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Daily Circuit Blog
Eric Ringham

First openly gay major-sport athlete turns out to be from the NBA, not the NFL

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When The Daily Circuit aired a piece last week about the lack of openly gay athletes in professional sports, we duly reported the hot rumor that a player in the NFL was about to come out. If there is such a player about to make a dramatic announcement, some of his thunder has been appropriated by Jason Collins of the NBA. Collins, a free agent who ended last season with the Washington Wizards, wrote a piece for Sports Illustrated, published Monday, in which he declares:

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. ... I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful."

To revisit last week's show, including an interview with former Viking Esera Tuaolo, go here. The Sports Illustrated piece is here.