont know how accepting even the San Fran team would be. I hope and pray that someone can and will come out in the NFL and crack the homophobic shield soon. I’m convinced it will have to be a great player, a Pro-Bowl caliber player no less. It will happen one day. It will take some time but we’ll get there.

By: Jim Allen

Jim Allen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:13:29 +0000

It’d be harder on a team coached by an anti-gay coach like Tony Dungy

Ah, Cyd, in mid-season Colts-hating form!

By: Joetx

Joetx — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:08:10 +0000

I don’t think Wiley is deserving of the level of condemnation Cyd has heaped on him. Going by his statement, Wiley seems quite gay-positive. He might’ve overplayed the level of homophobia in the locker room, but do we really believe he isn’t far off?

I must give kudos to Mike’s suggestion. That’s the best thing a straight athlete could say.

By: mark

mark — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:44:31 +0000

Here here. I’m so over people deciding and voting and conferring on what level of tolerance they may or may not be able to confer upon us horrible terrifying gays. I’m no longer interested in anyone’s tolerance or acceptance. I’m going to steal a quote from a talking heads panel where Generals implied soldiers might be intimidated or scared of confrontations in lockerroom facilities to which a member replied “really? if a soldier is afraid of running into me in the shower than perhaps HE’s not the right guy to be hunting down terrorist. I’m over it all. Really, I’m over it all.

By: Mdterp01

Mdterp01 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:41:07 +0000

@timnyc…because its 2010 and we still aren’t allowed to marry. Its nice to have that half glass full mentality but I don’t see it. Furthermore, the whole “time for people to grow up and come out” statement is easier said than done. I don’t criticize anyone for remaining in the closet or waiting years to come out. There is a lot of pressure depending on one’s family, environment, job, race, religion, etc etc. I came out when I was ready. People need to come out when they are mentally ready for it and not when someone else feels they need to because its 2010. Life is a lot more complicated than that simple logic. If it was as easy as “oh its 2010″ then more people would come out don’t ya think?

By: Cyd Zeigler jr.

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:10:52 +0000

I thought the same thing, Jim. But Esera said he was in Bills training camp one year while Wiley was there. Still, it’s odd that Esera could be there for one training camp and get this type of ribbing.

By: Jim Buzinski

Jim Buzinski — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:00:39 +0000

This part has me totally confused:
“Wow! I was just pondering this question a couple weeks ago when I was discussing one of my former teammates Esera Tuaolo who came out after retirement and said he was gay. Quiet as it was kept, it was suspected when we were teammates in Buffalo, but never to the point where there was any hatred for him as a person — more a joke, more a comedy that people used to say stuff to him.”

He makes it sound like he an Esera were teammates, no? Yet Esera never played for Buffalo. His career ended in 1999 and Wiley was on the Bills from 1997-2000. I wonder if Wiley has Esera confused with someone else or whether the interview was garbled?

By: Jarron

Jarron — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:59:40 +0000

At the end of the day he’s just a straight guy giving his honest opinion. It doesnt really help anything but is it really necessary for every straight guy who isnt homophobic to somehow facilitate gay progress. I’m sure if someone close to him was gay he might be actively trying to change it but that is not the case.

Straight people typically care about gay rights when it affects them. As great as Brian Burke is, do you honestly think he would care about gay rights if he didnt have a gay son? of course not. So why are people jumping all over this guy?

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:06:25 +0000

I wish people like Wiley – who claim not be homophobic – would simply say, “if I had a teammate come out to me, I’d support him and do my best to make sure the rest of the team supported him, too.”

Making a statement like that does a tremendous service to gay people. A statement like one he actually made does a service to no one.

No closeted gay person needs to be told how tough it can be to come out. The reason they are still in the closet is because of the fear of the unknown in coming out. Ironically almost every gay guy I’ve ever met found coming out to be less difficult than they imagined. Moreover almost all of them wish they had come out sooner and found their life easier and more fulfilling in the long run living honestly and openly.

But the fear inside while still closeted is very real – whether it’s warranted or not.