Standing Strong

What does it mean to be strong? Does it mean that you are the best athlete, in peak physical condition? Does it mean that you are mentally tough, able to overcome any roadblock with ease? Does it mean that you are a leader, willing to take things head on and help others succeed with you? Does it mean that you are morally strong, always standing up for what he or she believes is just and right? There are only a select few people who embody multiple meanings of strength and this week, the world was introduced to one such person. Late last Sunday, a college football player named Michael Sam came out about his sexuality on national television. This act in itself takes strength, but the fact that Sam could potentially be first current NFL player to be openly gay shows us just how strong of a man he really is.

One of Sam's interviews with the New York Times

This is not the first time that Sam has been in the national spotlight for his football career. Last season at the University of Missouri, Sam was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC for his outstanding play that lead the Tigers to a 12-2 season and a Cotton Bowl Victory. It was at the beginning of that fantastic season that Sam decided to come out to his coaches and teammates. According to Sam, his teammates rallied around and supported him, making him feel like he was truly part of a family. This news, coupled with his stellar college career, has made him a potential target for a number of NFL teams in the upcoming draft. Slated to go somewhere in the middle rounds of the draft, Sam would be able to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL and should make an impact no matter where he goes.

However, as is the case with most stories that break on ESPN, there is a good deal of controversy surrounding Sam's future in the NFL. While the NFL as a whole has backed Sam's decision to come out, there are a number of players who say that they would not be comfortable with having an openly gay teammate. Some argue that the "locker room mentality" that many of the current NFL players have would have to be drastically changed should Sam step become a member of the team, making some players uneasy. Adding fuel to the fire are recent reports about Sam's family life, which is strained to say the least. While he is not the first openly gay athlete in sports, as both NBA free agent Jason Collins and MLS player Robbie Rogers have come out as gay in the past year, it is potentially the first time that a current NFL player has come out. The media spotlight will not only be on Sam, but the team that drafts him as well, with some fearing that it could serve as a distraction.

The NFL has and always will be a sport dominated by male bravado and strength. In this league, only the strongest survive and prosper. For the longest time, being an openly gay man in the locker room would have been seen as weakness. This is no longer the case. From now on, Michael Sam is the strongest man in any locker room. He is physically, mentally, and morally strong, a true leader willing to put the team first. There has already been an outpouring of support for Sam and there are a great number of people who want to see him succeed. Not only will he be a great player, but he will be a fantastic role model, seen as a game changer on and off the field. The road to change is full of adversity and scrutiny. Michael Sam must now travel this path, as strong as ever. 

Not the last time we will see Michael Sam's name on the football field