sams drafted...his celeration..

[Soonerjeepman]

course up here in KC it's the big news of the day. Showed him getting the call then literally making out with his boyfriend..some little skinny white guy. Maybe this should be on the political thread...

I don't want to see ANY drafted player making out with their partner, let alone 2 guys.

Course Fisher had to make the connection of rams being the first to sign a black guy so it's fitting that they drafted the first openly gay player..meh~

[SoonerStormchaser]

Teh ghey mafia will be here to evict you in 5...4...3...2...1...you bigoted homophobe! ;)

[BoulderSooner79]

Loved the smooch - can't wait to see more.

[SoonerorLater]

This why I hate this "agenda" crap. The heavy hand that is used to silence dissenters is not what should be happening in a country founded on individualism.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/dolphin-twitter-trouble/story?id=23670999

[nighttrain12]

He's still crying as we speak! Wahhhh!

[sendbaht]

I wanted to see more tongue..

[ashley]

I don't care what he did but I think it was not a wise decision to do this just before going to meet his new teammates.

[badger]

It makes sense that the Rams would spend a late pick (249th overall) on an in-state star from Mizzou. It was becoming painfully clear that whichever team takes him was taking him on a flier, not as someone they expected to contribute.

In addition, the Rams could use some jersey and ticket sales, so this also helps there, both from Mizzou fans and fans that like supporting the longshots or the pioneers.

I can't fault those who cheer for Michael Sam for reasons other than football. I was rooting for Danica Patrick to win Saturday night (she finished 7th, which is good for her). I'm sure we all have little sports fandom stories like that

[Widescreen]

I seriously doubt you're going to see many Michael Sam jersey sales.

[Turd_Ferguson]

Loved the smooch - can't wait to see more.

I thought you were "gay blind"?

[badger]

I seriously doubt you're going to see many Michael Sam jersey sales.

There's precedent. (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24457433/jason-collins-jersey-skyrockets-to-no-1-on-sales-list)

If a 10-day contract for an aging bench player can top NBA jersey sales a few months ago, I think there will be some demand for a Michael Sam Ram jersey.

[Ruf/Nek7]

I don't mind him being gay, i do however mind espn throwing his gayness in my face. Turned it to NFL network just in time for them to show the feed.

[Boomer.....]

Very true.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/05/11/a-stark-comparison-of-how-culture-has-treated-michael-sam-versus-one-player-who-wears-his-faith-on-his-sleeve/

[badger]

Very true.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/05/11/a-stark-comparison-of-how-culture-has-treated-michael-sam-versus-one-player-who-wears-his-faith-on-his-sleeve/

Both Tebow and Sam got too much media attention, but Tebow was at least a first round draft pick, Heisman trophy winner and two-time SEC and national champion at Florida.

Michael Sam went to Missouri, and since they used to Big 12, we all know what that means. They are trying to prop him up with "SEC Defensive Player of the Year," but Mizzou is not a true SEC power (or even in the southeastern region of the country) like Bammer or lucky Auburn or one of the programs that actually won the national title in the past few decades. To be Mizzou is to be mediocre.

The fact that they won the SEC East... the fact that they are even in the SEC East, is laughable... and sad. Kind of like NFL Draft coverage being mostly Johnny Cleveland and Michael Sam

[badger]

I seriously doubt you're going to see many Michael Sam jersey sales.

btw... I like being right (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10920853/johnny-manziel-cleveland-browns-nfl-top-selling-jersey) :D


The second-most popular jersey among rookies has been that of Michael Sam, the first openly gay player ever to be drafted, despite the fact Sam jerseys weren't available until 9 p.m. ET Saturday. Sam, who played at Missouri, was picked in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams.

Soooo... maybe there's a reason why they can't talk stopping about Manziel and Sam even though more than 250 other players were drafted.

[BoulderSooner79]

The second-most popular jersey among rookies has been that of Michael Sam, the first openly gay player ever to be drafted, despite the fact Sam jerseys weren't available until 9 p.m. ET Saturday. Sam, who played at Missouri, was picked in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams.


That alone gives him an advantage over other late round picks/UFA signings when the Rams cut the roster to 53.

[Sooner in Tampa]

That alone gives him an advantage over other late round picks/UFA signings when the Rams cut the roster to 53.
Why? Because of the .39 cents they get per jersey sold?

Players don't make the roster because of jersey sales...he will make the final 53, though...there is no way in hell they be able to cut him (even if he sucks...ummmm...is not a good enough player)...the backlash will be monumental...

[BoulderSooner79]

Why? Because of the .39 cents they get per jersey sold?

Players don't make the roster because of jersey sales...he will make the final 53, though...there is no way in hell they be able to cut him (even if he sucks...ummmm...is not a good enough player)...the backlash will be monumental...

I'm sure they make more than .39 cents per jersey. Every bit adds up. They have the carrot of merchandise and ticket sales and the stick of the public backlash if/when they cut him. Not many special teams/bench players make a team money by sitting on the bench, so I'm sure they'll take advantage of that. I'd bet almost anything he at least stays on until the final cut.

[olevetonahill]

Can Yall talk about the other 250 players that were drafted, And leave the queer crap alone. who cares !

[badger]

That alone gives him an advantage over other late round picks/UFA signings when the Rams cut the roster to 53.

It didn't save Tim Tebow from roster cuts in New England last preseason, despite his jersey selling reasonably well (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/22388447/tim-tebow-will-wear-no-5-patriots-pumping-up-jersey-sales-online).

However, I tend to agree with you, as the Rams are in a different boat from the Pats right now. The Rams are near the bottom in league attendance. (http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance) The Rams have a stadium controversy brewing. (http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/l-a-land-sale-raises-stakes-in-rams-stadium-talks/article_af7e5b59-0b30-5978-ad5d-2a7b3b0878d6.html)

The Rams could use some positive publicity, or at least something that drums up fan interest in a team that loses a lot.

[BoulderSooner79]

It didn't save Tim Tebow from roster cuts in New England last preseason, despite his jersey selling reasonably well (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/22388447/tim-tebow-will-wear-no-5-patriots-pumping-up-jersey-sales-online).

However, I tend to agree with you, as the Rams are in a different boat from the Pats right now. The Rams are near the bottom in league attendance. (http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance) The Rams have a stadium controversy brewing. (http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/l-a-land-sale-raises-stakes-in-rams-stadium-talks/article_af7e5b59-0b30-5978-ad5d-2a7b3b0878d6.html)

The Rams could use some positive publicity, or at least something that drums up fan interest in a team that loses a lot.

Belichik and New England have earned the right with the fan base to do what they want. I admit I was surprised they picked up Tebow because I couldn't imagine what they would do with him. Maybe McDaniel wanted to try a wildcat package or something.

EDIT: Thinking more about it, maybe jerseys sales *was* the NE motivation. The sales may have petered out once it was clear he wasn't going to play. At least that made sense vs. what the Jets did in trading for him and keeping that 1st round salary contract.

[badger]

Thinking more about it, maybe jerseys sales *was* the NE motivation. The sales may have petered out once it was clear he wasn't going to play. At least that made sense vs. what the Jets did in trading for him and keeping that 1st round salary contract.

They actually created a jersey sale policy that seems to be in response to the Tebow cut last offseason. Link (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2055842-new-england-patriots-offer-guarantee-for-fans-purchasing-new-jerseys)

I miss laughing at Tebow's throwing motion and thinking he could scramble across the line of scrimmage, scramble back behind it and do a forward pass. It was hilarious and the NFL would have a huge void if they didn't have Tebow this preseason.

Will someone PLEASE sign him? If nothing else, JERSEY SALES! :P

[BoulderSooner79]

They actually created a jersey sale policy that seems to be in response to the Tebow cut last offseason. Link (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2055842-new-england-patriots-offer-guarantee-for-fans-purchasing-new-jerseys)

I miss laughing at Tebow's throwing motion and thinking he could scramble across the line of scrimmage, scramble back behind it and do a forward pass. It was hilarious and the NFL would have a huge void if they didn't have Tebow this preseason.

Will someone PLEASE sign him? If nothing else, JERSEY SALES! :P

That is awesome! Those jerseys have a huge markup and the Pats are allowing the fans to buy another jersey with only a large markup *and* walk away feeling like they won. All teams should do this!

[badger]

They could call it the have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too policy... or have-your-tebow-and-cut-him-too :P

[FaninAma]

I think the Rams should have him add some weight and then convert him to a center. He might not be any good but he would certainly enjoy the position more.

The on screen kiss was totally unnecessary and was just an in-your-face statement by Sams. It really craters any support I may have had for him.

The Rams front office did their coaching staff no favors by caving in to the league office. Now they will be accused of being homophobes when they cut him and if players don't give him special treatment on and off the field they will too.

