http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/opinion-why-michael-sam-footnote-history-not-trailblazer-n634786
In this opinion piece Jason Page outlines his opinions about why Micheal Sam will just be a footnote in history and not someone who really changed the world around him but misses some of the most important factors.
He said that he and many other gays had hopped that Michael Sam would be the gay Jackie Robinson but that he failed at that because of himself and his personal team as well as the NFL. Many of his points are good some are not. But he misses the one group that is the most, besides Michael Sam himself. I believe that we all are the primary reason for our own failures..
So what was this missing component? One of the real problems in this whole situation were people like Jason Page and others in the media and Gay community. First of all they made it a media circus that made many team afraid to draft him. I don't believe they weren't weary of drafting Sam because he was gay just because he was a media lightning storm. That ended up not being an issue much, because he was still drafted. But they put an enormous pressure on him. Did he make some mistakes? Yes he did, but people were comparing him to Jackie Robinson for Pete's sake.
Let's look at this ridiculous comparison to Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson had already been in the all star game for the Negro League before he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and even he had to go to the minor leagues first and prove himself in Montreal. Which he did. Then he was a great for the Dodgers.
Sam although a college stand out was never a lock to make a team. He was expected to go late in the draft and many of those guys do not get signed. He did not have the experience or the likelihood to make a great career out of it like Jackie did. Not to mention luck was not on his side. He was drafted by the St. Luis Rams. Although the team had many needs defensive line was not among them. They already had a really deep line and there was just one spot open. Although he had a great camp and there was a walk on defensive end that just out played him for that spot.
He was cut by the Rams and then by the Cowboys. He was the first openly gay player to play in the CFL but his career was short lived. He just never seemed to have the heart to play in Canada.
You admitted that you thought everything was going to change and you cried when he was drafted.
Why? Didn't you know there was a good chance that a seventh round draft pick would not make the team?
When so many people are putting that much pressure on you its easy not to live up to expectations. You as the press in general need to do some introspection here.
Well I hope I wasn't to mean. Those were just my honest thoughts. Have a great evening.