Texas Sports Anchor Delivers Jaw-Dropping Speech On Gay NFL Players

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/12/dale-hansen-michael-sam-gay-nfl-video_n_4775165.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp#sb=1358652b=facebook

Texas Sports Anchor Delivers Jaw-Dropping Speech On Gay NFL Players
The Huffington Post | by Ryan Grenoble

Posted: 02/12/2014 3:40 pm EST Updated: 02/12/2014 3:59 pm EST


Sports broadcasts are typically known for their punchy lists of best plays, epic goal countdowns and testosterone-fueled commentary.

Which makes Dale Hansen's address Monday night all the more remarkable. The Dallas sports anchor for ABC local affiliate WFAA took a break from the standard script to address the issue of Michael Sam, a defensive lineman poised to become the first openly gay player in the NFL.

The approximately two-minute segment, titled "Hansen Unplugged: Celebrating Our Differences," opens with a joke about Sam's "shocking" circumstance -- that he's the "best defensive player in football's best conference," yet only a third to fifth-round NFL pick ("Really?!?&quot -- before adopting a more serious tone and addressing Sam's critics and haters alike.

In particular, Hansen focuses on athletes who are deeply destructive to the world and people around them, yet are still revered for their on-field performance:

You beat a woman and drag her down a flight of stairs, pulling her hair out by the roots? You're the fourth guy taken in the NFL draft. You kill people while driving drunk? That guy's welcome. Players caught in hotel rooms with illegal drugs and prostitutes? We know they're welcome. Players accused of rape and pay the woman to go away? You lie to police, trying to cover up a murder? We're comfortable with that.

Hansen then drives home the hypocrisy: "You love another man? Well, now you've gone too far!"

"I'm not always comfortable when a man tells me he's gay; I don't understand his world," Hansen adds later. "But I do understand that he's part of mine."

The segment made waves on social media -- from the jocular ("BREAKING: Texas has sane people too&quot to the more sentimental ("Proof there is still hope for humanity&quot .

WATCH Hansen's poignant segment, above (at link).

[joeybee12]

1. KNR

[lillypaddle]

2. How refreshing is that?

K&R

[blackspade]

22. No doubt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

85. very!

more of this, please!!!

[kairos12]

3. That is a take I've heard no where else, and I listen to sports radio. Well done.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

48. Charlie Pierce said the essentially the same thing on Stephanie Miller's show ...

… earlier this week.

Granted, her show is not a sports show, but in addition to his brilliant commentary for Esquire, he is a highly respected sports columnist. And she did say something like, "Shifting to sports …"

Nice to hear someone - esp. in Texas - say this the way he did.

[yellowdogintexas]

89. Stephanie did a piece on Hansen's commentary and played the audio

on her show Thursday.

[cprompt]

4. nailed it

"I've never understood how they've been able to claim both sides of that argument" B.I.N.G.O.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Hansen can be a pompous jerk...

but he gets it right sometimes.

[justabob]

21. +1

I have never much liked him on air or off, but this is excellent.

[Ishoutandscream2]

44. Boy, he sure can (and is)

Very full of himself. Seen him having to stand in line before at a club, and actually speaking to security "Do you know who I am?" He's that kind of guy.

Nevertheless, good for him. And to make DUers heads explode, not only has he worked in the Dallas market for over three decades, he was also the color commentator with Brad Sham on Dallas Cowboys' broadcasts...so, BAM, DU!

[calimary]

6. GREAT quote!

"I'm not always comfortable when a man tells me he's gay; I don't understand his world," Hansen adds later. "But I do understand that he's part of mine."

One for my quotes file!

[Stonepounder]

25. I agree.

That last quote simply blew me away!

[calimary]

56. Welcome to DU, Stonepounder!

Glad you're here! I marveled at his entire editorial. SO spot on! And I LOVED what he said about how "you can't have both sides of the argument," pointing out how CONservatives love to blather on about freedom-freedom and liberty and getting the government out of people's private lives, but then they're also busy-bodying all over everyone's bedrooms, non-stop and relentless as hell. I'm always pleasantly surprised to hear statements like these quotes here, coming out of someone else's mouth independent of mine (or someone else in a place like this one). Aha! You noticed that, too, Mr. Hansen? Seriously, I'm impressed and actually quite grateful! I'm glad to see that awareness starting to sink in and spread. We need that across America! We need it said, read, and SPREAD!!!!

