Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

big_dog

(4,144 posts)
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 05:32 PM Aug 2014

ESPN Airs Homophobic Report On The Showering Habits Of Gay Football Player Michael Sam

Source: The Raw Story

ESPN finds that fact that Michael Sam is the NFL’s first openly-gay football player so fascinating — or terrifying — that the network investigated to find out which players were and were not showering with him. On Tuesday, the morning’s SportsCenter broadcast, veered into specific details about Sam’s showering habits. Reporter Josina Anderson explained that one player told her that Sam was “simply just one of the guys, and he seems to be taking a rookie approach in terms of just listening and learning at his own pace.”

“[The player] said he was just trying to feel his way through and, perhaps, see what guys he can relate to,” she continued. “But another Rams defensive player told me — quote — ‘Sam is respecting our space.’” “And that from his perspective, he seems to think that Michael Sam is waiting to kind of take a shower, as not to make his teammates feel uncomfortable,” Anderson said.

The ESPN correspondent added that two other players said that they could not verify the shower report because “they weren’t tracking that.”

“[Defensive tackle Kendall Langford] told me, ‘Listen, I have not been in the shower at the same time as Michael Sam.’ He said there definitely could be a million reasons as to why that is,” Anderson asserted. “He said he could be doing extra work on the practice field, he could be riding his bike, he could be doing extra cardio.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/08/26/espn-airs-homophobic-report-on-the-showering-habits-of-gay-football-player-michael-sam/

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
ESPN Airs Homophobic Report On The Showering Habits Of Gay Football Player Michael Sam (Original Post) big_dog Aug 2014 OP
I would imagine his "showering habits" involve water, soap and shampoo jberryhill Aug 2014 #1
Any less would be unhygienic! BlueEye Aug 2014 #3
Was anyone still under the illusion that ESPN was doing journalism? Blue_Tires Aug 2014 #2
As controlled as our regular news is - ESPN is the one and only source underpants Aug 2014 #10
Not really... Blue_Tires Aug 2014 #15
For all sports ESPN still dominates underpants Aug 2014 #16
They have already showered with gay guys... sdfernando Aug 2014 #4
yup! Botany Aug 2014 #12
+++ 1,000,000 +++ n/t RKP5637 Aug 2014 #13
stupid, stupid piece from ESPN heaven05 Aug 2014 #5
My gym has separate showers MNBrewer Aug 2014 #6
War On Stupidity Needed LloydS of New London Aug 2014 #7
Did any of us really care about his showering habits LynneSin Aug 2014 #8
They didn't discuss his re-decorating ideas? underpants Aug 2014 #9
This report is despicable but not surprising. Chakab Aug 2014 #11
So F'en weird it's beyond belief. ESPN must be really hard up for reporting/reporters. n/t RKP5637 Aug 2014 #14
They have a lot of time to fill oberliner Aug 2014 #17
I'm gay... New Orleans Strong Aug 2014 #18
Confirms that I haven't missed anything... americannightmare Aug 2014 #19
WTF? SoapBox Aug 2014 #20
Way to scrape the bottom of the viewership barrel. n/t bvf Aug 2014 #21
 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
1. I would imagine his "showering habits" involve water, soap and shampoo
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 05:41 PM
Aug 2014

Why would he shower any differently from anyone else?

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
2. Was anyone still under the illusion that ESPN was doing journalism?
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 05:47 PM
Aug 2014

This classless, salacious, sensationalized bullshit has been standard fare for 10-15 years now...

underpants

(182,807 posts)
10. As controlled as our regular news is - ESPN is the one and only source
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 06:21 PM
Aug 2014

For sports news. Fox and NBC are trying to cut in ( there just HAS to be some market share to take) but for 99% of sports fans if it ain't on the ESPeN it didn't happen. Add that they are totally in bed with the NFL and MLB.

I listen to non-ESPN radio in the morning. The show I listen to rips into "the four letter" all the time but ESPN directs the discussion just like Fox News does "the news".

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
15. Not really...
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 07:29 PM
Aug 2014

There are *hundreds* of online resources for sports news, plus podcasts, satellite radio, satellite TV, etc...

The NFL-MLB-NHL-NBA all have league-specific networks, there's soccer-only channels, a golf-only channel, a tennis-only channel an outdoors sportsman channel and so on...

ESPN stopped being a "news breaker" ages ago...All it's good for is maybe some background noise when getting dressed for work in the morning, and to have a generic channel to turn a 'public' TV to....

underpants

(182,807 posts)
16. For all sports ESPN still dominates
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 08:19 PM
Aug 2014

Yes playing fantasy football I had specific websites to go to but for "sports news" ESPN still dominates. Two specific examples are products that built ESPN - Jordan and Tiger. MJ's divorce garnered no coverage and Tiger's troubles are now just about golf. Also the Cowboys basically have a dedicated spokesman assigned to them. That is what I meant by that.

I agree that are a lot of more options and outlets. They pale in comparison ESPN though.

sdfernando

(4,935 posts)
4. They have already showered with gay guys...
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 05:53 PM
Aug 2014

they just didn't know it...so how does knowing make it any different?

Botany

(70,508 posts)
12. yup!
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 06:33 PM
Aug 2014

I asked a gay friend about showering with other men @ the gym and he laughed and
said that he has already seen "the equipment" before.

I wish some big teammate of Sams' would take the mic and smack the reporter over the
head with it.

MNBrewer

(8,462 posts)
6. My gym has separate showers
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 06:00 PM
Aug 2014

Can the NFL not afford that? Is there some requirement that they all shower in one big room?

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
8. Did any of us really care about his showering habits
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 06:14 PM
Aug 2014

I mean I never cared about the showering habits of all the straight players who play professional sports nor has ESPN ever done articles on these.

So why do we care now

Oh way - but of homophobic assholes in this world!

 

Chakab

(1,727 posts)
11. This report is despicable but not surprising.
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 06:25 PM
Aug 2014

As a former ESPN junkie I can attest to the fact the demand for programming on a 24 hour sports network leads to the production of several completely and utterly inane segments especially at this time of the year when the only major sport that is in season is baseball.

 

oberliner

(58,724 posts)
17. They have a lot of time to fill
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 08:34 PM
Aug 2014

There are like a half dozen or more ESPN channels now running nonsense 24/7.

New Orleans Strong

(212 posts)
18. I'm gay...
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 08:39 PM
Aug 2014

...but for the love of ALL THAT IS HOLY, if I am showering with other men, I have been doing something that precludes all things sexual from popping into my head. Swear! I am ten kinds of tired boys - 'Kay??

americannightmare

(322 posts)
19. Confirms that I haven't missed anything...
Tue Aug 26, 2014, 09:36 PM
Aug 2014

in not following sports anymore. Sports journalism was always at best a bastard stepchild to real journalism, at least back in the day. Now it tries to out-sleeze and out-cheese so-called real journalism, which has been in the death throes for at least 20 years.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»ESPN Airs Homophobic Repo...