[badger]

The Rams front office did their coaching staff no favors by caving in to the league office. Now they will be accused of being homophobes when they cut him and if players don't give him special treatment on and off the field they will too.

If they don't like it, they should have won more in recent seasons so that they wouldn't be in the must-sell-tickets-and-must-generate-publicity situation they're in now. Unfair? Maybe, but the NFL is a business, a very lucrative one, so they have to grow up and be professional even if they'd prefer to have fun playing a game while goofing off in a lockerroom with sophomoric humor.

Boo hoo, no rookie hazing this year :rolleyes:

[Widescreen]

btw... I like being right (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10920853/johnny-manziel-cleveland-browns-nfl-top-selling-jersey) :D



Soooo... maybe there's a reason why they can't talk stopping about Manziel and Sam even though more than 250 other players were drafted.

Let's wait until week 1 and see how many Sam jersies there are in the stands. Al the current sales tell me is that there are a bunch of gay Ram fans buying his jersey today.

Edit: I'm talking about Michael Sam, not Sam Bradford.

[badger]

Let's wait until week 1 and see how many Sam jersies there are in the stands. Al the current sales tell me is that there are a bunch of gay Ram fans buying his jersey today.

Edit: I'm talking about Michael Sam, not Sam Bradford.

Fun thought: Remember when those WVU players would sit next to each other on the bench for added lulz?
http://misterirrelevant.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/dingleberries-are-fun.jpg

Sam and Michael need to do that at least once :D

[Sooner in Tampa]

It didn't save Tim Tebow from roster cuts in New England last preseason, despite his jersey selling reasonably well (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/22388447/tim-tebow-will-wear-no-5-patriots-pumping-up-jersey-sales-online).

However, I tend to agree with you, as the Rams are in a different boat from the Pats right now. The Rams are near the bottom in league attendance. (http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance) The Rams have a stadium controversy brewing. (http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/l-a-land-sale-raises-stakes-in-rams-stadium-talks/article_af7e5b59-0b30-5978-ad5d-2a7b3b0878d6.html)

The Rams could use some positive publicity, or at least something that drums up fan interest in a team that loses a lot.

When teams in the NFL start drafting players for "attendance"...they are doomed to fail~53 man rosters don't have the luxury of keeping some guy just because he might put fans in the seats. If that were the case the Jaguars would have just signed Tebow.

In a good year, a typical NFL team makes about $5 million off merchandise sales, which worldwide totaled $3.2 billion in 2006. However, because of a wacky economic scheme, the teams don’t benefit all that much, sharing only about 12% of the wholesale price of an item.So, based on that number, when a superstar’s jersey is sold, each team gets 11 cents a piece.

[badger]

I agree that a team isn't going to sign and keep a player for publicity and jersey sales.

But just signing him and cutting him before the final 53-man roster? Sure, why not.

The Rams could avoid the potential bad publicity fallout from the inevitable final cut by practice squadding him. That way, he could move up to the main roster at any time or get cut at any time, depending on which way the PR winds blow.

I am not ashamed to admit that I watch NFL preseason games with the punchline "you're cut" after every bad play. I'll tune into the first quarter to see Real Sam throw a TD or five, then stay till the fourth quarter to see Seventh Round Sam be undersized or too slow (depending on what position they try him at)

[BoulderSooner79]

When teams in the NFL start drafting players for "attendance"...they are doomed to fail~53 man rosters don't have the luxury of keeping some guy just because he might put fans in the seats. If that were the case the Jaguars would have just signed Tebow.



This particular case had many more factors than attendance or jersey sales. This was also about making history. Whether you think it is bad history or not is irrelevant.

The conspiracy theory/cynic in me can't help but think the league office was involved in this as I usually go by the "follow the money" rule to understand motivation. In this case, it's not money. But when I look at who benefited from this draft choice, it was Goodell and the NFL offices. Even though Goodell doesn't draft anyone, he would have been facing a Spanish inquisition had Sam gone the UFA route. Now the official party line is that this was strictly a Jeff Fisher call after clearing it with the GM and owner. If that is really the case, I take my hat off to Fisher for having the guts to do this. He's the one that will face the scrutiny when rosters are trimmed and he certainly knew this going in.

[Eielson]

Do they Rams and Browns play? I'd like to see Sam sack Manziel and then give him a little "extra".

[badger]

Do they Rams and Browns play? I'd like to see Sam sack Manziel and then give him a little "extra".

Funny you ask... they do. (http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Browns-to-face-Redskins-in-primetime-on-ESPN-2014-preseason-opponents-announced/bafd8643-c8a2-4c54-90de-c945c36ef715) Tenatively scheduled sometime between Aug. 21-24 at Cleveland.

However, since it's the third preseason game for the Browns, they will have likely declared Manziel the starter by then, whereas the Rams will have declared Michael Sam on the cutting board by then. Thus, their paths will likely not cross, except for the pregame/postgame handshake.

[BoulderSooner79]

Funny you ask... they do. (http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Browns-to-face-Redskins-in-primetime-on-ESPN-2014-preseason-opponents-announced/bafd8643-c8a2-4c54-90de-c945c36ef715) Tenatively scheduled sometime between Aug. 21-24 at Cleveland.

However, since it's the third preseason game for the Browns, they will have likely declared Manziel the starter by then, whereas the Rams will have declared Michael Sam on the cutting board by then. Thus, their paths will likely not cross, except for the pregame/postgame handshake.

I disagree. Normally, the starters take the most snaps in the 3rd preseason game and then sit in the 4th game - I would expect Manziel to be getting a lot of snaps in that game even if he hasn't been officially declared starter. And I would bet real money Sam will not be cut before the final reduction after the 4th game for all the political reasons already discussed. Better hide the TV remote if you don't like hype that week!

[KYSooner]

As a hard core OU fan, it shames me to read what a lot of people on here have written and shared regarding this topic. First and foremost, Michael Sam is a bada$$ D-lineman and we would have been lucky to have had him on our team. He works hard, plays hard, and his results on the field are proven. He was a team leader and his teammates loved and respected him enough to keep a high profile athlete's secret quiet until he told the world himself. Keep in mind that he was SEC defensive player of the year before he came out. For a 20 something year old to keep something like that quiet is amazing! Can you imagine the respct he commands from his teammates?

Nobody here blinks twice when another drafted player tongues his lady when he's drafted. Michael Sam showed true emotion after he was drafted and kissed the person he loved...knowing that it was on TV...knowing that millions of Americans would bash him about it because they see it as wrong...those same Americans who see this country as the Home of the Free!

To those that think the Rams drafted him for sales I think you're nuts! As a matter of fact, to think that the SEC D player of the year went in the 7th round is absurd! I know we all hate the SEC but be honest there is a little bit of a reason they get the publicity they do!

I say props to Michael Sam for being himself in a world that tries to tell you how to act and which direction to go. This man probably has more heart than anyone on the team he's just joined. Say what you want, but I bet God fearing Sam Bradford has already called him and welcomed him to the team, hoping he turns out to be a star!

[olevetonahill]

KY I dont GAS who he ****s ,sucks Blows or licks. Im just sick of hearing about it and seein Pics of it.

[badger]

Michael Sam is a bada$$ D-lineman and we would have been lucky to have had him on our team

A lot of "bada$$" college players do not get drafted or make an impact in the NFL. Jason White was undrafted and his agent called up every team and they all said they weren't interested (he later got a tryout but had to stop because of knee issues). The co-Big 12 defensive player of the year was undrafted (Texas' Jackson Jeffcoat). The other SEC defensive player of the year (yes, Sam was only co-defensive POY, not sole defensive POY) went in the first round.

Grantland (http://grantland.com/features/nfl-draft-michael-sam-gay-trades/) can say it better than I can, so once again:


If you were following the story, you’ve probably heard it: Sam was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year (co–Defensive Player of the Year with C.J. Mosley, actually). Mosley went off the board 17th, continuing an eight-year run of SEC Defensive Players of the Year coming off the board in the first round. If the SEC Defensive Player of the Year always comes off the board in the first round, then why not Sam — if not in the first round, then at least in the middle of the draft?

Well, because that’s not a very substantial sample, nor one that means much in terms of predictive value — that award has been around only since 2003. There are actually plenty of examples of players who found themselves in similar situations. For a seven-year stretch from 2002 to 2008, the six players1 who won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award were all drafted in the first round. The 2009 award winner, Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones, was drafted in the sixth round, 185th overall. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award went to players who would be taken within the top 37 selections five years in a row, from 2000 to 2004. The 2005 DPOY was Nick Reid, and he went undrafted. An even more appropriate comparison might be one of the co–Big 12 Defensive Players of the Year this season, Texas lineman Jackson Jeffcoat. Jeffcoat, who had 13 sacks, was one of the two Associated Press All-Americans at defensive end this year. The other was Michael Sam. Despite that strong résumé, Jeffcoat went unselected in New York.

