Jason Collins vs. Tim Tebow

Sometimes you have to hand it to stupidity. Sometimes stupidity can make itself seem like a clever idea or thought when really it's just, well, stupid. As I was scrolling through my Facebook this morning, I noticed a cartoon that my friend commented on. On the first panel, it was a picture of Tim Tebow saying "I'm Christian" and a reporter replying, "Keep it to yourself" and walking away. On the next panel, it was Jason Collins coming out at gay and the reporter holding a microphone and saying, "Tell me more, you big hero!!!" The implication of the picture being that we should care about Tim Tebow being so openly Christian and care less about Jason Collins coming out.

I don't really care about Tebow being openly Christian. In fact, millions of Americans are so I'm not sure why we found it such a big deal in the first place. Tebow seems pretty genuine and like he's probably a pretty good person who likes to help others so this post isn't anti-Tebow but it is against comparing him with Jason Collins.

There are thousands of openly Christian Athletes, hell, there's even the club of Christian athletes. Being Christian in the U.S. might get you scoffed at in some circles but most people will just be indifferent because there are so many. I don't think Tim Tebow did anything heroic or substantial by being so openly Christian, in fact I think it probably branched onto slightly annoying. Plus, from the multitude of athletes that I see raise their hands to the Heavens when they score a touchdown or hit a home run, I think he was in already safe and charted territory.

Jason Collins, on the other hand, has way more question marks. Do you know how many openly gay athletes there are in America's big four of sports? Zero. Well, one, now. One. Jason Collins decided to delve into an area that American sports hasn't seen yet. He decided to take a plunge that many people who aren't in a spotlight try to avoid. Collins, however, knowing that he would garner attention and publicity by coming out, went ahead with it anyway. Further more, he did it in a year when he doesn't even have a team yet. He's a free-agent, which means that he's going to have to market himself to other teams to get signed. Still, he went through with his coming out plan.

I'm not going to laud Collins up with great heroes who risk their lives to save others but he did do something heroic. There is still a very homophobic community out there and there are many fans and players who are a part of it. Collins knew that by coming out, he would be risking ridicule and possibly losing a job. He knew that while some would thrust their support upon him, that there would probably be just as many against him. Obviously, I don't know what kind of attacks he might be fending off but I can bet that there are quite a few. I would even bet that some death-threats are involved. (If you think that idea is crazy then just look at the 49ers return man, Kyle Williams, from the championship game in 2012. He turned over the ball twice and probably lost the game for the 49ers and he received death threats. That was over a game. Think about what kind of death threats someone might get if the attackers feel that their way of life is being challenged)

The point I'm trying to make, though I'm not sure I'm doing it very well, is that Collins went out on a huge limb. He put himself out there for ridicule, attacks, and possibly being discriminated against in the locker room. What he did was heroic because no one had done it before and he knew the risks but did it anyway. Tebow didn't really risk anything, besides maybe a few people snickering.

The cartoon is wrong because it tries to say that Tebow was also going out on a limb. Tebow has an idea and a belief that he chooses to follow which is an idea that is still very accepted in today's society. Jason Collins was born gay and has had to fight his desires to try and seem "normal" to everyone else. He has had to go against himself so that he could find success. The picture thinks it's being clever by showing reporter being contradictory and not caring about what they should care about. The picture is stupid because it thinks that being openly Christian in the U.S. is just as difficult as being openly gay. Openly gay in a sports world and community that hasn't treated the gay community very kindly. The picture is not only stupid but insulting. It's trying to debase the act of Jason Collins. I know there are many Christians who still want to feel like their ridiculed and attacked in today's society. But in the U.S. and most Western countries, you're ridiculed with small jeers. Jason Collins is part of a community that faces not only some of the harshest words and attacks, but physical abuse as well. His act will make it easier for other athletes to come out. His act is another step in people finally realizing that being gay isn't about choice but about being who you are. The vehicle is moving too slow but at least we still have people like Jason Collins trying to push it along.