Tag: football

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News Round-Up: September 21, 2016

Finding Prince Charming‘s Robert Sepulveda Jr.

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Finding Prince Charming bachelor Robert Sepulveda Jr. warns he will SUE you if you shame him, call him out or just plain be mean to him on social media.

• The school district in McKinney, Texas, is about to get a $70 million high school football stadium. Everything in Texas IS bigger!

• The man who violently smashed a wooden chair over the heads of a gay couple after a fight at Dallas BBQ in NYC has been sentenced to 9 years in prison.

• President George H.W. Bush has told those in his close circle he plans to vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in this year’s presidential election.

• OUT Magazine is catching hell for “profiling” right-wing nut-job and professional asshole Milo Yiannopoulos.

• Charlotte, North Carolina, erupts in racial tension as another black man is shot dead by police.

• Homeowners in Seattle are now being sued for $1.6 million in fines and damages for cutting down more than 150 trees on public property to improve the view from their homes.

• On the 4th anniversary of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney releasing his tax returns last election cycle, Hillary Clinton hits Donald Trump with this little valentine.

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Out Football Player Michael Sam Leaves The Montreal Alouettes

“The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health. Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon. Thank you all for your understanding and support.”

A week ago Sam was prepping for his debut with the Montreal Alouettes.

Now, it appears he’s left the team.

From Outsports:

Sam’s time in Montreal has been a roller coaster. After much fanfare about his signing, he left the team for personal reasons the day before his first preseason game in June. When he returned to the team it was revealed that he had ended his relationship with his then-fiancé. In July he allegedly struggled to get into football shape, and reports claimed dissension on the team due to “preferential treatment” of the openly gay player.

He appeared in his team’s game at Ottawa last week but did not record a sack or tackle in limited action. Last night he was not present for his team’s game against the Edmonton Eskimos, either on the roster or in the stadium.

It is worth noting the incredible pressures put on Sam.

Before he came out a year and a half ago, before the NFL draft, he was expected to be a 3rd round draft pick based on his senior year play and being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Within hours of coming out, football websites saw his potential draft pick possibilities drop to maybe 5th or 6th round.

In the end, he was picked #249 in the 7th round.

Months later, it was revealed Sam never intended to come out in such a public fashion. He told the press his intention was to quietly come out to whatever team picked him up. That was how he handled coming out at Mizzou, and all went well.

But the press was apparently about to out him, and he felt he needed to control the story rather than let it unwind on it’s own.  I’d have done the same thing.

I think from there things spiraled, and it became a “one foot in front of the other” situation. Survive.

All Sam wanted to do was play football. A sport that gave him solace and strength in a difficult childhood.

Truly heartbreaking. I certainly wish Sam well.

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Michael Sam Returns To Montreal Alouettes

Michael Sam has returned to the Montreal Alouettes two weeks after leaving the team for what he said were “personal reasons.” Sam left Montreal June 12, the day before the Alouettes’ first Canadian Football League preseason game, and allegedly boarded a plane headed for Dallas. At the time, speculation was rampant about whether Sam was leaving the team for good or if he would return.

From the Montreal Gazette:

As for Sam, he was in Montreal on Wednesday with injured linebacker Kyries Hebert and has a locker at Olympic Stadium. He’s expected at team meetings this Sunday and at practice the following day.

Earlier this week Alouettes general manager Jim Popp offered The Guardian his perspective on why Sam left the team:

“I think he needed a break,” Popp said. “That’s my personal belief. I think it was just overwhelming to some degree, and he needs to clear his mind, clear his head. Do I think he wants to play? Do I think he wants to be on the field? Do I think he wants to be Michael Sam the football player? I, 100%, believe that. Yes.”

(from Outsports)

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Out Footballer Michael Sam Absent From Montreal Alouettes Opening Exhibition Game

Michael Sam, out football player who signed with the Montreal Alouettes in late May, is not with his team today for his team’s exhibition opener against the Ottawa Redblacks.

From ESPN:

“The Montreal Alouettes organization would like to clarify the situation surrounding international defensive end Michael Sam,” the team said in a statement. “Friday morning, Michael asked the team a special permission to leave training camp and return home for personal reasons.

“The Montreal Alouettes fully respect Michael Sam’s decision and rally around him to offer him all time and support needed. The team has left the door open and Michael is welcome to come back whenever he feels ready.”

Named the 2013 SEC defensive player of the year for Missouri, Sam came out before the 2014 NFL draft, and was eventually picked by the St. Louis Rams late in the 7th round.

The Rams released him after the 2014 preseason, and the Dallas Cowboys picked him up for their practice squad. He lasted several weeks but was eventually released.