And he does make a WONDERFUL, practical, and common-sense acknowledgement. I may be uncomfortable in your world, but I also realize that you are in mine. Sounds like this gent is one of those with a sufficiently open mind that he can recognize and accept the real world around him rather than the insular, all-straight-all-the-time, whites-only, women-need-to-just-quiet-down-and-go-stand-over-there-in-the-kitchen pretend world that the teabaggers yearn for - which never REALLY existed in the first place. I keep thinking about that pathetic middle-aged woman sniveling in the back of the room at a town hall meeting awhile back, during the rise of the teabaggers, who loudly sobbed "I want MY America BAAAACK!!!" Girlfriend, "your" America was an illusion that only existed in "Leave it to Beaver" and "Father Knows Best" episodes. You can't get that back because it was never real - except in your own clouded deluded and thoroughly sanitized mind.

[DirkGently]

7. Wow. Very cool. n/t

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

8. Awesome and refreshing commentary. Thanks for posting the link.

[Ed Suspicious]

9. On to the scrap heap with Costas for you for making it about you and not about the game.

I love his take-down. I suspect it won't sit well the the family values crowd.

[Lobo27]

10. He is my favorite sports guy in the DFW area.

Dale always tells it the way it is imo.

[panader0]

11. I hope he was heard far and wide. C'mon Texas!

[yellowdogintexas]

90. oh it has gone viral plus DFW is a MAJOR media outlet

this is a big metropolitan area

[Jenoch]

12. This guy is a breath of fresh air.

And I hope Sam is not too small to play DE in the NFL or too slow to play at LB. he could be a ST standout.

[juajen]

13. Great! I say we crown him, but in a masculine way! You go, Man!

[randome]

14. "Proof there is still hope for humanity."

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Vashta Nerada]

15. I hope the NFL bigwigs saw that.

K&R

[KinMd]

72. Roger Goodell has a brother who's gay

[link:http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2014-02-10/michael-sam-gay-support-from-gay-community-michael-goodell-roger-goodell-brother|

[lumberjack_jeff]

16. I don't understand his world," Hansen adds later. "But I do understand that he's part of mine."

Exactly.

[dem in texas]

17. You can always depend on Dale to speak out

I remember when we had the big SMU football player scandal years ago. I was watching Dale Hansen and he stopped what he was reading and said something to the effect that this just makes me sick and went on a rant about how the rich alumnae were corrupting the morals of the young players by giving them money under the table. I will note that SMU paid a big price for what they let happen.

[mc51tc]

18. Great comments from a "Red" state!

Thank you Mr. Hansen

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. There was a time when the Right could get a crowd of thugs to picket the TV station....

Now all they can do is cry over their loss of power.

[ReRe]

20. K&R

Alrighty then! Truth & integrity with guts is catching on!

[Ron Green]

23. I did a show with Dale years ago,

interviewing an Olympic cyclist. He was a classy guy then, and he's obviously remained classy.

[proudretiredvet]

24. I like this guy.

I also have a lot of respect for the young man who just came out. He displays courage and integrity. We need all of that we can find.
About his dad... I don't like using words like that on here....

[deathrind]

26. Awesome.

This was a fantastic and refreshing commentary to watch!

[Mosby]

27. Jon Stewart hit on some of that same points

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-10-2014/friday-night-rights

[loyalsister]

34. He also pointed out

that some people will accept him because of what he brings them in terms of athletic success.

[BuelahWitch]

28. This was beautiful!

:kick:

[Quixote1818]

29. This guy is the kind of quality news person the major networks should be going after. nt

[SunSeeker]

30. K & R

[ConsSoLoca]

31. Great speech.

Hopefully this will drill some common sense into the heads of sports fans who are on the fence with regards to homosexuality. Those who are incurable wingnuts, on the other hand, may experience increased blood pressure followed by head explosion.

[TexasTowelie]

38. Yes, I also hope that people will take note and listen.

Welcome to DU!

[ConsSoLoca]

64. Thanks for the welcome!

As a newbie I was wondering why I have to wait at least 5 minutes between posts. Can someone please explain this to me? Is it only for new users or does it apply to everyone? I've never encountered this rule before on any other online forum so I was a little confused when I first encountered it.

[TexasTowelie]

67. The posts are limited for new members initially since this Website draws a lot of trolls.

Placing limits on posting responses allows the malicious intruder response team (MIRT) to revoke posting privileges if they identify suspicious behavior. I believe that it requires 10 posts for new users to actually initiate a thread.

