Jason Collins raises his hand

Peter Foley/EPA

For the past few years the world has been waiting. Waiting on one person to raise their hand for gays in the world of sports. Just weeks ago, number one overall WNBA draft pick Brittney Griner announced that she was gay. The news to some, was swept under the rug, and received little national media attention. Perhaps because not many were shocked at Griner's coming out, or perhaps many deem the WNBA and women's basketball to be somewhat irrelevant. Whatever the case is, Griner blazed the trail for pro women athletes everywhere as an active WNBA player that is gay. Still, the sports world waited on a male to do so, on a bigger stage, in a bigger, more recognized sport.

In the midst of the NBA playoffs, one player has done just that. His team however missed the playoffs by about 10 games. The team he plays for? The Washington Wizards. The man that may be deemed as "the gay people's Jackie Robinson"?

34-year-old, veteran center, Jason Collins.

In a story that came out today, and is to be featured in the May 6, 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated, Collins says this:

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

The sports world waited, and waited, and waited. And the gay-lesbian community waited, and waited, and waited. And now, finally, one man has raised his hand and said, "I'm gay."

Some writers, bloggers, analysts, and critics will deem Collins' coming out also as irrelevant because, well, he's not the superstar player that everyone hoped to be the first out-pro athlete. He's past what prime he had, he's been a serviceable big man off the bench for the majority of his career, but he's no all-star. The fact is, beggars can't be choosers, and Jason Collins is the first gay athlete to come out while still playing. People will try and make this to be no big deal, but the other fact is, is that it is a big deal.

Many other athletes before Collins have come out, but no man has ever done it while actively playing pro, and next year could get very interesting for the veteran center depending on the type of the adversity he faces. He was on a one year deal with the Boston Celtics this season when, midway through, he and Leandro Barbosa's expiring contracts were traded to the Wizards for shooting guard Jordan Crawford.

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

So now, he's a free agent, in both senses of the word. Will any NBA team even sign the aging big man? This past season Collins played in just 38 games and averaged 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 points per game. Those numbers don't fly off the screen by any means. Perhaps though a lot of what Collins does doesn't show up on the stat sheet, as he has always been known for a defensive big, being able to post-up and box-out well and being able to occasionally neutralize defenders on the block. Collins says he still wants to play, the question now is, will anyone give him that chance? Will an NBA GM be the Branch Rickey to Collins' Jackie Robinson? NBA free agency is quickly approaching, so only time will tell.

But, when Collins does get signed, what happens when he goes to post up on an opposing player and one body part touches with another? What happens if an opposing player freaks out and shouts out a gay slur or throws a punch? This will be something that NBA refs will have to get a hold of right away because soon, Collins won't be the only guy in the NBA who is gay. Change is coming, more will follow him and this will be something that players and refs will have to deal with inside the game of basketball. The commissioner and the refs will have to make it clear from day one that no homophobic actions or name calling will be tolerated.

What this situation can be related to for NBA fans and sports fans alike, is what happened with Magic Johnson when he announced that he had AIDS and tried to come back and play. Some players like Karl Malone didn't want to be on the floor with Magic or play with him because Malone couldn't play as physical as he wanted to for fear that he may catch something from Magic. At the time, Malone, NBA players, and Americans alike were uneducated about the AIDS virus and we know now how the disease can be transmitted, playing basketball was not one of them.

Time will only tell us how this all plays out, and Jason has already received much support in the NBA community from his twin brother Jarron, point guard Baron Davis, Hall of Fame player Isiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant, Commissioner David Stern, and even former President Bill Clinton. Even Nike, (who signed Brittney Griner to an endorsement deal) showed their support saying:

Jason is a Nike athlete. We are a company committed to diversity and inclusion.

The Washington Wizards also released a statement showing their support saying:

We are extremely proud of Jason & support his decision to live his life proudly and openly. 

With all the support Collins has already received, there is now little doubt in my mind that he wouldn't be able to find a team next season. Someone will sign Collins, and he will continue to play tough defense off the bench, and be a trail blazer for future gay pro-athletes to come. In closing, I encourage you to visit SI.com and read Jason's story, written by him.

Thanks for reading The Last Timeout. You can follow this blog with your Google account, email me at northam67@gmail.com, and/or follow me on Twitter @primetimeMitch.

