Personally, I don’t like to dwell in someone’s private life, and I hope players and coaches show me the same respect. When I’m with my team I’m all about working hard and winning games. A good teammate supports you no matter what.
Jason Collins
As the May 6th issue of Sports Illustrated hit the newsstands Jason Collins became a pioneer as the only current male professional athlete to admit that he was gay. While many would argue that it has been a long time coming, the reception to his announcement was met with mainly positive support. Collins is a 12 year NBA veteran known for his fierce play and obvious basketball mental toughness. His story depicts a young man with a competitive basketball mind able to leave his personal life off the court and focus on his role for his team.
Living with such a huge secret took its toll over time, and although Collins didn’t seek to become the trailblazer for gays in sports, his coming out is offering encouragement to others who may be hiding behind their sexuality as well. He said, “No one wants to live in fear. I’ve always been scared of saying the wrong thing. I don’t sleep well. I never have. But each time I tell another person, I feel stronger and sleep a little more soundly. It takes an enormous amount of energy to guard such a big secret.” Learning to manage such powerful outside distractors while sustaining tremendous focus and physical play on the basketball court portrays a sound mental toughness and competitive edge.
After the news frenzy dies down in the following months, Collins will learn how it feels to be treated as an openly gay player. As a free agent, he is not sure whose team he will play for this next season, but one thing remains, and that is his commitment to his teammates. He exudes basketball confidence in his role as the formidable fouler and player who steps in to take the charge. Collins said in Sports Illustrated, “On the court I graciously accept one label sometimes bestowed on me: “the pro’s pro.” I got that handle because of my fearlessness and my commitment to my teammates. I take charges, and I foul-that’s been my forte.” Taking a charge from Shaq requires a tremendous mental game and strong physical presence, something always associated with Collins.
Sports psychology for basketball allows that all players are different by race, education, age, and also sexuality, but the successful team finds a way to channel all players mindset to the challenges on the basketball court. The team with a strong mental game focuses on the mission, not on individual player’s differences. Shane Battier expressed his thoughts upon hearing of Collins coming out, “I only want one thing out of my teammate: a commitment to winning. Whether he is straight, gay, black, white, from Earth, or from Mars is immaterial. Just help us win.” The importance of a player is on his dominance in practice and the game, and not on his private life once he leaves the gym. Jason Collins lived throughout his career constantly maintaining his mental toughness and tenacity of play while working at great lengths to keep his private life a secret.
It is difficult to predict how players and fans will react to Jason Collins once he finds a new team and the season begins. Hopefully society is learning tolerance to focus on performance and not on the labels of a person that do nothing to affect their ability to play the game of basketball. Collins’ former coach Doc Rivers offered his insight, “He is the consummate professional, and he is one of my favorite ‘team’ players I have ever coached. If you have learned anything from Jackie Robinson, it is that teammates are always the first to accept. It will be society who has to learn tolerance.” Jason Collins played for many years with dedicated focus and mental toughness while carrying a tremendous amount of pressure from his personal life. Here’s hoping that with the new openness and support he receives he is able once again to play with basketball confidence and analyze his performance on the court, without enduring any judgment or analysis about his private life.
