UMASS Derrick Gordon 1st Openly Gay D1 player

[SaintMisbehavin]

espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10754694/derrick-gordon-umass-basketball-player-becomes-first-openly-gay-ncaa-division-player

I realize this may fall under "general" NCAA news, but Siena opens its season next year vs. UMASS. I would have to think that this reveal will elevate that game's status in the national sports landscape.

[$cott]

Good for him for coming out and yeah, this absolutely is Siena related news cause now the opener is going to be a circus, almost certainly televised somewhere.

[siena77]

Good for him and good for everyone. As we continue to have the program rise from the ashes, the media interest in our first game next season will be a valuable experience. GO SAINTS!!

[greenblood]

Good for him. He deserves respect not a media circus. I hope he gets it.

[MTS]

Apr 9, 2014 10:48:31 GMT -5 greenblood said:

Good for him. He deserves respect not a media circus. I hope he gets it.

+1000...hopefully in a full years this isn't a story anymore. It should be a complete non-factor. Of course it is the media that makes it a "circus"... most rational people do not care about someone else's sexuality but the media continues to fan the flames to fit their narrative.

Gordon and Cady Lalanne are UMass' two best returning players from a team that earned a #6 seed in the NCAA tournament. They won't be as good but on paper this will be our toughest OOC game. It should be on TV because it's a GOOD GAME not for other reasons but any game on TV for whatever the reason is good.

It could help Siena too since UMass will have to answer questions they probably don't want to and shouldn't have to leading up to the game.

umasshoops.com/board/

Speculation on the UMass board that the Siena game to open the season in Amherst at the Mullens center could be apart of the ESPN season tip-off marathon. Siena hosted Northeastern in that event at the TUC back in November 2009. Anyone (Knicksaint?) have confirmation on that?

[gorvy]

I don't think this will be a big story.

[CellarRat]

Apr 9, 2014 17:51:55 GMT -5 gorvy said:

I don't think this will be a big story.

And it shouldn't be. Just play basketball, who cares.

[SaintMisbehavin]

There will come a time when this isn't a big deal, and the timing (two days after the National Championship, basically the longest amount of time before the next season begins) of announcing this was planned out by Gordon with the help of others to minimize the announcement's effect on his team.

I just heard CBS' Gary Parrish make a very cogent argument on why this is important, and should be a story. The column supporting his stance below:

www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24519959/why-derrick-gordon-coming-out-is-important-and-a-story

[sienasaint3]

Cool dont give a shit. Congrats for him to say that he is gay. But I honestly dont give a shit (same as if some other player came out and announced that he was straight.

[SaintMisbehavin]

Apr 10, 2014 10:07:12 GMT -5 sienasaint3 said:

Cool dont give a shit. Congrats for him to say that he is gay. But I honestly dont give a shit (same as if some other player came out and announced that he was straight.

How do you have time to go around and comment on message boards about everything you don't care about? I'm impressed.

[th24]

Apr 10, 2014 10:07:12 GMT -5 sienasaint3 said:

Cool dont give a shit. Congrats for him to say that he is gay. But I honestly dont give a shit (same as if some other player came out and announced that he was straight.

I'm with you on this one! Who cares!!

[siena7127]

Yea I don't get why this is news worthy.

[playerparentcoach]

Well the young man said the NBA player coming out helped him make the decision to do it. I agree this has nothing to do with college basketball but it means alot to other players like him. We will prob see more of this now.

[sienasaint3]

Apr 10, 2014 10:20:24 GMT -5 SaintMisbehavin said:

Apr 10, 2014 10:07:12 GMT -5 sienasaint3 said:

Cool dont give a shit. Congrats for him to say that he is gay. But I honestly dont give a shit (same as if some other player came out and announced that he was straight.

How do you have time to go around and comment on message boards about everything you don't care about? I'm impressed.

Its on a Siena message board that I frequently post on...? Why does it matter that he is gay?

[siena77]

Apr 10, 2014 12:21:40 GMT -5 siena7127 said:

Yea I don't get why this is news worthy.

It's newsworthy because someone had the courage to come forward and announce that he's gay, which no other active NCAA D-1 player has done before. Some day it won't be newsworthy anymore, hopefully soon. I hope Derrick and his team have a great season after the Saints thump them!