Sexual orientation baiting is the new race baiting

Rant time.  

TWICE in the past week I've seen articles that imply that perhaps the sexual orientation of an athlete is affecting whether or not the individual is being signed to a contract, and in both cases, I think it's a bunch of crap.  I've never liked Al Sharpton, because I think he's a race baiter.  I haven't identified a poster child for sexual orientation baiters, but give it time and one will emerge.  For now Phil Taylor will have to suffice.

Phil Taylor, in that fringe sports periodical known as Sports Illustrated (sarcasm) supposes that Jason Collins is currently an unsigned free agent due to his announcement a few months ago that he was gay.  Never mind the fact that in his 12-year career he's averaged 3.6 ppg and 3.8 rpg, and those numbers include his "prime" years.  Only once in the last five years has he averaged more than 1 point per game (and it was 2.0 points per game!) and more than 1 rebound per game (and it was 2.1 rebounds per game!)  How much would you pay for a guy who averaged 1 point and 1.5 rebounds per game last year?  How much?  $1.4 million you say?  Well, that's good, because according to the collective bargaining agreement, that's the minimum amount you'll need to pay him.  

But he's not signed yet because he's gay.

Kerry Rhodes, a safety for the Arizona Cardinals last year, is a little bit different.  He's got the stats.  Last year he was ranked as the fourth-best safety in the NFL.  Since then, there has been some questions about his sexual orientation.  He denied that he's gay, but some people think that he is based on some photographs and information by people close to him.  Jay Busbee of Yahoo News supposes that it might be the reason nobody has signed him this year.  Is it possible that instead, it had something to do with the fact that he turned down a $3 million guaranteed contract from the Cardinals in the off-season?  Could it be that he's not signed because other teams showed interest but he didn't accept any of their contract offers because they weren't high enough?  Could it be that he's on the wrong side of 30, or that he's entering his 9th year in the league?  Rex Ryan is not necessarily a trusted source, but he has commented on the attitude problems that Rhodes brought when he was a Jet.  Rhodes is known for leading a "Hollywood" lifestyle, which most teams don't appreciate in a player because it causes distractions.  Who wants to play football for the league minimum $840K that he would be due if he signed with one of the teams that were interested?

But he's not signed yet because he might be gay.

I don't believe it, and I'm not buying it.  As much as I rail against the "win at all cost" in pro sports, most teams wouldn't care if you were a polygamist who was married to a goat AND a chicken.  If you can put up the numbers AND the price is right, they'll hire you.  Just ask Dennis Rodman.  

I'm not falling for the sexual orientation bait.