Last week another number was introduced to the sports world, 98. 98 is the number worn by Jason Collins who is the 1st pro athlete in one of the top four sports to announce that he is gay. He wears 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard who was brutally beaten in 1998 when people found out he was gay. By Jason coming out, he has opened the door for other athletes to be true to who they are and for sexual orientation conversations to be started.
See, that’s the thing about sports. It has a way of putting everyone on a level playing field – and not harping on race, religion or sexual orientation. Sports help bring people together (after all, that’s the whole reason that the Olympics started) and help people see that we are all human and created equally. Maybe athletes have more talent than the rest of us, but they are also at the forefront of trying to change society and help breakdown boundaries. I am not here to blog about equal rights, I am here to educate you on sports.
So, if there is one thing you take away, take away that sports are an amazing platform for issues to be brought into society. For some reason, when jocks have something to say – people listen. So, let’s continue to support athletes in being a voice for society and help them start the conversations for a more tolerable and understanding future that we know can exist.
And if you haven’t seen 42 yet, you must. Heck, you should buy it on DVD and show your kids & your grandkids one day. And get ready, because the movie 98 is unfolding in front of our eyes and we should all open our arms and embrace it!
Thank you sports!
