The worst insult you can give a professional athlete is to call them soft. And the stereotype out there is that gay is soft.
Interpretation
Calling a professional athlete 'soft' is a significant insult, equating weakness with being gay, which reveals societal biases.
In this quote, Jason Collins highlights the stigma surrounding both professional athletes and the LGBTQ+ community. He points out that to label an athlete as 'soft' is not just an insult to their strength and skill, but also reinforces the stereotype that being gay is synonymous with weakness. This reflects deeper societal prejudices and emphasizes the need for inclusivity and acceptance within both sports and society at large.
In practice
Use this quote in a speech about overcoming stereotypes in sports.
I would love to see an athlete live their life in an authentic way, not feel that they have to hide, not feel that they have to be afraid, or live with shame - all the other things that go with being a closeted athlete. No human being should have to walk that path. But there is that fear of stepping forward.
The first relative I came out to was my aunt Teri, a superior court judge in San Francisco. Her reaction surprised me. 'I've known you were gay for years,' she said. From that moment on I was comfortable in my own skin.
For many young people growing up in minority communities, there is a sense that their lives are disposable. As athletes, we have a platform to let those kids know that their lives are important. That their lives matter to us.
Some people insist they've never met a gay person. But Three Degrees of Jason Collins dictates that no NBA player can claim that anymore. Pro basketball is a family. And pretty much every family I know has a brother, sister or cousin who's gay. In the brotherhood of the NBA, I just happen to be the one who's out.
My dream was to play in the NBA and live my authentic life as a proud gay man at the same time. I was able to accomplish both of those goals because of the people who have supported me throughout my life.
I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.
In defeat, unbeatable; in victor, unbearable
I'm simply not afraid. It's not in my dictionary of behaviour.
You have to dare to make a choice that may be considered unorthodox in a role, but when you're working as if there are tons of people watching you, that's not necessarily a good thing.
Becoming a parent has changed the risk calculus for me. But it might be age, too, and seeing a lot of friends die in the mountains. Will I take the same risks I took in my 20s? Probably not, but I will always push myself in the mountains.
You are the Master of your Fate, the Captain of your Soul.
You wouldnβt be normal if you were never afraid. Even the bravest men experience fear. One of the biggest jobs we all face in combat is to overcome fear.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.