You make it sound like there's some grand NFL conspiracy and we're all suckers for falling for it. Michael Sam was not the first college star to tank in the draft and won't be the last.

[BoulderSooner79]

KYSooner, every draft expert they drug out and put in front of the camera agreed that Sam was drafted about where he belonged. He was slotted in rounds 4-6 originally, and then fell to 7th-UFA after the combine. He recovered a bit in his pro day. ESPN reported that the Rams and 3 other teams were going to offer a UFA contract had he not been drafted. The Cowboys had another pick after the last Rams pick and they were another rumored team to be interested, so maybe that convinced the Rams to go ahead and draft him. But Fisher himself acknowledged the historic aspect of the selection, so I suspect that was the real reason he decided to use a draft pick instead. I applaud the decision and it makes a much bigger social statement than the UFA route even though it makes little difference from a football perspective.

As far as the reaction here, I think it is fairly predictable. Individuals reactions will vary, but given an adequate sample, it will reflect the reaction of Okies as a whole which has not been real supportive of gay equality. I can understand disliking all the hype, but it doesn't explain why so many are routing against Sam as is pretty clear. I think most would prefer the status quo of football player either being straight or, if not, at least staying deep in the closet. But they will get over it and once there is an openly gay Sooner player, I believe crimson blood will be thicker than water.

[Soonerjeepman]

Nobody here blinks twice when another drafted player tongues his lady when he's drafted.

ummm, yes I do. Said that in my OP. I really don't care to see ANYONE do that.

Never said he wasn't a good player...just don't care to have his gayness being blasted all over for the sake of supporting gay rights.

[Soonerjeepman]

As far as the reaction here, I think it is fairly predictable. Individuals reactions will vary, but given an adequate sample, it will reflect the reaction of Okies as a whole which has not been real supportive of gay equality. I can understand disliking all the hype, but it doesn't explain why so many are routing against Sam as is pretty clear. I think most would prefer the status quo of football player either being straight or, if not, at least staying deep in the closet. But they will get over it and once there is an openly gay Sooner player, I believe crimson blood will be thicker than water.

I have no problem if someone is gay. I don't believe it's "normal", biological. As far as rights..don't believe it's something they should have because they are gay. BUT what you do in your bedroom as long as it's consensual between 2 adults is up to them...but do NOT force me to accept it nor throw it out there.

Which is exactly what the media does. Why I posted the original...the showing of him and his boyfriend making out...did they show any other recruits making out with their gf?


I hope he is successful in whatever he does.

[BoulderSooner79]

I have no problem if someone is gay. I don't believe it's "normal", biological. As far as rights..don't believe it's something they should have because they are gay. BUT what you do in your bedroom as long as it's consensual between 2 adults is up to them...but do NOT force me to accept it nor throw it out there.

Which is exactly what the media does. Why I posted the original...the showing of him and his boyfriend making out...did they show any other recruits making out with their gf?


I hope he is successful in whatever he does.

The media certainly blurs things, but the issue is not rights because of being gay, rather discrimination due to being gay. The NFL has a written policy against such discrimination, but that was only put into place with the last agreement with the players association. And we all know there are rules and then there is reality. There are various reports from insiders saying that several teams crossed him off their board the day he came out. Technically against the rule, but impossible to prove w/o documentation. I'm sure his poor showing at the combine was welcome relief for those squads. The action taken by the Rams absolutely is historic and breaks a culturally accepted barrier. Plenty of football fans think it is perfectly okay to black-ball gay players from participating. They think it is perfectly acceptable for a coach to avoid such a player because it is a possible "distraction". (Those same coaches will draft a player that beat his girlfriend).

And as far as "keeping it to themselves" - how is this different than staying in the closet? A persons' sexuality is part of their external persona. People wear wedding rings and put pictures of the wife and kiddies on their desks at work. People often give a shout out to the family if they get interview or accept an award. It's human nature to be proud of their loved ones.

[Eielson]

Sam's stats are a bit misleading. He had a stretch where he had 3 sacks in 3 of 4 games (9 total), which is absolutely incredible. However, in his final 5 SEC games, he had a combined total of 0.5 sacks. He's certainly somebody you need to block, but I don't know that I'd say he's bad-a$$. Jackson Jeffcoat on the other hand had a sack in 8 of the last 10 games. Sam wasn't projected high before he came out, so I don't think his announcement dropped him more than maybe a round.

[Sooner in Tampa]

Sam's stats are a bit misleading. He had a stretch where he had 3 sacks in 3 of 4 games (9 total), which is absolutely incredible. However, in his final 5 SEC games, he had a combined total of 0.5 sacks. He's certainly somebody you need to block, but I don't know that I'd say he's bad-a$$. Jackson Jeffcoat on the other hand had a sack in 8 of the last 10 games. Sam wasn't projected high before he came out, so I don't think his announcement dropped him more than maybe a round.

Sam's stats were padded against weak competition...

[FaninAma]

As a hard core OU fan, it shames me to read what a lot of people on here have written and shared regarding this topic. First and foremost, Michael Sam is a bada$$ D-lineman and we would have been lucky to have had him on our team. He works hard, plays hard, and his results on the field are proven. He was a team leader and his teammates loved and respected him enough to keep a high profile athlete's secret quiet until he told the world himself. Keep in mind that he was SEC defensive player of the year before he came out. For a 20 something year old to keep something like that quiet is amazing! Can you imagine the respct he commands from his teammates?

Nobody here blinks twice when another drafted player tongues his lady when he's drafted. Michael Sam showed true emotion after he was drafted and kissed the person he loved...knowing that it was on TV...knowing that millions of Americans would bash him about it because they see it as wrong...those same Americans who see this country as the Home of the Free!

To those that think the Rams drafted him for sales I think you're nuts! As a matter of fact, to think that the SEC D player of the year went in the 7th round is absurd! I know we all hate the SEC but be honest there is a little bit of a reason they get the publicity they do!

I say props to Michael Sam for being himself in a world that tries to tell you how to act and which direction to go. This man probably has more heart than anyone on the team he's just joined. Say what you want, but I bet God fearing Sam Bradford has already called him and welcomed him to the team, hoping he turns out to be a star!
If you think the perception of a man kissing his wife is the same as a man kissing another man on the mouth then you are an idiot. It was inappropriate and it was planned as an in-your-face staged event. The more shrill the the gay groups get the more people who do not favor their agenda will stop giving them the benefit of the doubt by remaining silent. They need to stop shoving it in everybody's face...pun intended.

[KantoSooner]

PDA's are an individual thing. Some people like to do them, some people don't even want to see others do them. While I will admit to feeling a bit shocked the first time I saw two men sucking face, it was quickly eclipsed by other things I saw during various business trips to San Francisco in the 1980's and 1990's (men in assless jeans and naked dwarves serving beers whilst running up and down the bar being two of the more outre that I recall).
But, even there, you don't see much of that any more. And I think I know why. Straight American has quit shrieking with outrage, so, for those so inclined, it's not as much fun anymore.
Was it in poor taste? Perhaps. To much the same degree it would be to openly give the wife tongue and grope her boobies in a similar circumstance. We get it. That person is your squeeze. And most of us adults have little problem imagining what you all do in private. But it's just poor taste to take it too far in that circumstance. They're young, though, and young people will do dumb *** stuff more times than not. Ignore them. That's all it is.

[Soonerjeepman]

And as far as "keeping it to themselves" - how is this different than staying in the closet? A persons' sexuality is part of their external persona. People wear wedding rings and put pictures of the wife and kiddies on their desks at work. People often give a shout out to the family if they get interview or accept an award. It's human nature to be proud of their loved ones.

again, show me where any other player was shown tonguing his partner? What you say and what was shown are two totally different things.

[FaninAma]

PDA's are an individual thing. Some people like to do them, some people don't even want to see others do them. While I will admit to feeling a bit shocked the first time I saw two men sucking face, it was quickly eclipsed by other things I saw during various business trips to San Francisco in the 1980's and 1990's (men in assless jeans and naked dwarves serving beers whilst running up and down the bar being two of the more outre that I recall).
But, even there, you don't see much of that any more. And I think I know why. Straight American has quit shrieking with outrage, so, for those so inclined, it's not as much fun anymore.
Was it in poor taste? Perhaps. To much the same degree it would be to openly give the wife tongue and grope her boobies in a similar circumstance. We get it. That person is your squeeze. And most of us adults have little problem imagining what you all do in private. But it's just poor taste to take it too far in that circumstance. They're young, though, and young people will do dumb *** stuff more times than not. Ignore them. That's all it is.

