Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander is one of the most popular and skilled players in all of Major League Baseball, which is why it is important to note that when he was asked about playing with a gay teammate, he immediately said he would have no issues with it.
According to Yahoo Sports, Verlander spoke in an interview with CNN's Carol Costello, in which he was asked about a $200 million contract, his golfing skills as well as how he would feel about playing with a gay teammate. The picther responded and said he would be fine with it, stating:" Absolutely. Wouldn't mind."
"I don't think one of our players would be scared to come out. We got 25 guys, it's a family, and our goal is to win a World Series. What your sexual orientation is, I don't see how that affects the ultimate goal of our family," he said.
Although he may disagree with his new teammate Torii Hunter, who previously said he wouldn't be comfortable, Verlander proved once again why he is one of the best athletes in sports. Hunter once said: "For me, as a Christian ... I will be uncomfortable because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it's not right," he says. "It will be difficult and uncomfortable."
Mark Knudsen, a former MLB pitcher, wrote an article last week that out-of-the-closet players aren't best for a team, but some other athletes disagreed with that claim, including Verlander.
The news about the Tigers pitcher comes as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver met with a LGBTQ crisis support group after making hateful comments at the Super Bowl about playing with a homosexual teammate.
According to USA Today, Culliver met with The Trevor Project, which is an organization that provides crisis and suicide intervention to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. The reason for the visit was due to comments he made during media day at the Super Bowl, saying:
"I don't do the gay guys man," said Culliver, whose Niners play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. "I don't do that. No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah...can't be...in the locker room man. Nah."
Culliver tweeted a photo of him at the organization, writing: "Great time at LGBTQ the Q is for (question)."
Trevor Project spokeswoman Laura McGinnis said Culliver was interested in volunteering and that "Chris is a young guy himself," she said. "He reached out to The Trevor Project. And that's a good thing."