People that have low post numbers and recite right wing talking points will be viewed suspiciously by most longer term members which may cause an alert so that a DU jury can evaluate the post. The post can be hidden by a 4-2 jury vote and depending on the severity of the offense may result in the suspension or loss of posting privileges, particularly if patterns of disruptive or trollish behavior is shown.

All of that being written, we have plenty of fun and the occasional argument on DU. While most members have similar viewpoints on most issues, we also know that we don't agree 100% of the time. Most of those disagreements are also handled in a respectful manner so being confrontational isn't cool.

If you are going to make a humorous remark, keep in mind that it may be proper to use the smilie since some people may not understand your sense of humor. The smilies can be accessed from the smilies button above the dialog box where you type your text. There is a second level of smilies located behind the ... button at the bottom of the first level of smilies.

[Jesus Malverde]

32. The report...

[blkmusclmachine]

33. ,

,

[Heidi]

35. Kick!

:kick:

[arthritisR_US]

36. I first saw this when WillyT posted it and then

LO on MSNBC showed it on his show. First time I've seen that guy but he was dead on! Hope it goes viral because it's surely needed

[TheMathieu]

37. WOW. K&R. nt

[liberalla]

39. Yes! I saw this on Lawrence O'Donnell tonight - it was great!

Hey Texas, Listen up!

[DeSwiss]

40. K&R!!!

[Sienna86]

41. Saw this on The Last Word last night

Refreshing and very pointed.

[tanyev]

42. This is the local station I watch, and I was astounded.

Granted, I don't know much about Mr. Hansen as I am reaching for the remote as soon as weather is over to go back to The Daily Show. I sometimes catch him and the weather guy (also an ex-jock) yukking it up in the weather to sports transition. Given where I live, I assumed they were both RW good old boys. And maybe Hansen is simply a sane RWer. But I was most intrigued by this quote from his transcript:

So many of the same people who used to make that argument (and the many who still do) are the same people who say government should stay out of our lives.

But then want government in our bedrooms.

I've never understood how they feel "comfortable" laying claim to both sides of that argument.

Good for you, Dale!

[PatSeg]

43. He said so much

with so few words and pretty much covered it all!

[Ishoutandscream2]

45. But, but, but he's from Texas, and DALLAS

You know how they all are down there!! And he was the color commentator for Dallas Cowboys radio broadcasts for years. We hate these things at DU!!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

49. Dallas is liberal and very gay-friendly. nt

[Ishoutandscream2]

63. I know, but there are so many bigoted haters here

Just had to say it!

[jayschool]

66. Dale's from Iowa

He grew up in Logan, Iowa and worked in radio there as well as television and radio in Omaha, Nebraska. He moved to Texas in the early 1980s.

[Ishoutandscream2]

78. Yes, I know that

But he's a Texan now. Or more appropriately, a DALLASITE!

[efhmc]

74. Thanks.

[CrispyQ]

46. Bravo!

I'm writing a snail mail letter to WFAA today. Also going to share on FB.

[former9thward]

47. Hansen is an idiot if he doesn't know why Sam is just a third to fifth round pick.

Yes, Sam is the "best defensive player in football's best conference." But that is COLLEGE. The NFL is a whole different animal. Sam is small for a DE in the NFL and it is unproven how well he could play at other positions.

[Uponthegears]

52. Just sayin'

Michael Sam is a 6"2" 250lb-ish DE and is projected to be a 3rd-5th round pick. Small, kind of, but Hugh Green was a 6'2" 225lb DE when he graduated from University of Pittsburgh. He went 1st Round, 7th overall, and was All-Pro twice. I'm not saying Michael Sam is Hugh Green, but calling Hansen an "idiot" might be stretching it a bit.

[Dawgs]

75. Agree. He played against players in the SEC, and beat them, that will go in the first round.

Only makes sense that he could beat those same players in the NFL.

[hughee99]

81. I think I'm misunderstanding your comment. Are you suggesting that if he could beat the SEC players,

it means he'll be able to beat the NFL players?

[Dawgs]

82. No. I'm saying if he beat SEC players that are projected in the first/second rounds,

he should be able to beat those SAME players in the NFL.

And, as best defensive player in the SEC, it's likely that he would have faced some pretty good O-lineman.