I could care less what people do in private. You're a guy and have a preference for hairy @$$es? More power to you and what you do in the privacy of your bed room. But this idiot knew he was on television and he knew exactly what he was going to do when the draft news came. He was determined to flaunt his gayness in everybody's face. He didn't care that kids were watching the draft broadcast.

I also resent the shrillness of the gay advocacy groups as they try to brow beat and intimidate people into silence.

I hope Sams becomes a huge pain in the @$$ for the Rams and the coaching staff.(pun intended) It will serve them right if they drafted him for the possible goodwill of the league. I do think the NFL is misreading their primary fan base.

[KantoSooner]

It was tacky. Don't build it up any further with your outrage.

[EatLeadCommie]

Most folks who have issues with gay folks still don't care what the gay folks do in the privacy of their own home. Much like what those straight folks do in the privacy of their own homes, they don't think it's anybody's damn business. Sex and sexuality is, by and large, an issue left private-- particularly in the United States.

The line between "being ok with it" and being forced to accept everything gay as ok has been blurred, and there will inevitably be some backlash to it. It seems silly to me that an NFL player who had the same reaction that the vast majority of straight people did upon seeing Sam kiss his boyfriend (revulsion, essentially), would have to be re-educated through financial penalties and gay mafia intimidation to accept that kiss. That revulsion is as natural to me as Sam's desire to kiss his boyfriend. "OMG" is EXACTLY the response that a lot of folks had. Now if, like Kanto, you've seen enough bizarre or gay stuff in your life in trips to SF or just around town to effectively be desensitized to two men kissing on national TV, then that's fine and dandy. Most folks haven't, and they shouldn't have to be made to feel like a bunch of unsophisticated yokels just because they wanted to barf when Sam kissed his BF.

[badger]

I don't really mind the kiss. At least he didn't make a horror movie pose like Russell Wilson's (now ex-) wife. Public shows of affection can be awkward regardless of who it's with.

NFL preseason can't get here soon enough. I'd rather talk about football games than football drafts and recruiting and signing and spring games and attendance and unionization and **** it i give up

[BoulderSooner79]

again, show me where any other player was shown tonguing his partner? What you say and what was shown are two totally different things.

I saw the kiss and it was nothing; it was not a sexual kiss and no different than many other players kissing there girl friends or Moms when they got chosen. I admit that I wince every time I see 2 men kissing and I probably always will. But I admit I'm a hypocrite because I don't have that reaction at all when 2 females kiss each other. Fortunately, I missed the cake kiss video because that totally grosses me out regardless of who is doing it. I have no idea why he choice to make that public, but it was in poor taste (heh).

But be honest with me. If all you saw was Sam hugging his boy friend (no kiss) like every other player did with their wives and girl friends would you have been any less offended? I don't feel comfortable seeing it as opposed to the girl friend hug, but the rational part of my brain can keep me from going over the edge into "offended" territory.

[FaninAma]

It was tacky. Don't build it up any further with your outrage.

I am not outraged. I just have very little tolerance for idiots who do things for shock value. And you already know my opinions about the mores and behavior a society accepts and promotes playing an important role in the long term viability of that society. Wide spread acceptance of homosexual behavior as a moral equivalent of heterosexual behavior has never benefited a society. Is it the single reason societies deteriorate and fall apart? No. But it is a symptom of the broader issues leading to that deterioration.

Putin and the Russian leaders didn't pass anti-gay laws because they hate gays. They understand that their country is facing demographic collapse if the current population replacement trends continue and they are attempting to promote behavior that reverses those demographic trends and discourage behavior that contributes to their rapidly accelerating demographic death spiral.

And I would ask you to refrain from giving me advice on what I find offensive or how I choose to express my opinions.

[KantoSooner]

Fanin = Greece survived, as did Rome as the leading lights of classical civilization for several thousand years with open homosexuality being rampantly practiced by everyone from Alexander and Aristotle to Julius Caesar (none of whom any of us would have bested in open combat or in general learning). It has zero impact on a society. So ditch that red herring. Go ahead and be <insert negative word here> about it, but not on those grounds.

Vlad Putin as an example of sound societal governance and leadership? What next? The Solomonic wisdom of Heinrich Himmler? Perhaps the cogent sociological musings of Pol Pot? The keen insight of Charles Manson?

Putin has feelings about gayness, all right. You can tell by the number of times he whips his shirt off to go wrestle bears or whatever. But those feelings would appear to be, from his own behavior, consistent with latency, at the least.

As far as tutoring you on outrage, rest assured that I am utterly confident in your abilities in that regard and wouldn't dream of attempting to inform you. My throwaway point was that we all give to Sam's artless display more attention than it deserves and that we would be better served by simply ignoring him and others who engage in tacky, yet ultimately harmless, displays. Feel free to disagree, however, in however enflamed a mode seems appropriate.

[Eielson]

Were there two kissing videos? I recall one with a little smooch which I wasn't a huge fan of, but I didn't really care. Wasn't there another one where they were rubbing cake in each others' faces or something? I only remember catching it briefly.

[FaninAma]

Fanin = Greece survived, as did Rome as the leading lights of classical civilization for several thousand years with open homosexuality being rampantly practiced by everyone from Alexander and Aristotle to Julius Caesar (none of whom any of us would have bested in open combat or in general learning). It has zero impact on a society. So ditch that red herring. Go ahead and be <insert negative word here> about it, but not on those grounds.

Vlad Putin as an example of sound societal governance and leadership? What next? The Solomonic wisdom of Heinrich Himmler? Perhaps the cogent sociological musings of Pol Pot? The keen insight of Charles Manson?

Putin has feelings about gayness, all right. You can tell by the number of times he whips his shirt off to go wrestle bears or whatever. But those feelings would appear to be, from his own behavior, consistent with latency, at the least.

As far as tutoring you on outrage, rest assured that I am utterly confident in your abilities in that regard and wouldn't dream of attempting to inform you. My throwaway point was that we all give to Sam's artless display more attention than it deserves and that we would be better served by simply ignoring him and others who engage in tacky, yet ultimately harmless, displays. Feel free to disagree, however, in however enflamed a mode seems appropriate.

Kanto, how many children do you have? Ever wonder what kind of society they will be living in in 20 years? I wonder if Western Europe, Japan and Russia ever thought they would be in the dire demographic straits they are in. You can belittle my opinion on this matter all you want or engage in all of the reductio ad absurdum arguments you want. It doesn't change the fact that societal moral values on things like marriage, family and child rearing do make a difference in the long run in terms of adding or reducing value and stability to a society.

Sure, Sams is just one person but this whole saga is representative of the attempt to draw a moral and societal value equivalence between homosexual relationships and traditional heterosexual relationships underpinned in marriage. Shrillness and attempts to silence opponents does not equate to validation of one's opinion or values.

[SoonerorLater]

Fanin = Greece survived, as did Rome as the leading lights of classical civilization for several thousand years with open homosexuality being rampantly practiced by everyone from Alexander and Aristotle to Julius Caesar (none of whom any of us would have bested in open combat or in general learning). It has zero impact on a society. So ditch that red herring. Go ahead and be <insert negative word here> about it, but not on those grounds.

Vlad Putin as an example of sound societal governance and leadership? What next? The Solomonic wisdom of Heinrich Himmler? Perhaps the cogent sociological musings of Pol Pot? The keen insight of Charles Manson?

Putin has feelings about gayness, all right. You can tell by the number of times he whips his shirt off to go wrestle bears or whatever. But those feelings would appear to be, from his own behavior, consistent with latency, at the least.

As far as tutoring you on outrage, rest assured that I am utterly confident in your abilities in that regard and wouldn't dream of attempting to inform you. My throwaway point was that we all give to Sam's artless display more attention than it deserves and that we would be better served by simply ignoring him and others who engage in tacky, yet ultimately harmless, displays. Feel free to disagree, however, in however enflamed a mode seems appropriate.

I really don't think you want to use the Greek and Roman Empires as shining examples of the irrelevance of moral depravity. As a matter of fact they should both be cautionary tales.

[oudivesherpa]

I'm not offended by Sam's kissing his boy friend, but I am offended by both Sam's and JD Clowney crying after they were drafted. To paraphrase Tom Hanks in a league of their own, "this is football, their is no crying in football." Well there is no crying in football unless you are an entitled Bama or Poke fan and get kicked by the Sooners when all the pundits said you were going to win.

[swardboy]

I KNEW this thread would turn to the sheep humpers eventually!!!!

[KantoSooner]

Fanin, Who knew you'd be in favor of centralized control of the culture? Or so terrified at the ultimate weakness of our culture that two boys kissing each other without black shirts coming down on them signals societal collapse. I had no idea that western culture had been poised on such a knife's edge for the last, oh, 5,000 years.

