Will the DG news impact the basketball program?

UMass1927 · Post by **UMass1927** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:37 am

My friends and I have been discussing how the announcement by DG this morning will impact the program.

I personally don't think this will have much of an effect. However I do think there is a chance we get a bit more media attention this year initially.

From a recruiting stand point, I don't expect it to make much of a difference either. While there is a chance there are some kid's who are potentially biggots that we are looking at for the 15-16 class, I highly doubt anyone is going to make a decision as important as their decision for which college to attend / play basketball at based on the sexual orientation of the players on the team.

If they are going to make a decision based on that, we're better off without them anyhow.

If anything, I think this could be used as a positive for DK on the recruiting trail. This shows the program is more of a "brotherhood" than anything that has taken place to this point. The coaching staff and team have the opportunity to show they truly embrace their kids/teammates regardless of the circumstances.

MullinsManiac · Post by **MullinsManiac** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:39 am

My only worry is the asshole fans from other teams that will give him hell. I hope appropriate security will be in place for road games.

MikeEsq · Post by **MikeEsq** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:43 am

Oh yeah, I'm absolutely, positively sure they will have extra security up in Olean this year.

NOT.

I know DG and the team can handle it, but I'm not looking forward to seeing how many bigoted idiots come out of the woodwork next season.

Kosty · Post by **Kosty** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:59 am

The fact that he is going to play next year and the year after, I think this is going to be HUGE for kids coming up that may be gay and not ready to come out yet. They are going to be able to see how fans and teammates and opposing players around the country will actually support DG and see that maybe it's not such a bad thing to come out and be proud of who you are. This may result in a flood of kids coming out in the next weeks, months, next season etc.

Then again, it's going to shed a TON of light on the biggots and closed minded folks around the country as well because I'm going to guarantee that there will be TONS of bigoted chants and taunts.

UMass87 · Post by **UMass87** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:04 pm

I will be surprised if there is much organized or coherent behavior by fans directed at DG because he is gay. Sure, there will be the assholes here and there that taunt him but I don't think it will be particularly widespread.

I think the problem faced by gay athletes has much more to do with their teammates and the simple reality of locker rooms and showers exposing people's insecurities. For many guys, exposing your penis to a guy you know is gay is a problem. The fact is that all of us who have played sports have been naked in front of gay guys and nothing bad happened.

uz2b-len · Post by **uz2b-len** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:04 pm

I like the idea of attracing some gay super-talents to Amherst.

thecaptain · Post by **thecaptain** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:19 pm

ktabz16 wrote:curious to see what our game at LSU will be like next year.

yikes....

bittym87 · Post by **bittym87** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:28 pm

ktabz16 wrote:curious to see what our game at LSU will be like next year.

I'm going with "empty." Maybe it was a bad sample size, but every time I turned on one of their games this year it looked like nobody was in the building.

TheGuruMattJames · Post by **TheGuruMattJames** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:33 pm

ktabz16 wrote:curious to see what our game at LSU will be like next year.

I don't think it will be that bad. There are bigots everywhere, but it's not like LSU is full of toothless rednecks. College kids as a whole are pretty accepting of this stuff.

classof62-64 · Post by **classof62-64** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:36 pm

Kosty wrote:Then again, it's going to shed a TON of light on the biggots and closed minded folks around the country as well because I'm going to guarantee that there will be TONS of bigoted chants and taunts.

For sure. Take a look at the collection of idiots commenting on the ESPN story.

mlaconte459 · Post by **mlaconte459** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:36 pm

I think we get more nationally televised games this year.. Exactly type of thing espn and such would like to air since it's something the commentators can mention, as well as get new viewers

dingo38 · Post by **dingo38** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 12:37 pm

with the amount of attention its getting maybe espn gives us another televised game, gives them something to talk about for the entire pregame.

njumass08 · Post by **njumass08** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:01 pm

ktabz16 wrote:curious to see what our game at LSU will be like next year.

I think it will be fine.

Saw this on the Daily Show a little while ago. http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/oe925 ... y-standing

MassModestMouse · Post by **MassModestMouse** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:01 pm

There's no question this will up our media exposure for next year. Just gotta hope the guys on the team will take it in stride. We have the whole offseason to prep our guys on how to answer questions about being teammates with DG, which is a good thing. Opposing fans are gonna chant what they're gonna chant. If anything it'll bring our guys closer.

Max11 · Post by **Max11** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:11 pm

I'm sure there will be one or two incidents of Neanderthals in opposing gyms taunting him.

It's also going to be very important for our coaching staff and our media relations crew to prepare the rest of the team for fielding questions about it. I'm sure they're going to be asked about it constantly, so they need to set expectations, and make sure they're both prepared with a response, and careful not to get frustrated with extra media attention going to DG.