Just hours after San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver was surrounded by microphones and forced into an apology for anti-gay remarks, Ronnaiah Tuiasosopo was on television acknowledging he was gay. He spoke of his desire to have a relationship with what he says was an unwitting Manti Te'o, driving him to impersonate a female online and over the phone.
Te'o maintains he is 'far from' gay, a question no less than Katie Couric asked him. His answer is worth accepting if only because it's not anyone's business who someone chooses to love.
The real issue is even if Te'o, or another athlete, were homosexual, how in the world would they summon the fortitude and accept the risk to come out while seeking a professional life in an NFL locker room? Clearly, at least in some number, locker rooms are still populated by bigots who agree with Culliver.
'It's going to take a very courageous person,' said Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brandon Ayanbadejo, who is straight but a very public supporter of gay rights.
Culliver told the Artie Lange Show on Tuesday that San Francisco 'ain't got no gay people on the team. They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff.'
[Related: Niners' Culliver sorry for homophobic comments]
Culliver's comments were stupid, but no less stupid was his willingness to say what many players think, even if they suggest t.