Oh, I've got a wonderful daughter who's 22....and terribly straight.

Later, I'll go ahead and take the Greeks and Romans on this one. A coupla thousand years in the Big Chair and essentially formed Western Civ? Acceptance of homosexuality seems to have been no more than a bit of moss on the keel of their ships of state.

[jkjsooner]

Nobody here blinks twice when another drafted player tongues his lady when he's drafted. Michael Sam showed true emotion after he was drafted and kissed the person he loved...knowing that it was on TV...knowing that millions of Americans would bash him about it because they see it as wrong...those same Americans who see this country as the Home of the Free!

Exactly.

I'll be the first to say that I get uncomfortable when I see gay people making out but that is my issue not their's. When a straight person kisses his mate nobody says anything. When a gay person does this they are "shoving it in our face." If we feel that way that is our issue not their's.

I'm sure Sam would love to be able to kiss his partner and it not make the news....

[Eielson]

I really don't think you want to use the Greek and Roman Empires as shining examples of the irrelevance of moral depravity. As a matter of fact they should both be cautionary tales.

I was thinking the same thing.

[badger]

I just read this on TMQ on ESPN: (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10924108/tuesday-morning-quarterback-twilight-running-back)


If Michael Sam makes the Rams' roster, he will be coached by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The MSM will fall all over itself praising the Rams for any good news about Sam. Thus the football gods have sent Williams a chance to generate good press and rebuild his tarnished reputation.

How bout that. Gregg was of course that guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Williams) behind the Nawlins bounty scandal who was suspended a season.

[Soonerjeepman]

I saw the kiss and it was nothing; it was not a sexual kiss and no different than many other players kissing there girl friends or Moms when they got chosen. I admit that I wince every time I see 2 men kissing and I probably always will. But I admit I'm a hypocrite because I don't have that reaction at all when 2 females kiss each other. Fortunately, I missed the cake kiss video because that totally grosses me out regardless of who is doing it. I have no idea why he choice to make that public, but it was in poor taste (heh).

But be honest with me. If all you saw was Sam hugging his boy friend (no kiss) like every other player did with their wives and girl friends would you have been any less offended? I don't feel comfortable seeing it as opposed to the girl friend hug, but the rational part of my brain can keep me from going over the edge into "offended" territory.

guess I disagree about it being just a little kiss...2nd, if they had just hugged I wouldn't have cared because MOST people would have probably thought it was just a friend...I hug my fellow male friends all the time. They wanted to make a statement.

[Soonerjeepman]

Were there two kissing videos? I recall one with a little smooch which I wasn't a huge fan of, but I didn't really care. Wasn't there another one where they were rubbing cake in each others' faces or something? I only remember catching it briefly.

well here in kc, it wasn't a smooch, nor a cake rubbing. they wrapped arms around each other and definitely were "making out"...anyway that's what we called it when I was in HS.

[jkjsooner]

guess I disagree about it being just a little kiss...2nd, if they had just hugged I wouldn't have cared because MOST people would have probably thought it was just a friend...I hug my fellow male friends all the time. They wanted to make a statement.

The kiss lasted for about a second. No tongue or anything. It was nothing abnormal for a boyfriend/girlfriend to do in a similar situation.

Now, the cake video is different. I'm not sure when that happened but I don't think that's the video we're discussing.

The video is here. It's a less than one second kiss and then a long hug. This would not be considered abnormal or even PDA had it been a man and a woman.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/05/10/michael_sam_kiss_the_st_louis_rams_pick_the_openly _gay_missouri_star_in.html

[BoulderSooner79]

guess I disagree about it being just a little kiss...2nd, if they had just hugged I wouldn't have cared because MOST people would have probably thought it was just a friend...I hug my fellow male friends all the time. They wanted to make a statement.

Yes, it was more intimate than kissing his sister, but not a tongue-lashing, prelude to sex. And by just a hug, I did mean a hug where you knew it was his boyfriend and not just a friend. I do recoil a bit myself when seeing that, but I know it's my conditioning and I feel no need to demand censorship. He has a lot of public support outside the gay community right now, and if I were his PR guy, I would advise him to tone it down to keep that support. But this has got to be one of the top moments in these players lives, and it's understandable they get all emotional. I doubt he'll have another football moment as big unless he happens to make a team that wins the Super bowl.

[SouthFortySooner]

Isn't it human nature to compare the actions of others to yourself? Isn't this the reason for the success of reality TV shows such as Fear Factor? Don't we shudder when someone eats a bag of maggots because we COULD NEVER HAVE EVAR FATHOMED DOING THAT! And no matter how many times or how many ways you promote to me eating rotten maggots is and I should deem it sociably acceptable, I am going to shudder. Carry on maggot eating proponents.

[colleyvillesooner]

so...turns out he's doing a reality show. For Oprah's network.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/05/14/michael-sam-reality-show/

Deadspins take:

http://deadspin.com/michael-sam-is-doing-a-reality-show-and-that-sucks-1576793287

[EatLeadCommie]

The Greeks and Romans didn't fall because they were having too much buttsex. The were overextended financially and militarily, kinda like us. But I suppose when the historians look back at our civilization's demise, it's possible that a few of them may conclude our demise started with Roseanne Barr kissing a girl on TV and ended with gay marriage.

Sam's reaction was normal, but it is irresponsible of both the networks and the NFL to not anticipate his reaction and--more importantly-- to not anticipate their audience's reaction to Sam's reaction being televised and shown repeatedly. They put themselves in that position, but they can't very well come out and say, "Yeah, we screwed up. We should've figured that people would be grossed out." Instead, they dig their hole further with the PC police.

And as Colleyville just linked, it looks like the distraction may be just beginning http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24563838/report-michael-sam-didnt-tell-rams-about-oprah-documentary-plan

I'm happy for Michael Sam. I think he was pretty brave to do what he did. However, people need to stop living in their Utopian La La Land when it comes to this stuff. When I talk about sex, I do it with my friends and whoever I have sex with. Most people do that. It doesn't get splashed around on TV for a reason. When it does and when the media takes it up as a cause celebre, there is the high likelihood that it is going to be a distraction.

[Eielson]

so...turns out he's doing a reality show. For Oprah's network.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/05/14/michael-sam-reality-show/

Deadspins take:

http://deadspin.com/michael-sam-is-doing-a-reality-show-and-that-sucks-1576793287

This is crap. I hope the Rams cut him ASAP.

[swardboy]

Kinda takes the sincerity out of his press conference.

[instigator]

Exactly.

I'll be the first to say that I get uncomfortable when I see gay people making out but that is my issue not their's. When a straight person kisses his mate nobody says anything. When a gay person does this they are "shoving it in our face." If we feel that way that is our issue not their's.

I'm sure Sam would love to be able to kiss his partner and it not make the news....

Nice reply. This is exactly it. People think they're "shoving it in their faces" because thy don't agree with it. Get over your ridiculous homophobia and trying to say it would harm a kid to see men kiss. Who cares?? They're probably the same people that let the kids watch violent movies but cover their eyes for the sex scenes.

[Eielson]

Get over your ridiculous homophobia and trying to say it would harm a kid to see men kiss.

It could harm them if they ever tried to play catcher.

[EatLeadCommie]

Exactly.

I'll be the first to say that I get uncomfortable when I see gay people making out but that is my issue not their's. When a straight person kisses his mate nobody says anything. When a gay person does this they are "shoving it in our face." If we feel that way that is our issue not their's.

I'm sure Sam would love to be able to kiss his partner and it not make the news....

That's a fair point, but is the negative reaction many people have to 2 dudes kissing reflexive or learned? I would argue that it's a natural reaction and that you have to learn to not be grossed out by it. I suppose the counterargument to that is if homosexuals constituted the same majority that heterosexuals do, we'd be used to 2 dudes kissing and it wouldn't matter. We would be grossed out by a dude kissing a girl. But that's a silly argument because (1) that's not the case, and (2) if it were, civilization would've died out pretty quickly...before it became civilized, so to speak We have to operate in reality, not in some bizarro universe.

Obviously, one side of the equation here is operating on the idea that the negative reaction is learned behavior. I don't necessarily buy that. So then the question for me is if we accept the negative reaction as a reflex, should people be chastised for their negative reaction?

[tycat947]

That's a fair point, but is the negative reaction many people have to 2 dudes kissing reflexive or learned? I would argue that it's a natural reaction and that you have to learn to not be grossed out by it. I suppose the counterargument to that is if homosexuals constituted the same majority that heterosexuals do, we'd be used to 2 dudes kissing and it wouldn't matter. We would be grossed out by a dude kissing a girl. But that's a silly argument because (1) that's not the case, and (2) if it were, civilization would've died out pretty quickly...before it became civilized, so to speak We have to operate in reality, not in some bizarro universe.

