Openly-gay football player Michael Sam Gay New Zealand Olympian Blake Skjellerup has a message of “chin up” to Michael Sam, who has been released by NFL team the St Louis Rams. Sam made history as the first openly-gay player to be drafted by an NFL team, infamously kissing his boyfriend live on ESPN. However despite some impressive sacks in pre-season games, he hasn’t made the season-opening 53-man roster. The defensive end could be re-signed by the Rams in their practice squad, or be picked up by another NFL team. Blake Skjellerup says Sam is already a hero New Zealand speedskater Blake Skjellerup knows how to take disappointments on the chin after missing a spot at the Sochi Winter Olympics by the narrowest of margins. In a series of tweets, he says Sam put himself out there and proved he can play. “Him being cut has nothing to do with homophobia or his sexuality. Anyone who says so is wrong.” Skjellerup says Sam will play in the NFL “that is for sure”. He adds “He will go-down in the history books. [Sam] has broken an enormous barrier no one else in his sport braved to do before him” and finishes “chin up … you are a hero. The world of sport has changed, that was all you!”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 31st August 2014 - 9:56am