UMass' Derrick Gordon announces he's gay

[Corsi]

Derrick Gordon sat waiting outside the film room, his knee bouncing furiously up and down. He had wanted to tell his teammates something for more than a year, and now he was about to say it. And he knew that once he did, a lot of things would be different.
 
A minute later, the sophomore shooting guard stood and walked into the room, accompanied by University of Massachusetts men's basketball coach Derek Kellogg. Gordon faced his teammates, a group of guys he liked but had always kept at arm's length.
 
That was about to change.
 
Kellogg spoke first. "We're all here together, and we need to love each other for who we are," he said. "One of your family members, your brother, wants to let you know something about himself."
 
There was a pause. And then Kellogg, sensing that Gordon needed help, tried breaking the ice. "I wanted to let you all know I'm gay," the coach said. His players all looked at him, stunned. What?
 
Gordon took his cue and spoke up.
 
"No, he's not. But I am."
 

 

http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/10754317/espnw-university-massachusetts-minuteman-derrick-gordon-openly-smiling-decision-come-gay

 

[Corsi]

This is the happiest I have ever been in my 22 Years of living...No more HIDING!!!...Just want to live life happy and play the sport that I love...Really would love to thank my family, friends, coaches, and teammates for supporting me....I would also like to thank my support team Wade Davis, Jason Collins, Brian Sims, Micah Porter, Anthony Nicodemo, Patrick Burke,Billy Bean, Gerald McCullough, Kirk Walker...You guys are AWESOME!!! Ready to get back in the gym with my teammates and get on the GRIND and get ready for next season!!!! #BETRUE #BEYOURSELF #HONEYBADGER
 
 

http://instagram.com/p/mkmkBQuooq/

 

[SaveBooFerriss]

As a UMass alum, I am really proud of Gordon.  As a player, he is tough as nails and I think he will be tough enough to handle any pressure that comes his way.  

 

[McDrew]

As happy as I am that people coming out publicly is news, I can't wait for the day when it doesn't matter at all.  Your sexuality has no influence on how well you play basketball, or football, or write software, or parent, or practically everything else outside the bedroom.  I understand that these people are trying to prove that point to the legion of idiots who think it does make a difference, but I can't wait until it becomes a non-story. 

 

[Infield Infidel]

OutSports has a really moving story about him coming out to his family and the team
 
http://www.outsports.com/2014/4/9/5582758/derrick-gordon-comes-out-umass-basketball
 

 
Last Wednesday, after coach Kellogg broke the ice with the team, Gordon stood before them and revealed that he’s gay. As he shared with them his story of isolation, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. While it had been easy for some of the young men to tease someone they thought was gay – and someone who denied it – the impact of their actions hit home when Gordon revealed the speculation was true, and that the teasing nearly drove him from the team.
"It was powerful for these players to see one of their brothers be so vulnerable," said Davis, who said he had to turn away from the group in the room lest they see him get emotional. "These are some inner-city kids, some rough, tough kids who Derrick wants to be friends with. They understand who he is a little bit better now."

 

[BigA27]

As a Umass alum I am very proud of Derrick and hope this goes smoothly for him. He seems far happier and secure.
 
Derek Kellogg handled this pretty well. He may have some issues with on the court coaching, but he seems to have a good connection to his players.
 
Thanks for posting the outsports article, it was interesting see him get far more in depth about the process.

 

[The Napkin]

Ready to get back in the gym with my teammates and get on the GRIND

phrasing
 
Yeah, good for the kid. I have no connection to UMass but good on him and good on them and hope he's treated well by everyone. Must be one hell of a burden to have off of his shoulders. I can't imagine felling like I have to hide something that is such a part of me.

 

[URI]

I was with him until #honeybadger. 

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

If you haven't seen the interview on sportscenter yet, it's worth watching.  He's completely unguarded in the interview and has no problem completely describing his process, his decision, and his elation.  It's also easy to think in the abstract about Jason Collins' announcement and how important it could turn out to be, but it's another to hear a guy talk about the effect it's had on him personally.

