>> Michael Sam Tells Oprah About Other Gay NFL Players
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En février dernier, et quelques semaines avant sa sélection par la National Football League (NFL), Michael Sam, 24 ans, considéré comme l’un des meilleurs linebackers du Championnat universitaire, prenait le risque de révéler son homosexualité dans la presse américaine. Un acte de courage plutôt rare qui aurait pu compromettre sa carrière.
Mais, le joueur qui vient d’être libéré après 7 semaines, par les « Cowboys de Dallas » ne peut pas imaginer que cet aveu ait pu lui coûter sa place en Ligue nationale.
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[/mp_code] [/mp_span] [/mp_row] [mp_row] [mp_span col=”12″] Dans un documentaire exclusif qui lui est consacré et sera diffusé samedi à la télévision américaine, interrogé par Oprah Winfrey, Michael Sam, se confie :
« Je ne peux pas imaginer que ce soit à cause de mon orientation sexuelle que j’ai manqué ma place. Je n’ai pas envie de penser comme ça. Je crois que j’ai du talent, que je suis un bon joueur et, je vais continuer à travailler dur pour essayer d’obtenir cette opportunité d’intégrer une équipe professionnelle. Je tiens encore la route… je pourrais recevoir un appel à n’importe quel moment pour la saison prochaine… Je crois dans un avenir prometteur. »
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« Y a-t-il d’autres joueurs gay en Ligue et se sont-ils manifestés ?
« Oui, quelques uns, mais je ne fais pas de “outing” » déclare le jeune athlète. « Certains m’ont contacté pour me faire savoir qu’ils me soutenaient et me trouvaient courageux… ils auraient également souhaité pouvoir le faire. Mais la plupart sont discrets. Ma décision était motivé par le soutient de mon compagnon. Mais, je n’ai rien à conseiller. Ils le feront quand ils se sentiront prêts. Mais oui, il y a pas mal d’autres joueurs homosexuels en Ligue. Nous sommes quelques uns mais je suis le seul “ouvert”. »
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« Le baiser qui finit fougueusement au gâteau, c’était prémédité ? »
« Pas du tout… l’interview était terminée mais les cameramen ont continué de tourner des séquences. Nous n’imaginions pas qu’ils étaient diffusées. »
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« Une enfance difficile… »
« Oui, j’ai pas mal été harcelé et violenté par mes frères ainés. Parce que ça les amusait ou parce que j’étais différent…. Je me souviens, plus jeune… par jalousie, mon frère aîné à détruit mes premiers trophées devant moi. J’en étais tellement fier et ça m’a fait tellement mal. Il ne supportait pas les honneurs que je recevais. Mais je ne lui en veux pas. »
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Terrence Katchadourian
@stop_homophobie
>> When Michael Sam became the first openly gay man drafted into the NFL, the world watched him celebrate with his longtime boyfriend, Vito Cammisano. In those brief moments captured on film, we were given a small glimpse into Sam’s world. The lens opened a bit wider on Saturday night with the airing of “Michael Sam” on OWN, a 90-minute documentary about the history-making athlete and his desire to live an open, authentic life. Afterwards, Sam sat down with Oprah for his first interview since being drafted and later cut from two teams. Below are six big moments we’re still talking about.
The Kiss Was Not Staged
After three days of anticipation, Sam learned he was picked up by the St. Louis Rams, an emotional moment for any player. While celebrating with his boyfriend, Sam playfully smashed cake in his face and gave him a kiss, a moment some criticized as controversial and staged.
Sam says the kiss was absolutely not staged. In fact, he says, cameras were supposed to be finished filming at that point. “They were only supposed to film the moment I got drafted. That’s what people don’t understand,” he says. “They say it was staged. Well, I’m having fun. I’m in a good mood.”
Does he think the kiss was too much? “If you didn’t like it, grab your remote control, turn the channel,” Sam says.
“I’m Not the Only One”
Since publicly coming out, Sam says other gay men in the NFL have reached out to him. “Very few reached out to me and pretty much just told me their gratitude,” he says. “They wished that they had the courage to come out.”
When asked how many, Michael declines to give a number. “There’s a lot of us out there,” he says. “I’m just the only one who’s open.”
He Would Never “Out” Another Player
Sam tells Oprah he would never encourage another NFL player to come out just because he did. “They need to come out whenever they feel comfortable for them coming out,” he says. “Not once have I ever tried to advise them coming out.”
He did, however, think his openness would spark others in the NFL to come out publicly as well. “I was wrong, but everyone has to come out in their own time,” he says.
Sam Was Tormented a Kid
Sam’s two older brothers, known around his small Texas town as the “damn Sams,” bullied him mercilessly. “They used to abuse me daily,” Sam says. “Maybe just for fun. Maybe because I was different.”
In the seventh grade, Sam recalls receiving his very first trophies for honors in football, basketball and track. “I was so proud of those trophies,” he says. “My older [brother], he was so jealous and he just broke them in front of me and it was just the saddest thing. I couldn’t have anything without them destroying it or taking it from me.”
He’ll Forgive His Brothers — One Day
When he graduated from the University of Missouri as an All-American, Sam says his mother handed him a letter from one of his brothers.
“I never read it just because all the memories came back to me and I chose not to read it,” Sam says. “I know one day I will forgive my brothers for everything they did for me.”
Sam Hasn’t Given Up on His NFL Dreams
After being cut from the St. Louis Rams, Sam was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, only to be released after seven weeks.
“Do you think now that the reason why you are not with a team is because you weren’t good enough to play?” Oprah asks Sam. “Or because you are gay?”
“I don’t like to think that way,” Sam says. “But I do believe I’m a very talented football player and I’m going to continue on working hard and trying to get that opportunity to play in the league.”
As to why he was cut from the Cowboys, Sam says it was just business. “I did everything I was told to do,” he says. “I was on a scout team. There was nothing I could do, the roster was full already and I had to go.”
Sam is now acting as a free agent and says he’ll hold onto his NFL dreams for as long as he can. “The season’s coming to an end and I know I’m still fresh. I could still get a call right now — it’s highly unlikely, but I can go up in next season and start all over again.”
“I believe good things are on the horizon,” he says.