Sportscaster Rick Moffat tweeted he ran into Sam at the Montreal airport. From Sam’s luggage load, Moffat didn’t think Sam was leaving for good. See below.

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Michael Sam Invited To 1st NFL Veteran Combine

Michael Sam, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Rams, will participate in the first NFL Veteran Combine scheduled to take place on March 22nd in Tempe, AZ.

The veteran combine is a chance for veteran players who may have slipped through the cracks during their earlier time in the NFL.

Via Sporting News:

In 2013, Sam was named the SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year. Although he was projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick, Sam was selected final round and became the first openly gay player to be drafted. He was released by Rams in August after failing to survive the final preseason cuts. Sam joined the Cowboys’ practice squad in September but was waived just one month.

Sam was announced earlier this week as a cast member of the 10th season of Dancing With The Stars. Sam had indicated earlier that football is his first priority and the ABC TV show had already assured him their schedule would not interfere with his taking part in the Combine.

Should Sam leave the combine without a deal, he could still accept a one-year offer from the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes.

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Detroit Lions Joseph Fauria Celebrates In The End Zone With His End Zone

With a minute to go in the third quarter of the Detroit Lions/Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, Detroit tight end Joseph Fauria delivered a touchdown catch and signed a postscript with twerking in the end zone.

Detroit went on to win the game, 34-17, thanks in part to Fauria’s obvious skills.

Oh, and his ability to play football.

(h/t The Gaily Grind)

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Michael Sam In Talks To Play In Canadian Football League

Could Michael Sam’s football career take him north?

According to Chris Battaglia at The Score, the Montreal Alouettes are talking to Michael Sam about playing there in 2015 and the chances are “50/50” that the deal could work.

The possibility of Sam playing for the Alouettes has been up in the air since the St. Louis Rams released him at the end of preseason play. That was when it came to light that Sam was on Montreal’s negotiation list,  which means the CFL team has the exclusive right to sign him.

Sam has been a free agent since the Dallas Cowboys cut him from their practice squad in October.

The Alouettes were eliminated from the CFL playoffs in the East Division final after going 8-2 in their last 10 regular-season games. Defense was Montreal’s biggest strength, and adding a player of Sam’s caliber would give it arguably the best pass rush in the league.

Former NFL scout Russ Lande believes Sam’s body type and playing style are well-suited for Canadian football, comparing him to former Calgary Stampeders defensive end Cordarro Law. Law signed with the San Diego Chargers and made his NFL debut this year after recording 14 sacks with the Stampeders in 2013.

“(Sam) could star in the CFL,” Lande told Sean Keeler of Fox Sports Kansas City. “The reality is, in the CFL, a lot of their pass rushers are 250-pound, smallish guys who’ve got quick feet. (Sam) can run, he uses his hands well, he’s got a nose for the quarterback.”

Additionally, Sam may be getting an offer from Vince Neil (front man for Mötley Crüe) who owns the Las Vegas Outlaws franchise of the Arena Football League.

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Arizona State’s Edward “Chip” Sarafin comes out as only active gay college football player

Edward “Chip” Sarafin of Arizona State University comes out

Arizona State University offensive lineman Edward “Chip” Sarafin has earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and is currently working on his master’s degree.

He is also involved with community outreach through the Pat Tillman Foundation, an organization invested in veterans and their spouses, and named after the late ASU and Arizona Cardinals player Pat Tillman.

Oh – and the 6’6″ 320 pound football player also happens to be gay.

Arizona State coach Todd Graham issued this statement (from OutSports):

“We are a brotherhood that is not defined by cultural and personal differences, but rather an individual’s commitment to the Sun Devil Way. Chip is a fifth-year senior and a Scholar Baller, a graduate and a master’s student. His commitment to service is unmatched and it is clear he is on his way to leading a successful life after his playing career, a goal that I have for every student-athlete. Diversity and acceptance are two of the pillars of our program, and he has full support from his teammates and the coaching staff.”

Sarafin slowly started to come out to his Sun Devils teammates last spring, saying, “it was really personal for me and it benefited my peace of mind greatly.” His public announcement makes him the first openly gay football player on an active collegiate roster.

Another exceptional out football player made note and tweeted this to the college senior:

(source)

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Out football player Michael Sam shows he has moves on and off the field

Newly out University of Missouri football player Michael Sam is quickly on his way to becoming a sex symbol, if the clip below is any indication.

Check the video footage of Sam dancing shirtless at a local gay club in Columbia, Missouri, last October.

The handsome and buff All-American clearly has the moves on the field and off.

Via TMZ.