 

[JimBoSox9]

As happy as I am that people coming out publicly is news, I can't wait for the day when it doesn't matter at all.  Your sexuality has no influence on how well you play basketball, or football, or write software, or parent, or practically everything else outside the bedroom.  I understand that these people are trying to prove that point to the legion of idiots who think it does make a difference, but I can't wait until it becomes a non-story. 

 
I can't agree with this.  Every time the media floods the zone with one of these stories, the story is about how it's a non-story, and the more in-the-closet kids reading those stories, the better.  Collins begats Sam begats Gordon and so on.  Millions of non-athletes and non-celebrities begat Collins, and this kind of coverage helps drive all of that.  Yup, there's a lot of thrashing and it's pug fugly at times, but it's thrashing towards a better place.  Don't run away from how this sausage is being made, because it's goddamn beautiful.

 

[URI]

 
I can't agree with this.  Every time the media floods the zone with one of these stories, the story is about how it's a non-story, and the more in-the-closet kids reading those stories, the better.  Collins begats Sam begats Gordon and so on.  Millions of non-athletes and non-celebrities begat Collins, and this kind of coverage helps drive all of that.  Yup, there's a lot of thrashing and it's pug fugly at times, but it's thrashing towards a better place.  Don't run away from how this sausage is being made, because it's goddamn beautiful.

 
You know you guys are essentially saying the same thing...I'm pretty sure AMcGhie is talking about the sausage, and you're talking about feeding the meat in the grinder.

 

[mabrowndog]

I was with him until #honeybadger. 

 
Honeybadgerphobes will not be tolerated in this online community.

 

[serotonin]

Looks like the WBC plans to picket at UMass following the announcement.  I hope they announce a date soon so I can make plans to avoid campus that day.

 

[DJnVa]

Looks like the WBC plans to picket at UMass following the announcement.  I hope they announce a date soon so I can make plans to avoid campus that day.

 
You should show up an holler at them.

 

[Corsi]

Looks like the WBC plans to picket at UMass following the announcement.  I hope they announce a date soon so I can make plans to avoid campus that day.

 
I'll be at UMass tomorrow.  Bringing water balloons.

 

[TheBenzingerGame]

 
You should show up an holler at them.

 
Nah... it would be wonderful if they packed up all their signs and traveled all the way to UMass just to stand there for an entire day without a single person acknowledging their existence. Just walk right by them as if they were invisible. They're on their way out, anyway. No need to give them any attention whatsoever.

 

[AbbyNoho]

The WBC modus operandi since Phelps left has been to say they're going to be somewhere, get local news to cover it, get people to show up and talk about them, and then not even need to actually come.
 
Just ignore them. They don't exist if you don't believe in them. They're the real faeries. 

 

[RedSoxFan]

Doesn't look like they will be ignored. There's a huge counter-protest scheduled for Wednesday.
 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1468269856740656/

 

[Corsi]

Sounds like these assholes actually made it to campus.
 
https://twitter.com/STPECProject/status/456467151621079040/photo/1

 

[Corsi]

The backlash is beautiful.
 

 

 

 

[Corsi]

Another gathering near the Fine Arts Center:
 

 

[Corsi]

 

[Corsi]

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

On the one hand, good on UMass for showing that they don't agree with these WBC fuckwits.
 
On the other, I really wishh people would just ignore the WBC. They are professional trolls. They seek attention. Such a huge crowd arriving to counter-protest their hatred likely gives them fuel for their misguided sense of justice.
 
Dammit. I was hoping they'd fracture quickly after Fred Phelps punched his ticket to hell.

 

[RedSoxFan]

Looks like from all accounts they stayed for about 30 minutes, then packed up and left. Must be nice to be able to travel halfway across the country on a Wednesday afternoon for a half hour protest.