Obviously, one side of the equation here is operating on the idea that the negative reaction is learned behavior. I don't necessarily buy that. So then the question for me is if we accept the negative reaction as a reflex, should people be chastised for their negative reaction?

Is there a negative reaction when two women kiss???? That's what I thought.

[EatLeadCommie]

Is there a negative reaction when two women kiss???? That's what I thought.

If it's two nasty bulls, then yeah. When it's lesbian porn, no. And while it is difficult to recall a time when I didn't enjoy lesbian porn, I know it existed. Thus, I did indeed have to learn to repress my reflex, which is pretty easy if you're getting sexual gratification from it, something I don't get from 2 dudes kissing. Actually, the interesting thing is not that guys can deal with lesbian porn. It's that women can stomach it much easier than gay dude porn. I mean, guys have no interest in gay porn unless they're gay, so logically you would think that women would be more tolerant of gay porn than of lesbian porn.

[KantoSooner]

There are all sorts of social taboos that elicit strong reactions. Virtually none of them are innate behaviors. Exposing the soles of one's feet to another is like flipping the bird to someone in parts of Thailand. Innate behavior? Air kisses, ear rings (which ear? remember that?), pants for women, all are or were important social signals. And none of them have anything to do with biology. Hell, we shot Japanese POW commandants for feeding 'raw fish' to prisoners in WWII....and now Edmond high schoolers drive out of their way to get sushi for lunch.
Unless it directly and immediately affects our core freedoms, we're better off ignoring behavior that strikes us as 'off'. The alternative is what drove our better impulses to make this country.

[badger]

Kinda takes the sincerity out of his press conference.

And the sincerity out of the couple's "special moment" on draft day. Even if it wasn't all for show and the Oprah reality TV cameras, it sure looks that way now.

The NFL needs to put their foot down --- TV cameras around their players only for the networks that pay the league billions :P

Actually I really don't care. It's becoming increasingly obvious that there's 15 minutes of fame and if the NFL can dispose of Tebow quickly and unceremoniously, they'll do the same to Michael Sam sooner or later

[Eielson]

Another good question, I don't like fat people, so does that make me a bad person? Also, what's the term for fatophobe?

[Eielson]

Cacomorphobe right here! Come at me next!

[BoulderSooner79]

Another good question, I don't like fat people, so does that make me a bad person? Also, what's the term for fatophobe?

From the stats I've read, that would be "anti-American"

[jkjsooner]

That's a fair point, but is the negative reaction many people have to 2 dudes kissing reflexive or learned? I would argue that it's a natural reaction and that you have to learn to not be grossed out by it. I suppose the counterargument to that is if homosexuals constituted the same majority that heterosexuals do, we'd be used to 2 dudes kissing and it wouldn't matter. We would be grossed out by a dude kissing a girl. But that's a silly argument because (1) that's not the case, and (2) if it were, civilization would've died out pretty quickly...before it became civilized, so to speak We have to operate in reality, not in some bizarro universe.

I do think it's a natural reaction. I also think it's less shocking the more we see it. To me it's like someone eating something I can't stand. I put myself in their shoes for a moment and it makes me sick but I sure don't say they can't eat it.

My point was that while it seems odd for us it is perfectly natural for gay people. (And, yes, I do believe gays are born gay and don't make a conscious choice to be attracted to men.)

A really effeminate man creeps me out much more than two men kissing but of course I don't hold a person responsible for naturally being effeminate.

[badger]

Another good question, I don't like fat people, so does that make me a bad person? Also, what's the term for fatophobe?

Focus on what you hate, not the people that possess what you hate.

Hate fat? Hate the fat, not the fat people. :P

Hate the whorns? Hate the whorns, not the... um... sh1t

[Scott D]

To those that think the Rams drafted him for sales I think you're nuts! As a matter of fact, to think that the SEC D player of the year went in the 7th round is absurd! I know we all hate the SEC but be honest there is a little bit of a reason they get the publicity they do!

The reason he was the SEC Player of the Year was drafted 60th by the Carolina Panthers.

Case. Closed.

[Eielson]

The reason he was the SEC Player of the Year was drafted 60th by the Carolina Panthers.

Case. Closed.

I looked at the stats, and was pretty confused. At the beginning of the year, Sam was racking up all the stats, but was getting hardly any sacks for the last 5 or 6 weeks. For Ealy, the reverse was true. I wasn't sure what conclusion to make. Did Missouri's opponents shift all their attention to Sam after several monster outings, and open the door for Ealy? Or did Ealy get all the attention early on, and then Sam did well enough that they had to be honest, which reopened the door for Ealy?

Some googlage is showing that Ealy was the more feared pass rusher coming in, and that speaks very badly for Sam.

[BoulderSooner79]

I looked at the stats, and was pretty confused. At the beginning of the year, Sam was racking up all the stats, but was getting hardly any sacks for the last 5 or 6 weeks. For Ealy, the reverse was true. I wasn't sure what conclusion to make. Did Missouri's opponents shift all their attention to Sam after several monster outings, and open the door for Ealy? Or did Ealy get all the attention early on, and then Sam did well enough that they had to be honest, which reopened the door for Ealy?

Some googlage is showing that Ealy was the more feared pass rusher coming in, and that speaks very badly for Sam.

I don't see why that speaks badly for Sam. All this was factored in by the scouts and that's why Ealy was drafted much earlier that Sam.

[BoulderSooner79]

BTW, it looks like Sam, or more likely his advisers, are at least paying attention. That whole reality show thing appears to be postponed or even cancelled after some current Rams players expressed displeasure.

[ouwasp]

crap...I ignored this thread a long time hoping it would die off...

Okay, fellow conservatives, listen up. Didn't you get the rainbow-tinted memo? Goes something like this:

Hurrah for Homosexuality! It is as normal as sunshine, and as American as apple pie, or at least fruitcake. And even though it to be projected as completely mainstream, it's supposed to be trumpeted in all instances! We are to Celebrate Perversity! If this means your values must change, just do it, it's easy, ask Pop Culture and the MSM. If you are concerned about the slippery slope our country is on, that's okay, at least you didn't call it "Going to Hell in a Handbasket", which sounds too judgmental in this dawning Age of Tolerance. By the way, tolerance means you need to embrace the rainbow, or at least be quiet. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!

[BoulderSooner79]

You're contribution to the thread hasn't changed since you stopped ignoring it.

[Widescreen]

By the way, tolerance means you need to embrace the rainbow, or at least be quiet.

Actually, tolerance means if you aren't marching in parades holding rainbow banners and calling other people homophobe, you are a homophobe. That's seriously where this is heading.

[ouwasp]

You're contribution to the thread hasn't changed since you stopped ignoring it.

"The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is That Good Men Do Nothing"...I'm under no delusions as to my influence, but I do believe a large swath of our citizens have generally disengaged themselves from our society. This, and an activist court system, is leading to the rapid degeneration our moral standards. Sometimes it is more comforting to ignore the problems America is indulging herself in. But, in the end, the problems won't ignore us.

[BoulderSooner79]

"The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is That Good Men Do Nothing"...I'm under no delusions as to my influence, but I do believe a large swath of our citizens have generally disengaged themselves from our society. This, and an activist court system, is leading to the rapid degeneration our moral standards. Sometimes it is more comforting to ignore the problems America is indulging herself in. But, in the end, the problems won't ignore us.

I welcome your participation and comments, but your rant was content free. Others have made thoughtful and interesting posts from multiple points of view. You also contradict yourself as you say have been purposefully ignoring the thread and hoping it would die (dropping a turd in the punchbowl to ruin it for others?). Now you say doing nothing is somehow allowing evil to triumph? Why do you hope a thread you don't even follow will die? And if it doesn't, you feel obligated to help kill it? Fortunately, it's probably run it's course anyway, but I can't follow your logic.

[hawaii 5-0]

I personally love Rainbows and loved them long before the Gay community embraced it. I see two or three a week.

I'll continue to enjoy a nice rainbow and not think of Gays.


As far as Sams is concerned.....yes, it's kinda a big deal. I wish the media would back off tho and let him try to earn a spot on the Rams's roster.


5-0

[The Ghost of Mex]

kysooner...I totally get it now.

I hope he last at least to the breast cancer awareness part of the season. That should be interesting.

[picasso]

I blame fracking.

[Eielson]

At least we know TGSam isn't going to get anybody pregnant.

[Eielson]

Let's make this thread useful now...

How do we differentiate our Sam and gay Sam? I'm thinking something like TRRW and TFRW.

[olevetonahill]

Let's make this thread useful now...

How do we differentiate our Sam and gay Sam? I'm thinking something like TRRW and TFRW.

