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Roland Martin Says Don’t Compare Michael Sam to Jackie Robinson
Newsone ^ | Feb 10, 2014

Posted on 02/11/2014 9:25:00 AM PST by nickcarraway

Roland Martin took to the airwaves Monday with his “NewsOne Now” panel to discuss the coming out of football player Michael Sam. The discussion took many turns, including into Martin’s insistence that Sam’s position not be compared to that of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in baseball.

“On Twitter last night I talked about Jackie Robinson and folks are always making the comparisons,” said Martin. “I’m very clear: Jackie Robinson was the first black player. He came into the league when racism…you can’t even remotely compare it. Sam is potentially coming into the NFL with a support system, folks are backing it. You didn’t have any blacks in major league baseball, no front offices. They were cussin’, dogging, trying to kill Jackie Robinson from day one.”

Panelist Hughey Newsome agreed that the country has come a long way in terms of LGBT acceptance and supposed that the NFL is “ready” for an openly gay player but fellow panelist Steve Clemons pushed back, offering that not all Americans have come as far.

“That problem still is out there in the Unites States, so I don’t want to minimize it,” said Clemons. “We’re further along but we’re further along in urban centers. We’re not further along out in middle America.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: gay
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1 posted on 02/11/2014 9:25:00 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

....wonder what team is going to go after a mediocre player?..with all the baggage the media will throw on it....oh wait..THE JETS like baggage


2 posted on 02/11/2014 9:28:21 AM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: nickcarraway

It’s the opposite.

This guy is now guaranteed to make a team. No on will want to cut him either.

It’s a brilliant move for a marginal player.


3 posted on 02/11/2014 9:28:28 AM PST by ifinnegan
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To: nickcarraway

“That problem still is out there in the Unites States, so I don’t want to minimize it,” said Clemons. “We’re further along but we’re further along in urban centers. We’re not further along out in middle America.”

That’s because middle America is full of bible believing Christians that won’t change their beliefs due to “popular opinion.” What is popular, isn’t always right.


4 posted on 02/11/2014 9:32:51 AM PST by tuffydoodle (Shut up voices, or I'll poke you with a Q-Tip again.)
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To: nickcarraway

Jackie Robinson was instantly among the best players in the NL on his arrival in the majors. He was selected by the Dodgers from a short-list of “can’t miss” players.

Michael Sam is a prospective mid-round draft pick (#4 according to reports). Fourth-round Picks are expected to make their squads, but may not contribute right away.

Comparing sexual orientation to race is problematic. But to compare a star player with a middling prospect is also stretching things a bit.


5 posted on 02/11/2014 9:34:04 AM PST by Tallguy
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To: nickcarraway

Advice to gays, we really don’t give a smelly Obama about what you put in your Obamahole.

Just get a room and STFU.


6 posted on 02/11/2014 9:35:03 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: nickcarraway

All his assertions aside, and putting aside that awful “42” movie, which was produced for this homosexual agenda, and his family is shameful for allowing it, Jackie Robinson was a victim.

Being black or white or any other race is not a temptation we are either born with or develop, to be overcome, like alcoholism, drug dependency or homosexuality.

There is nothing inherently valuable either good nor bad about one’s race God gives them.

The truth is that homosexual behavior is a choice, and it is a destructive choice.

Young pre adolescent boys, pro football fans, should not have to hear about this. It is abusive. They cannot deal with sex ed before adolescence, and they certainly cannot deal with learning the perversion of sex, at a young age.

That is true, and it will come out now or much later, but this is very very wrong.

This player grew up in a very bad environment. He is being used. He doesn’t know what the heck he’s doing, but neither does anyone involved in this.


7 posted on 02/11/2014 9:35:18 AM PST by stanne
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To: ifinnegan

“It’s a brilliant move for a marginal player.”

Not sure about that. Teams can pass on drafting him without too much attention. Unless the Obama administration makes a new rule stating each team, every time their turn comes up, must provide a written justification for not drafting Sam.

The next story here is going to be MSM asking why X team “passed on drafting Sam” and chose another player who is “on paper not better than Sam.”


8 posted on 02/11/2014 9:37:13 AM PST by BlueStateRightist (Government is best which governs least.)
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To: nickcarraway

Oh boo hoo!

Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen...


9 posted on 02/11/2014 9:38:44 AM PST by Altura Ct.
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To: ifinnegan
It’s a brilliant move for a marginal player.

Yep. Takes all performance expectations off.

If he does well, then he's a "Historical Figure who transcended the boundaries of" etc etc etc.....

If he falls on his face (more likely, as he's a mid-draft selection at best from what I've read), then it's because everyone in the NFL hates gays.

IMO, and with the caveat that I've never been an NFL coach, my guess is that NFL teams would give their right arms for a superstar DE, and to heck with who they slept with after the game. It's like the women who periodically try out as kickers.....find one who can hit a 50-yarder with consistency, and coaches will stampede to sign them...to heck with gender.

Nope, with this announcement, this guy changed the discussion from his skillset to who he's boinking. Smart move, especially for someone who's not a first or second round pick, and who would normally need to work extra hard just to make the cut.

10 posted on 02/11/2014 9:39:13 AM PST by wbill
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To: nickcarraway

I have a friend at work who is quite a bit younger than me, he is a real sports geek. He is also largely apolitical. He also hates (HATES) Tim Tebow (as a football player). Yet he asked me a brilliant question. Why is Sam regarded as some sort of hero because of his (let’s be honest) sexual perversion, while Time Tebow was derided for his strong support of the teachings of Jesus Christ? Who is the hero here, he asked? Who is the better role model?


11 posted on 02/11/2014 9:39:48 AM PST by fhayek
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To: nickcarraway

I think the quick backpedaling is funny. Yesterday Sam was brave and a hero. But then some try to compare him to Jackie Robinson and the libs heads start exploding. The homosexuals tried to push their cause beyond the acceptable line.


12 posted on 02/11/2014 9:43:55 AM PST by Starstruck (If my reply offends, you probably don't understand sarcasm or criticism...or do.)
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To: nickcarraway

Comparing Michael Sam to Jackie Robinson is an insult to Jackie Robinson in particular and Baseball in general.


13 posted on 02/11/2014 9:44:46 AM PST by lbryce (Obama:The Worst is Yet To Come)
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To: BlueStateRightist
Roger Gooddell can force a team to take him. Besides he has pet teams he could force to draft in the first round or something.

Remember, the Pittsburgh Steelers owners believe they are the greatest humanitarians in the history of the world. They would love to draft him. Or Pete Carroll to stick it to conservatives. Etc.

14 posted on 02/11/2014 9:45:28 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
What strikes me most is what Sam had to say about himself.

"I'm a gay man. That's who I am."

Really? That's it? Where he puts his junk defines him as an individual?

I think this guy has more gifts from his Creator than he realizes. And defining himself by where he puts his junk does not show the proper respect and praise for He who created him.

Michael Sam is not the first gay person I've heard say this. They define themselves as individuals by what gender they are attracted to. They sell themselves short in so many ways when they do that and they reveal themselves to be about as deep as a puddle after a sun shower.

15 posted on 02/11/2014 9:47:02 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts ("The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." - George Orwell)
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To: ifinnegan
This guy is now guaranteed to make a team.

The NFL will make sure of this one way or the other.

16 posted on 02/11/2014 9:47:48 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts ("The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." - George Orwell)
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To: nickcarraway

I used to love Roland Martin’s fishing show.


17 posted on 02/11/2014 9:49:12 AM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo (Support Free Republic!!!)
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To: BlueStateRightist
Teams can pass on drafting him without too much attention.

True. But Bob Kraft has already weighed in and said he doesn't care about ethnicity, race or gender preference. As long as a player is about Team and Winning, he doesn't care. Gad, I hope NE doesn't draft him.

18 posted on 02/11/2014 9:50:32 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts ("The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." - George Orwell)
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To: nickcarraway

Loose end. Goes Poooof if tackled.


19 posted on 02/11/2014 9:50:36 AM PST by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: BlueStateRightist

That’s the conundrum with this. A team could score brownie points with the left by drafting him but what next? A team can’t cut, bench, or trade him without suffering a severe backlash. His price tag is too high.


20 posted on 02/11/2014 9:58:15 AM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult (Liberals make unrealistic demands on reality and reality doesn't oblige them.)
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