Weeks of speculation ended Saturday when the National Football League drafted Michael Sam as the first openly gay football player. The St. Louis Rams selected Sam who was All-American and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Defensive Player of the Year at the University of Missouri.
Sam’s seventh round pick drew significant reaction from both supporters and critics.
In a statement release by the White House President Barack Obama congratulated the defensive end from Mizzou.
"From the playing field to the corporate boardroom, LGBT Americans prove everyday that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are," Obama said.
After being selected, Sam, who was the 249th overall pick, expressed emotion kissing and embracing his gay lover on ESPN in celebration.
"There have always been sinners in sports as sports is a reflection of society. However, the floodgates of immorality have dramatically increased over the last few years," says 4 WINDS President Steve McConkey. "Sports people throughout the world are caving into the homosexual agenda."
According to ABC News Sam was the most tweeted-about draft pick receiving some 110,000 tweets referencing Michael Sam or @MikeSamFootball.
Not all the tweets were favorable.
Miami Dolphins player Don Jones tweeted “OMG” and “horrible” which have since been deleted.
Jones has been fined by team officials and informed that he will have to undergo educational training.
Sam established himself as one of the nation's premier pass rushers in his senior season, as he became only the second unanimous 1st-Team All-American in Mizzou Football history.
Publication date: May 12, 2014