Cause Sam will be there all season that other IT will not make the team

[Soonerjeepman]

I do think it's a natural reaction. I also think it's less shocking the more we see it. To me it's like someone eating something I can't stand. I put myself in their shoes for a moment and it makes me sick but I sure don't say they can't eat it.

My point was that while it seems odd for us it is perfectly natural for gay people. (And, yes, I do believe gays are born gay and don't make a conscious choice to be attracted to men.)

A really effeminate man creeps me out much more than two men kissing but of course I don't hold a person responsible for naturally being effeminate.

well, that is a really big issue. Don't see 2 men having babies or 2 women, without the other sex's donation. That is why the majority of people who don't believe it's "natural" or born that way hold to that truth and are grossed out by homosexuals kissing.

But like 5-0 said...he's virtually assured of his position, but not by earning it. If he's a great football player then so be it....but the focus of everything I've seen and heard is about him being gay....not much on the football side.

[BoulderSooner79]

...
But like 5-0 said...he's virtually assured of his position, but not by earning it. If he's a great football player then so be it....but the focus of everything I've seen and heard is about him being gay....not much on the football side.

You and others have said this, but you're just speculating. If Sam doesn't make the team, there will be those that think he was just drafted as a PR stunt for the NFL, and never really given a chance. If he makes the squad, there will others like you that think he didn't necessarily earn it. From a PR standpoint, the reaction will be split on either outcome.

My own personal speculation is that he would probably get the nod to stay on the team if all other considerations are equal, but nothing as strong as an assured position. And I would think that a guy that was able to start and be productive on a good BCS conference team should have a good shot as being the 50th best player on an NFL team that finished last in their division. So I would put my bet on him making the team (but I wouldn't put much $$$ on it). And as you say, the only way the doubters change their minds is if he makes the team *and* produces on the field at a level above what is expected of a 7th round pick.

[Eielson]

Fisher ain't gonna put up with it. If he's not good enough, he's gone. Fisher really doesn't care what you do off the field, and he shows that year after year. This is the same guy who picked Janoris Jenkins and Pac-Man. He also fights off Hard Knocks with all his might every year. If somebody like Martz or Linehan were still running the show, I'd probably say he's staying and this is just a publicity stunt. This would be an anti-Fisher move, though. I don't buy it.

[Soonerjeepman]

I could care less if he's gay...the reason I started the whole thread was the fact the media (here in KC anyways) showed the tongue kiss for a little longer than needed and to me, to push his gayness (if that's a word). The Rams had to have a special thing....blah blah blah. The ones with the agenda (publicity idea) was the media, NFL and POSSIBLY Sam's and his agent. I don't think the Rams or Fisher had that in mind...but when they did they played it as well "Rams were the first to draft/sign a black as well, this is historical" or something like that....from Fisher's mouth.

Again, just my 2 worth...

[Scott D]

I looked at the stats, and was pretty confused. At the beginning of the year, Sam was racking up all the stats, but was getting hardly any sacks for the last 5 or 6 weeks. For Ealy, the reverse was true. I wasn't sure what conclusion to make. Did Missouri's opponents shift all their attention to Sam after several monster outings, and open the door for Ealy? Or did Ealy get all the attention early on, and then Sam did well enough that they had to be honest, which reopened the door for Ealy?

Some googlage is showing that Ealy was the more feared pass rusher coming in, and that speaks very badly for Sam.

I would say that the latter is the far more likely scenario. Sam was just good enough that they had to adjust the blocking assignments which mean they weren't doubling Ealy as much.

I always felt the lack of Sam being drafted prior to when he was, was no big deal. the "uproar or outrage" over it was even sillier. I'd wager that most of the people being outraged don't know squat about the NFL, and marginally know anything about football. The guy was projected as a 5th round talent....I'm sorry, but when guys who were "projected" as 2nd rounders are going in the 5th round, a guy projected in the 5th round should just be happy that he got drafted. To me, a 5th round "grade" is pretty tantamount these days to saying "You're very likely going to be a UDFA". It's not like it's a 12-13 round draft anymore.

[Eielson]

I could care less if he's gay...

Yes, you clearly do. I have no issue with that, as I oppose homosexuality myself, but let's be honest.

[olevetonahill]

Let this shat DIE IN A F8CKIN FIRE
who cares ?????

[rock on sooner]

Let this shat DIE IN A F8CKIN FIRE
who cares ?????

Welp, Vet, somebody must, 'cause this is post #106 of the thread:untroubled:

[Soonerjeepman]

Yes, you clearly do. I have no issue with that, as I oppose homosexuality myself, but let's be honest.

lol...I opposed the showing of him making out with his bf (promoting the agenda and trying to force people to accept it as normal).....I also would oppose a heterosexual dude making out with his GF/Wife (in OP)...a kiss sure..but tonguing each other...?..save it for late night cinemax.

[Eielson]

Let this shat DIE IN A F8CKIN FIRE
who cares ?????

HOMOPHOBE ALERT!!!!!

[olevetonahill]

HOMOPHOBE ALERT!!!!!

If you are calling Me a Homophobe you couldnt be more wrong. I dont care where ya put yer dick as long as ya dont Look at MY Azs! Im just sick of hearing about this Sams dude Just Like Im sick of JFF and Timmy T.

[Sooner in Tampa]

If you are calling Me a Homophobe you couldnt be more wrong. I dont care where ya put yer dick as long as ya dont Look at MY Azs! Im just sick of hearing about this Sams dude Just Like Im sick of JFF and Timmy T.
Agreed...dude is a 7th round pick who faces long odds at making a team with arguably the best D-Line in the NFL...WGAF????

[achiro]

This may have already been posted but I think it's a pretty decent take on the whole thing.

http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/05/12/homophobic-rant-michael-sam/

[badger]

This may have already been posted but I think it's a pretty decent take on the whole thing.

http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/05/12/homophobic-rant-michael-sam/

Yeah, similar to when Obama was elected. Sure, it's historic, but who gives a crap, the economy's in the tank, unemployment is too high, the housing market is messing with everyone's retirements, etc etc.

If you're a Rams fan, the situation is similar in football teams: Your starting quarterback has had to learn a lot of new offensive schemes and his Rookie of the Year talent is getting squandered. You have not been in the playoffs since 2004. You have only won one Super Bowl, and 1999 is getting farther and farther away. The Greatest Show on Turf is a distant memory when you're drafting near the beginning of the first round virtually every year, and not just because you traded away the right to draft Robert Griffin the Third. And your uniforms are still ugly.

[Aries]

Yeah, similar to when Obama was elected. Sure, it's historic, but who gives a crap, the economy's in the tank, unemployment is too high, the housing market is messing with everyone's retirements, etc etc.

If you're a Rams fan, the situation is similar in football teams: Your starting quarterback has had to learn a lot of new offensive schemes and his Rookie of the Year talent is getting squandered. You have not been in the playoffs since 2004. You have only won one Super Bowl, and 1999 is getting farther and farther away. The Greatest Show on Turf is a distant memory when you're drafting near the beginning of the first round virtually every year, and not just because you traded away the right to draft Robert Griffin the Third. And your uniforms are still ugly.

I could not disagree more strongly.

With your last statement... the rest of it's pretty much dead on. LOL!

[SouthFortySooner]

Michael Sam: one big o' hairy dump away from some good lovin. Meanwhile, they play football in Norman in the fall.

[badger]

Blue and gold were my high school colors, so they will always seem high school to me.

And once again, if the Rams don't like being a circus show now in need to finding gimmicks to draw fan interest, than they should have made the playoffs at least once in the past 10 years. Keep this in mind, sucky teams --- this could be you next year if you don't stop sucking.

[Aries]

Blue and gold were my high school colors, so they will always seem high school to me.

And once again, if the Rams don't like being a circus show now in need to finding gimmicks to draw fan interest, than they should have made the playoffs at least once in the past 10 years. Keep this in mind, sucky teams --- this could be you next year if you don't stop sucking.

Keep in mind, the ONLY thing about the Rams that still exist from 3-4 years ago are the uniforms. Staff, ownership, and with the exception of a very small handful of players, ALL of the people are new.

But they need to be competitive this year to gain any credibility for "rebuilding".

[Eielson]

If you're a Rams fan, the situation is similar in football teams: Your starting quarterback has had to learn a lot of new offensive schemes and his Rookie of the Year talent is getting squandered. You have not been in the playoffs since 2004. You have only won one Super Bowl, and 1999 is getting farther and farther away. The Greatest Show on Turf is a distant memory when you're drafting near the beginning of the first round virtually every year, and not just because you traded away the right to draft Robert Griffin the Third. And your uniforms are still ugly.

Y'all won ONE more game than us last year. ONE! Packers would've been kicked around all year if they had been in the NFC West. Luckily for you, you only have to play us in the preseason, or I would make you eat every one of these words.

