Burke: Michael Sam signing with CFL historic moment

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Brian Burke believes the Montreal Alouettes signing of Michael Sam is a tipping point in professional sports.

The Calgary Flames president of hockey operations, who co-founded You Can Play in memory of his late son, says the arrival of the openly gay player in the CFL will be a watershed moment.

"I think it's huge," Burke told The Canadian Press on Tuesday. "To me, this is one of those 20, 30, 40 years from now, people will look back and say 'remember when Michael Sam signed with the Alouettes?'

"We know we have gay athletes in all sports. I think other gay athletes are going to see the reception that Michael Sam gets and how wonderful it's going to be for him."

FULL story at link.



Newly signed Montreal Alouettes defensive end Michael Sam smiles at a press conference in Montreal on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7dabb6aefdd5475bab53549db9227466/burke-michael-sam-signing-cfl-historic-moment

[mountain grammy]

1. Good for Michael Sam. I wish I could get a job in Canada.

Too old.

[Bluzmann57]

2. Jackie Robinson played in Montreal too

He played a year of Minor League ball up there before coming to the Dodgers. From all indications, he was treated just fine. And Jackie Robinson's career was pretty darn good. So maybe Sam can parallel Robinson except in football rather than baseball.

[KamaAina]

3. "Luckily, the Dodgers had exactly the spot in their organization at Montreal"

"where the race issue would not be given undue emphasis." -from an article about Jackie in The Fireside Book of Baseball, which is required reading for all serious baseball fans.

Apparently the same is true of the sexual orientation issue.

[MosheFeingold]

14. But Jackie Robinson

Was really, really good at baseball.

Sams is mediocre, at best.

[Buzz Clik]

20. Narcissism will be your undoing.

[MosheFeingold]

21. Yo no comprendo. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

22. sonreír para la cámara

la gente está viendo

[jmowreader]

4. Fifteen men have made the jump from the CFL to the NFL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_players_who_have_converted_from_one_football_code_to_another#Canadian_football_to_American_football

[applegrove]

5. Jackie Robinson played in Montreal too before anywhere

else. Montreal is a great city.

[Dont call me Shirley]

6. Alouettes and Michael Sam...

We need a sports smilie section.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Good luck to Michael Sam in Montreal

!!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

8. I hope he loves it. He deserves to be happy.

[a la izquierda]

9. Great for him.

I hope he loves Montreal. It's such an amazing place.

[beac]

10. I agree heartily with all three of your sentences!

[Oktober]

11. He's had three or four 'historic moments'...

... That all proved to be duds.

[Fearless]

12. Please elaborate.

[Oktober]

15. All of his 'firsts' would have meant something...

... If he hadn't washed out and but rather had been successful with some staying power.

[Fearless]

17. What utter nonsense.

Being the first openly gay NFL draftee is a huge deal.

I'm sorry that you can't see that.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. I Think He'll Do Very Well Up There

Hoping for the best, but expecting very good.

[Oktober]

16. Why would you expect him to do any better...

Last edited Thu May 28, 2015, 04:01 AM - Edit history (1)

... other than the fact that he is playing a lower quality of opponent?

That's them and doesn't reflect any improvement in his playing abilities...

[Fearless]

18. The style of the game is different and better suited to him?

[ProfessorGAC]

19. That's Why

I think he's just a little too small for his position in the NFL, but not so in the CFL. I think this is a good fit for him.

I don't understand your objection.