I'm not saying that he should be picked in the 1st or 2nd round..just that calling someone an idiot for suggesting the best defensive player in the best conference shouldn't be picked higher is kind of dumb.

[hughee99]

84. Perhaps "idiot" is overly harsh, but I'd expect

a sports commentator in Texas would understand that even great success in the SEC doesn't necessarily translate to success at an NFL level, especially given his size is considerably smaller than NFL Defensive Ends tend to be (and he'll likely end up moving to another position).

If I'm reading the numbers right, last year only 8 of the OL in the SEC got drafted, the year before that, only 5 SEC OL got drafted. That's just DRAFTED not started. The SEC has 14 teams, so it has 70 starting linemen per year (though not all go into the draft every year). A vast majority won't even get drafted and of the few who do, many will not see significant playing time at the NFL level. Almost none of the players he'd face in the NFL would be people he faced in college, and the ones he does see will be the best of the best. There are some high quality COLLEGE OL in the SEC, but it's still a far cry from the quality he'll see in the NFL, even on the worst of professional teams.

[hughee99]

80. Hugh Green? The Hugh Green who was drafted in 1981?

Players have gotten considerably bigger since 1981. Hansen is an idiot if he doesn't understand why Sam wasn't a 1st round pick. He was projected 3-4th round even before his announcement.

[wheniwasincongress]

50. "I'm not always comfortable when a man tells me he's gay"

He's on his way, but not quite there yet.

[daleanime]

60. Hey, we need more of this kind of honesty....

and how did he end that sentence?

[gopiscrap]

51. Spot on!

[gopiscrap]

53. I just pray that this guy still has a job

come Monday!

[TexasTowelie]

76. He will.

Hansen has been with that TV station for years and is well respected by his fans. It would cause a major blowup if he was terminated.

[Skittles]

83. there would be a major backash if they tried to throw Mr. Hansen to the curb

he is a very long-time well-respected personality in these parts

[awoke_in_2003]

86. He has been here for 20+ years...

short of eating live kittens on TV, he isn't going anywhere.

[RKP5637]

54. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[leanforward]

55. Well said.

I took a minute and listened to the segment. This sportscaster has his act together.

[herding cats]

57. This is good.

He appeared honest in his statement and he made some good points. We need more people to come out and just be honest about how the whole anti-gay rhetoric is a load of hypocritical BS.

[Politicub]

58. "Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come"

I always think of the Victor Hugo quote when I read stories like this.

And then a shed a few tears because I well up with emotion - every single time.

Everywhere around us, GLBT discrimination - discrimination that demeans us - is being recognized as an affront to human decency.

There's a long way to go. But wow - the ground has shifted beneath our feet and there's no stopping equality.

I feel lucky to be alive to experience this moment in time. And to have the opportunity to see - to live - the struggle from my awakening in my first semester in college, shortly before Clinton became elected, to today.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

59. A quote for the ages: "But I do understand that he's part of mine." . . nt

[DesertDiamond]

61. This guy rocks!! He only left out, "You have dogs ripping each other apart for your amusement."

[KamaAina]

62. He quoted Audre Lorde on TV!

[jayschool]

65. Iowa and Nebraska roots

I remember Dale when he was on the radio and television in the Omaha/Council Bluffs market back in the 1960s and 1970s. He must have moved to Texas in the early 1980s.

[CFLDem]

68. K&R

[Fantastic Anarchist]

69. I've always liked Dale Hansen.

Though, his jerky head movements are distracting, he's always told it like is.

Damn, I miss Dallas.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

70. See - we're not all dirt bags in Texas.

[dogday]

77. I was just thinking there is hope for Texas n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

87. Houston elected an openly gay woman...

to be their mayor- twice.

[dogday]

92. Happy to say I voted for her twice.

Houston is a pretty progressive town. We also had the red light cameras removed.

[RayStar]

71. Just perfect

This made me feel so good and so proud of him.

[Aviation Pro]

73. And this is why Texas...

...will turn blue by 2016.

Which will cement the Republicant fucking party as irrelevant for the next 100 years.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

79. Yeah. It has been flying around Facebook. Even people I wouldn't have suspected as friendly

Toward gay people were sharing it their status updates.

[demwing]

88. I'm so tired of HuffPo, here's a direct YouTube link

[freshwest]

91. Always enjoyed his commentary when I lived down there. This one may be his best! n/t