Mr gay usa at large night at the nfl

All-American Football Player Michael Sam Announces He’s Gay

My years with the Vikings, from '92 to '96, were some of my most productive on the field. I played alongside some great players. Jack Del Rio, the linebacker, always appreciated the little things I did, like tying up the guard so he could be free to make the tackle. Henry Thomas was my mentor, showing me the tricks of the trade in defensive line play.

John Randle is one of the best players I ever lined up with, and I have some great stories about things he did on the field -- but you couldn't print them. On the outside, it looked like I was always having a good time. Aloha," they called me. Or wishing I was dead. The only thing that kept me going, on and off the field, was my mom.

The only joy I got from football was using it to give something back to her. I could never pay her back for all she did for me. She raised eight kids, and after my father died when I was 10, she had to do it alone. We had no money, but she never let us feel that way. She loved us unconditionally and worked herself to the bone on the farm, harvesting and selling bananas to keep us going.

One of the best days of my life was when I bought her a wedding ring. She and my dad could never afford one. Whenever I thought of killing myself, I'd think of her. No matter how low I got, I just couldn't do that to her. And in a book changed my life. Which is hilarious, because I hadn't read a book since college, and even then it was usually the Cliff's Notes.

I started it and didn't put it down until I finished, with tears streaming down my face. I had never heard of him, and couldn't believe it. This was me! Dave played running back in the NFL for nine seasons in the '60s and '70s, and hid being gay, just like I was doing.

He came out a few years after he retired inand his book helped me to quit hating myself. A few weeks ago, I met Dave for the first time, at a party. It was emotional, man. Between the tears, we had so many stories. We were from different eras, but here we were, two NFL lifers talking about the great players we saw, the times we had on the field -- talking about the game.

Two players who were also gay, and who came out. The funny thing is, the NFL seemed almost more open toward gays in Kopay's era than in mine. Dave knew which teammates were gay, and knew about other players in the league.