Gay NBA player Jason Collins made headlines Monday when he acknowledged after continued speculation that he is in fact a member of the Washington Wizards, something he has hidden from family, friends and fans for several months.
“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. I’m gay. And I play for the Wizards,” the seven-foot center wrote in a Sports Illustrated op-ed piece. “I didn’t set out to be on the Wizards, but since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation.”
The Wizards acquired Collins in a Feb. 21 trade with the Celtics, a fact that Collins refused to publicly acknowledge even though many close to him said they could “totally tell.”
“After finishing the season with a team that won only 29 games, I feel it is time for me to come forward and openly admit that I am on the Wizards,” said Collins. “But if any better, hotter team out there would be interested in flirting with signing me, I’d be totally down for that.”