What could be the aftermath of the Boston Marathon explosions

David L. Ryan, Boston Globe

Today it was Patriots' day in Boston. A day of peace, a day of relaxation, and a day of sports for the local people of Boston. Many usually don't work, the schedule for most of the locals includes attending the Red Sox game and then watching the rest of the Boston Marathon, one of the greatest American sporting events of all time.

It's sick how something so great, so fun, and so competitive can be taken away from us. It's a feeling that most American's aren't used to, but it's a feeling that everyone experienced today, and this feeling in particular may change the American sporting world for years to come.

Today, two homemade bombs were set off near the finish line of the Boston marathon. What ensued was pure chaos and fear. Police, volunteers, competitors, paramedics, spectators, and others all scrambled. It was later reported by the Boston Police department that two were dead, and many more were injured as the count rises. Later, two more explosive devices were located by the police.

Some of the political blogs and writers will blame either conservatives or liberals as the cause for the bombings. Some will blame the gun laws, some will blame the police, some will blame the music or video games, some will blame President Obama.

Now is not the time to point fingers, to throw blame. These bombs were homemade, by either one or a group of persons, or a terrorist group. I trust that the person or people responsible for the mayhem and chaos will be brought to justice, and that's all we can hope for.

In regards to the gun control issue, I don't believe this country has one, and if the gun control laws were tougher, it wouldn't stop idiots and psychopaths from making bombs and striking fear into the eyes of the people of America, because well, bombs aren't guns. Guns don't kill people, bombs don't kill people, people kill people. Our country doesn't have a gun problem, we have a people problem.

But, to move away from the political aspect of things and back to the sporting world, remember this. The Boston Marathon is one of the biggest and greatest American sporting events, and the things that happened today could very well change the sporting world and the way we view sports.

How? Well number one, the only other man-made caused tragedy I can think of that is similar to this are the bombings that took place in Centennial Park in Atlanta during the Olympics in 1996. From that, two died, many were injured, but the games went on. No big changes were really made involving security or anything like that.

Alex Trautwig, Getty Images

Fast forward to 2013, nearly seventeen years after those Olympics, and nearly twelve years after the biggest terrorist attack our country has suffered on September 11th, 2001. Today after the bombs went off, the race was stopped, there was no choice, really.

What we're now looking at now, as sports fans and as Americans is how security officials and our government will prevent this from happening again. So you can bet some things will change when you walk up your favorite ball park's gate to give them your ticket.


We saw after 9/11 airport security step up and change drastically that now some airports have the ability to basically view you naked as you walk through the gate. You are no longer allowed to take certain items on to the plane, and only certain amounts of some other things. In airports, life changed, and in ball parks where we usually feel free, safe, fun, and peaceful while watching sports, things may change as well.

You can expect some changes coming in the near future to your favorite ball park. First off, if you weren't before, you may be patted down. I know that some stadiums do this now, but some don't, you can expect almost all of them to start giving all spectators a preliminary pat-down. Sadly, I may not be able to sneak a bag of peanuts in to Camden Yards anymore.

Paul Sakuma, AP

You may be asked to have your backpack, purse, or other bag to be put through a scanner, or you may not be able to carry one in at all. I know Turner Field in Atlanta is one of the only stadiums where you can carry a cooler into. Well, you can probably say goodbye to that Braves fans.

You may be asked to remove your shoes, you might be asked to remove your belt, you might be asked to walk through a full body scanner. This could happen folks, but is it right? Should we as fans and Americans be subjected to walking through and going through all of these things just to go watch a game? Has that much fear been stricken into our great nation that things may come to this?

Well, I hope not, but don't be surprised if the next game you go to, you are asked to be subjected to one of or many of these procedures that you may go through when you're at the airport.

I hope these things don't happen and that these things aren't implemented. I'd like to be able to take a bag of peanuts, a bottle of water, my camera, and maybe even a bag into the ball park. I hope that some of the freedoms that make this country so great aren't taken away from us, but it may be headed that way.

I plan on attending the Orioles-Dodgers game to be played this Friday at Camden Yards. I'm curious as to, if any, what precautions and changes are going to be made to security to prevent copy-cat acts that may follow this one at stadiums, ball-parks, and events across our country.

