However when NBA player Jason Collins announced via an essay at Sports Illustrated it was news, very big news.
It has long been debated when, not if, a male active professional player in the NBA, NFL, NHL or MLB would take that giant and often lonely step out of the closet.
Much to the relief I would imagine of Jason Collins, he found himself not standing there alone as accolades from colleagues and others started appearing on social media and mainstream media in general.
From what I watched Monday afternoon it was the number one story of course in the sports media with a three or four spot in Monday's news cycle and all, again from my POV, well handled.
Except for one incident at ESPN when commentator Chris Broussard felt it was his duty to criticize Collins and his being Christian and homosexual. I couldn't believe what I was listening to, but then again in another segment earlier in the afternoon Broussard was expounding his homophobic view of LGB players both pro and otherwise through the veiled use of other people's words.
LZ Granderson who was also on at the time didn't let Broussard get away with his Holier Than Thou opinion of who makes a good Christian. Kudos to LZ for that.
All in all it was a good day of reporting this history making event in US pro sports.
This is just the beginning as others will now come out.
It just takes the first with the courage to do it so others can follow through that closet door.
For my commentary at my LGBT blog Focus On The Rainbow click HERE.
