Carl Nassib is a hero
This is the Morning Win, by Andy Nesbitt.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib made NFL history on Monday when he became the first active player to come out as gay.
He was quickly - and beautifully - showered with love and support from current and former NFL players, members of the media, football fans, and human beings who just have lots of love in their hearts.
Nassib also instantly became a hero because his message and courage could very well help so many people and save so many lives.
What Nassib did on Monday was incredible and was rightly celebrated in the moment but it's something that is likely going to have an huge impact on society for years to come.
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Speaking of years, he had this to say in his announcement:
"Right now, I am sitting in a moment of gratitude and relief. Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years. Only until recently, thanks to my family and friends, especially Connor, Cason, and Francis, did it seem possible for me to say publicly and proudly that I'm gay."
I can't begin to imagine how he felt during those 15 years but I have to believe he woke up today with a huge weight lifted off his shoulders and that must feel so damn good.
Nassib took things to an even more special level when he announced that he will be donating $100,000 to The Trevor Project, which provides suicide prevention services to the LGBTQ community. Nassib mentioned a study that shows that LGBTQ kids are five times more likely to consider suicide than their straight friends. The work that The Trevor Project does is so important and is now more well known thanks to Nassib.
"Studies have shown that all it takes is one accepting adult to decrease the risk of an LGBTQ kid attempting suicide by 40%," Nassib said. "Whether you're a friend, a parent, a coach, or a teammate - you can be that person."
Those are some incredibly powerful words by a great man whose selfless bravery makes him someone we should all look up to.
Congrats to you, Carl Nassib. We're all very happy for you.
Quick hits: Which uninterested team had Brady cursing them?… Orlando Magic troll the Sixers… deGrom passes MLB test… And more.
- Tom Brady is on an upcoming episode of HBO's The Shop and in a teaser for it he was seen dissing some team that didn't want him when he was a free agent. Steven Ruiz tries to figure out who that team might have been.
- The Orlando Magic seemed to troll the Philadelphia 76ers with a tweet about Markelle Fultz and NBA fans loved it.
- Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom was relieved to see he passed MLB's first check for foreign substances after he pitched a scoreless first inning.
- Dave Chappelle singing Radiohead's 'Creep' with the Foo Fighters at MSG is pretty great.