Ed Andrieski, AP

If these things have to happen, then so be it. When going to a stadium or event before this day, perhaps a fans biggest fear was whether or not it would rain, or whether or not the fan sitting next to them would be a drunken mess, or whether or not there would be a fight. Now though? A fan's biggest fear could be whether or not a bomb could go off. So, I know it will be for the better and for protecting against acts like this, but it's really a damn shame that something like this could happen at a sporting event, at a marathon.

Really, a marathon. Where are we at as a society where someone would set off explosives at a sporting event? Where are we at as a society that we have to be afraid when going to the movies because some lunatic might have a gun and shoot us all? Where are we at as a society that some  are scared to send their kids to school, because some heartless idiot might walk in there with a gun? Where are we at?

A marathon is really a recreational event, one where many of spectators, some that aren't even sports fans could be, so now, that something like this has happened there, what else needs to be policed and have high security? Practices? High school games/events? The movie theater? Theme parks? Is it possible, that for anything that you have to buy a ticket to, you may be subjected to being patted down?

Times are changing in this world that we live in.

In closing, I'd like to send out my prayers to everyone in the city of Boston, all of those who were injured, and the families and friends of those who were injured or suffered death. I pray that the person or people responsible for this are brought to justice. I also hope and pray that America and the sporting world is never subjected to anything like this again and that the changes that are coming do not have a negative impact on sports and it's fans.

UPDATE: The Boston Bruins were scheduled to take on the Ottawa Senators tonight at TD Garden in Boston, that has since been postponed by the NHL following today's events in Boston.

Thanks for reading The Last Timeout. You can follow this blog with your Google account, email me at northam67@gmail.com, and/or follow me on Twitter @primetimeMitch.

Orioles drop three straight after a loss to the Red Sox

BOSTON - The Baltimore Orioles (3-4) had not lost three straight since July of last season, but after a 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox (5-2) at Fenway Park today, that losing streak would rear it's ugly head once again. Clay Buchholz notched the win for the Sox pitching seven innings, allowing just three hits, no runs, and striking out eight. Daniel Nava put the Red Sox on the board with a three run homer in the seventh inning.

The game started off as a pitchers duel, Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning and wouldn't allow a run until Nava's homer in the seventh. After Nava's homer Chen was pulled for relief pitcher Tommy Hunter who pitched the remaining innings and allowed no hits.

After Buchholz's dominating performance, Andrew Bailey entered the game for relief in the eighth inning for the Red Sox. He struck out two and allowed no hits in an innings work. Joel Hanrahan closed the game out for the Sox and despite giving up a home run to Adam Jones and a double to JJ Hardy he was able to retire Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, and Ryan Flaherty to get the save for the Red Sox.

Steve Pearce strikes out in the 7th.
Photo: ELISE AMENDOLA/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Flaherty hit in the eighth spot today and DH Steve Pearce hit in the ninth spot. Both have been somewhat of a disappointment this season as they have zero hits through a combined twenty four at-bats this season. Today the tandem was 0-7 with three strikeouts. Many wonder if they will be sent down to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides soon to work out the kinks. Normally the pair wouldn't be getting this many at-bats, but with injuries to Brian Roberts (knee), Nolan Reimold (hamstring), and Wilson Betemit (PCL tear) the Orioles have had to look to their bench for at-bats.


Orioles first basemen Chris Davis also went hit-less today, but did get on base twice drawing walks both times. O's catcher Matt Wieters struggled at the plate as well going 0-3 with a walk. He did add another defensive play to his highlight reel, throwing out Red Sox OF Shane Victorino in the fourth inning as he was trying to steal second base. Wieters is making a name for himself as one of the catchers in baseball as he has thrown out four of five players attempting to steal on him this season.

Both teams are off tomorrow and will resume play on Wednesday at Fenway Park. Jake Arrieta is scheduled to start for the Orioles while Ryan Dempster will get the start for the Red Sox.

Thanks for reading The Last Timeout. You can follow this blog with your Google account, email me at northam67@gmail.com, and/or follow me on Twitter @primetimeMitch.

Also, check out me on DMV Elite where I'm a contributor for High School Basketball, covering the Eastern Shore of MD.