Jason Collins has the world talking as he recently state being gay immediately making him the first athlete in American sports to come out publicly. Many have welcomed Collins with open arms as national and international figures stepped forward. Now, the question is who's next and which sport is next on the line? Is baseball ready to accept an openly gay athlete into their locker rooms?
Will Middlebrooks, the 24-year-old third baseman for the Boston Red Sox says he believes Major League Baseball would be ready to accept a gay teammate.
Middlebrooks was sincere and went straight to the point:
"The world is changing," he said. "For me personally, I don't care. If you're here and you're a good teammate and you're helping us win, that's all I care about. What you do off the field is none of my business. I feel like people should be themselves and not have to hide. Just lead your life."
If only everybody else would apply these rules outside of sports, then the world would be a better place in general. Middlebrooks is far from a superstar, but he's slowly growing in popularity in the Red Sox and around the majors. Many might remember him in Boston as the guy who replaced the longtime Red Sox third baseman, Kevin Youkilis. Others around the fantasy baseball realm might remember him for smacking three home runs against the Toronto Blue Jays and almost hitting a fourth in the game.
Middlebrooks is a star in the making and provides a fresh way of thinking, which many players in the majors today can probably relate to. It would be interesting to see if any more baseball players step forward and give their ideas on how they think a gay player would be accepted in the majors.
Collins so far, has received tons of respect, support and appreciation. He can serve as a symbol for many athletes around the world. It is better to be free than hold on to something in fear of not being accepted. Collins is a free agent in basketball. It will be interesting to see how many teams offer him deals.
