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Sports
Charles Barkley on gay athletes: āYouāre just stupidā if you donāt think thereās more players in NFL, NBA, MLB
TL;DR
Charles Barkley stated that anyone who believes there aren't gay players in the NFL, NBA, and MLB is 'just stupid.' His comments came during a tribute to Jason Collins, the first active player in a major sport to come out as gay, who recently passed away from cancer.
Key points
- Charles Barkley commented on the existence of gay athletes in major sports.
- Jason Collins was the first active player in a major sport to come out as gay.
- Collins passed away from stage-4 glioblastoma at age 47.
- Barkley emphasized the prejudice still present in society towards the gay community.
- Collins had a 13-year NBA career and was known for his basketball IQ.
Mentioned in this story
Charles BarkleyJason Collins
stage-4 glioblastomaNew Jersey Nets
Jason Collins was an icon, not simply because of his ability on the court, but for his profound bravery off it. Collins became the first active player in a major four sport to come out of the closet, announcing that he was gay in 2013. It may have been the twilight of his career, but he became a north star for other athletes simply by continuing to play team basketball while being out in the open.
Collinsā family announced on Tuesday that he had died at home at the age of 47, taken far too soon by stage-4 glioblastoma, a relatively common, but aggressive form of brain cancer. Inside the NBA gave a tribute to Collins on Wednesday night in the wake of his death, and while Kenny Smith spoke kindly of Collinsā contributions to the NBA, the most poignant statement came from Charles Barkley who both lauded Collins for his bravery, while also acknowledging that we still live in a prejudiced, homophobic world.
āKenny, in fairness now, if another guy did it, it would still be a big deal, because we live in a homophobic society. Thatās unfortunate. First off, anybody who thinks we donāt have a bunch of gay players in all sports, theyāre just stupid. There is so much animosity towards the gay community, and thatās whatās really unfortunate. If anybody thinks him, and I know a couple of soccer players that came out ā if you donāt think thereās more gay players in the NFL, Major League Baseball, and the NBA ā youāre just stupid.ā
Collins didnāt put up huge traditional numbers, but carved out a 13-year NBA career on the back of his basketball IQ and defensive ability. The No. 18 pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, he played for six teams, putting up his best seasons with the New Jersey Nets as the starting center on a phenomenal team that boasted Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson as its nucleus. Predominantly a piece of the puzzle who understood his role, every team, every locker room was made better due to the contributions of Jason Collins.
Q&A
What did Charles Barkley say about gay athletes in professional sports?
Charles Barkley claimed that anyone who thinks there aren't gay players in the NFL, NBA, and MLB is 'just stupid,' highlighting the ongoing prejudice in society.
Who was Jason Collins and why is he significant in sports history?
Jason Collins was the first active player in a major North American sport to come out as gay, and he is remembered for his bravery and contributions to the NBA before his recent death from cancer.
What was the reaction to Jason Collins' death from the sports community?
The sports community, including Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, paid tribute to Jason Collins, acknowledging his bravery and the impact of his coming out on future athletes.