[badger]

Y'all won ONE more game than us last year. ONE! Packers would've been kicked around all year if they had been in the NFC West. Luckily for you, you only have to play us in the preseason, or I would make you eat every one of these words.

I just wrote a poem for you:

I am a Rams fan
Rams fan am I
If only we could make the playoffs
before the day I die

Alas we play the Niners,
Cardinals and Hawks-Sea
I feel like we play in the NFL
version of S-E-C

So back to the NFL "Lottery"
and bottom rankings sniffin'
Perhaps we can get more picks
for another Robert Griffin

PS:
http://www.ringsthatbling.com/pictures/Super-Bowl-XLV-Ring.jpg
:D

[Eielson]

Poor Badger. :P

It's tough to watch your team fall from the top as yearly bottom dwellers pass you by. Last year the Rams were better than the Packers, but as part of the AAC conference you got an automatic bid to the playoffs, so cling to that. Cling to it as hard as you can for the next few months, because pretty soon you won't even be able to lie to yourself.

Hopefully you can fend off those pesky Bears and we get a chance to play in the playoffs. Those Bears are stiff competition, though. We only beat them by 21 last year with our back up QB. :)

[badger]

Hey, maybe when Goodell gets his expanded playoffs through the union and owners, you'll actually make the postseason! You might even make the Super Bowl! But if you do, you might have to face those pesky Patriots again. Oh, that didn't turn out so well last time, did it?

The Packers, on the other hand, know how to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl:
http://sportsweeksportslist.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/green-bay-packers-1996-super-bowl-ring.jpg

[Eielson]

Hey, maybe when Goodell gets his expanded playoffs through the union and owners, you'll actually make the postseason! You might even make the Super Bowl! But if you do, you might have to face those pesky Patriots again. Oh, that didn't turn out so well last time, did it?

The Packers, on the other hand, know how to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl:
http://sportsweeksportslist.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/green-bay-packers-1996-super-bowl-ring.jpg

Did you say something about the year we lost to the Patriots? Didn't we play the Packers that year? Oh yeah! That's right! Here's the boxscore in case you blocked that out for the sake of your mental health:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201200ram.htm

Did Favre know that Tommy Polley and Aeneas Williams weren't on his team? After all, those two did score more points than the entire Green Bay offense. What an unstoppable team! Maybe you guys should have spied on us. If you knew all our plays, you might have stood a chance. Probably not, though.

[BoulderSooner79]

What's all this Packer/Rams smack doing in the middle of a thread about 2 grown men kissing? You people disgust me.

[Aries]

What's all this Packer/Rams smack doing in the middle of a thread about 2 grown men kissing? You people disgust me.

LOL!!!

Badger started it....! :)

[Soonerjeepman]

yeah, NO $HIT....this is NOT why I did the OP..how dare you~

[olevetonahill]

yeah, NO $HIT....this is NOT why I did the OP..how dare you~

If Im puttin it in some Gals Butt there better NOT be any sh*t

[badger]

Did Favre know that Tommy Polley and Aeneas Williams weren't on his team? After all, those two did score more points than the entire Green Bay offense. What an unstoppable team! Maybe you guys should have spied on us. If you knew all our plays, you might have stood a chance. Probably not, though.

It's good you have such a good memory. Then you can remember how great the St. Louis Rams once were. How's your short-term memory? The one that reminds you that you haven't won more than 7 games (i.e. a LOSING record) since 2006 and won a whole ONE game in 2009 and an amazing TWO games in 2011?


What's all this Packer/Rams smack doing in the middle of a thread about 2 grown men kissing? You people disgust me.

I am a bigot. I think losing teams are losers.


Badger started it....!

Let this be a lesson to losing team losers: If you don't win, you get media circuses. Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel and Michael Sam are just a draft pick/trade away.


yeah, NO $HIT....this is NOT why I did the OP..how dare you~

<sigh> OK i had my fun. Please continue with whatever the hell was being discussed before I derailed it. I have several Super Bowl 45 champions shirts I plan to wear this weekend, along with a sparkly Rodgers girl jersey (seriously, that jersey got glitter EVERYWHERE before I ran it through the wash a few times. Stupid NFL women's apparel). Happy Memorial Day, losers. I'm be sure to talk more smack come Labor Day weekend, if not sooner.

[PrideMom]

What does any of this have to do with OU football?

[badger]

What does any of this have to do with OU football?

Because offseason. No other reason, as there are currently no Sooners on the Rams roster of course. The only reason we're talking about the Rams is Sam. Sam, Sam, Sam. The media can't get enough Sam.

;)

[ouwasp]

I wish the powers that be would either lock this thread or move it to SO or Obamafest. Has nothing at all to do with Sooner football, and is only football related in the sense that a low NFL draft pick (not a Sooner btw) chose to celebrate by kissing another guy. Those that think homosexuality is good are happy, those that think homosexuality is shameful are chagrined.

And we're not gonna change each others' minds. Can we just leave this BS alone? Or at least move it so we don't have to be reminded about this? Thanks.

[badger]

Can we just leave this BS alone? Or at least move it so we don't have to be reminded about this? Thanks.
Only when Rams fans admit that the Packers are better. :P

[KantoSooner]

And you know how I feel about Eleanor Roosevelt!

[olevetonahill]

And you know how I feel about Eleanor Roosevelt!

But have you ever Made the Jelly with Me?

[KantoSooner]

I have not! Shall we set a time and place? I'll alert the media.

[olevetonahill]

I have not! Shall we set a time and place? I'll alert the media.

No Media they might think we gots the ghey er sompun

[Eielson]

I heard Aaron Rodgers is gay.

[olevetonahill]

I heard Aaron Rodgers is gay.

He aint Ghey but THIS is
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u95UnBum5lU/Ty3JJTtbvEI/AAAAAAAACxQ/QRKZBJbKMfg/s640/1701474-aaron_rodgers_championship_belt_large.jpg

[badger]

I heard Aaron Rodgers is gay.

No, you have to be drafted in the seventh round to be gay. Get with the times, man

[KantoSooner]

Are all players drafted in the 7th round gay? Are they the only gay people on earth? (That would support Putin's suggestion that Russia has no gay people.) Has a Russian every been drafted into the NFL? A gay Russian? That sounds like an awesome cocktail. I'm thinking super cold vodka with sweetened coffee ice cubes in a glass with Bailey's drizzled on top. What cocktails are best? Objectively. I would vote for a Sazerac. Just something about rye whisky and bitters. Speaking of bitter, how about Rick Santorum? He still hasn't gotten the butthurt off of his face. Could his butt actually hurt? Maybe he's gay! Is Rick Santorum gay? Not sure, but ask around. It's a Lyndon Johnson thing. And, no, we're not going bounce off that into talking about Johnsons. We are, instead, going to talk about Lyndons. Specifically, Barry Lyndon. Perhaps the worst movie of all time. But it's not for sure. Maybe Love Story. Or any movie of the 30's or 40's that featured American actors speaking in those fake Britishie accents they all put on back then. Poofters. All of 'em. Even the women. But none of the actresses of the 30's and 40's were ever drafted into the NFL. Not in the seventh round or any other round that I know of. Though Mae West could have probably held her own. Tough old broad. Put a licking to John Wayne. Or maybe vice versa. And he played football for USC, I think. Bastard. Can a mule be gay? Would it matter? Can a hermaphrodite be gay? And how would we know? If it's okay to wear boat shoes without socks, why is it so damn gay to wear dress loafers without socks when you go to Sunday brunch? And make no mistake, it's utterly gay. Gay as a cravatte. Gayer than a monocle. Gayer than owning a parrot. Gayer than a cane carried as an accessory. Unless you use it to beat crap out of a miscreant. Then it's not gay. But it might still get you drafted into the NFL. Just not in the seventh round.


Adderol. Hell of a drug.

[Soonerjeepman]

damn...too much reading... but that drink sounds good~ Stopped there with the reading lol

but, I am kind of proud it's been top 5 since May 11th. I've never had a post top that long :peaceful:

[Eielson]

No, you have to be drafted in the seventh round to be gay. Get with the times, man

Rodgers did drop all the way to 24 despite some thinking of him having potential to go #1. There's probably something to that. Also, the safety you drafted may not be gay, but that's definitely his gay porn name.

[olevetonahill]

Has anyone else Got some Poke salad put away for season?

[nighttrain12]

Has anyone else Got some Poke salad put away for season?

Polk Salad Annie? Gators got your Granny!

[olevetonahill]

Polk Salad Annie? Gators got your Granny!

Heh, I got lots of Beans an Taters an Onions to go with it.

[badger]

Are all players drafted in the 7th round gay?

The gay test: Ask yourself a question: If I were to be drafted into the NFL, what round would I be taken in? If your honest answer is 7th round, you are gay.