Just My Take: Like a rainbow in the dark of sports fandom

On the Root Sports, Rockies broadcast this past weekend, the cameras panned to McCovey Cove and the obligatory shot of the kayakers who shag home run balls that land in the water. It was a mere 48 hours since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision honoring marriage equality, and two of the kayakers sported rainbow flags on their boats as they waited for baseballs to hit the cove. Did the Root broadcasters mention the flag and its meaning? This was San Francisco after all – a place where a rainbow flag wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. But after such a historic moment just happened, you’d think the Rockies broadcasters would at least give it a mention. A shout out if you will, to the many gay fans of the Rockies and baseball in general.

But they didn’t. Outlets like Root Sports don’t want to admit the Rockies have any gay fans. And most team organizations just want to keep that information in the closet where it’s been for many years.

Not only did the Supreme Court decision pave the way for couples of all genders to marry, it opened people’s minds to the simple idea that gays are people too. But one area where that may take some time to take hold is the sports world. Sports is the realm of testosterone and ultra-masculinity and nary shall a dude kiss another dude. But that’s changing. And as America comes out of the closet, so does the American sports fan.

Everyone is anxiously waiting for an athlete – we’re talking Tom Brady level fame – to come out of the closet. Michael Sam was a great story, but he was doomed to have his sexuality become the focal point of his attempt to play in the NFL simply because he lacked the talent to make it. Sam was an unproven commodity and his sexuality came off like a gimmick. But when a super famous person comes out, we’ll all tune in just to see how the game will change. People look up to athletes and this would be a final, thunderous domino falling in a long road toward integration of same sex couples into everyday life.

We know gay athletes exist but because of societal constraints and the manly image of the pro athlete, they won’t come out any time soon. So if a good number of athletes are gay, how many fans must be too? And how do those fans portray themselves in the even more unforgiving world ruled by the drunken moron known as the modern day sports fan?

Well, they don’t. Not outwardly anyway.

Jeff Morton is somewhat of an exception. Morton, the excellent basketball writer for Denver Stiffs, is gay and has written several articles talking about his life as a gay man covering sports. For the most part, the reception has been positive but he certainly endured his share of ignorance when he has commented on his sexuality. Jeff probably wants to be more known for his great coverage of the Nuggets but it’s important that he let people know he was out there. He had a venue to talk about his life as a basketball fan and a reporter and it seems to have been nothing but a positive.

But fans are at a crossroads of letting the world know who they are, and they don’t necessarily have the luxury of revealing their true selves while attending a game. Sporting events aren’t generally the friendliest of places: alcohol and the intensity of the game can be a bad mixture and fans may not feel safe flying the rainbow flag in that environment. Most people don’t. The last time I went to a Bronco game, there were so many fights and vomit around me, I couldn’t imagine adding just one more thing that would draw the ire of some drunken buffoon.

Teams could help expedite the process by at least acknowledging the gay supporters in its camp. Any overture by a Denver sports franchise would be greatly received by its gay fans, but at this point, even a businesslike, fatherly nod in the gay fans’ direction would a nice gesture. The Boston Bruins were one of the only sports teams to change its Twitter avatar to rainbow color this past week and while it’s not a formal salute, it’s a nice touch.

But the question is whether gay fans even want to be considered anything other than just a fan. My guess is no, and they would want their sports fandom to be secondary to their sexuality. But it’s important to note that they do exist and they are sitting right next to you. Sports fans will argue all the time over trivial nonsense regarding the game but if you find that common ground in worshipping the same team, you’re one of the family. Ultimately, when it’s just one fan talking to another, gender or sexual preference shouldn’t matter. And it would be a nice step forward for organizations and other fans alike to let gay people know that even though they “play for the other team,” rooting for the same team is all that matters.