http://www.local10.com/sports/special-miami-moment-with-muhammad-ali

Dolphins’ Relaxed Rookie Laremy Tunsil

I’ve seen a lot of backlash in social media against the actual media for reporting on Jason Collins being the first openly gay player in the NBA. I understand the criticism that in this day and age being gay SHOULDN’T be a story, however, those who say that are missing the point. Yes, it SHOULDN’T be a story, but it still is because bigotry and prejudice still exist not only in the world but in this country too. Collins understood that and that’s why he came out last year. He understood he would become a figurehead for the gay cause and for gay rights.

The gay and lesbian communities (LGBT) are finally starting to get the rights they deserve here in the U.S, but that’s not the case in places like Uganda. There the President Yoweri Museveni signed a bill on Monday that punishes gay sex with up to life in prison, and this follows a similar law in Nigeria that sparked increased violence against gays. Collins’ Brooklyn teammate Paul Pierce understands this all too well. Pierce said of Collins’ debut Sunday as the first openly gay NBA player, “he is a guy that is going to be able to open the door for athletes around the world. It doesn’t matter your race, gender or sexuality because it’s about being part of a team and caring for one another.”

Collins made his Nets debut in a win over the Lakers in LA Sunday making for a nice homecoming for the journeyman center. The stats and final score don’t matter; not in this case. It was a victory over bigotry and prejudice.

Don’t judge too harshly those die-hard baseball and Yankees fans who got emotional when Derek Jeter announced the 2014 season would be the last year of his stellar and illustrious career. Don’t bash them for inundating your newsfeed with posts about DJ3K. You have to realize that “Number two, The Captain, Captain Clutch” defined baseball not only for my generation (like Jeter I’m 39 years old) but also for multiple generations — younger and older than myself. I admit that I’m a huge Yankees fan and I love JEE-TAH! But I’m only one of many fans who revere the shortstop like fans in the past revered Hall of Fame Yankees like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Phil Rizutto and Don Mattingly.

I’m not writing to just spew stats about how Jeter has been consistently clutch (3,316 hits and counting) and an Iron man (he played 119-plus games for 17 straight seasons before injuries finally derailed him like never before in 2013). I’m writing to provide perspective on a superstar player who was all about the team, all about the game, all about winning! And this coming during the steroids era and during an era with selfish players being the norm. Jeter has been a class act on the field and has always said the right things in the locker room (that’s why he’s The Captain)! Reggie Jackson is also a favorite of mine, but for very different reasons. He was brash and cocky and was never shy of letting people know that. Hence, Mr. October’s classic quote, “I’m the straw that stirs the drink.” Jeter would never utter such words, despite also being known as Mr. November. Both Mr. October and Mr. November will always have a special place in our hearts. But Jeter was different. While Reggie was a big name free-agent signing, Jeter is a home grown talent for the Yankees who was born in the tri-state area (NJ). Yes, he was raised in Michigan but for Yankee fans he’s always been “one of us.” You don’t have to look far to remind you just how special Jeter’s been. Just look at other current and former Yankees; Jeter is the anti-Alex Rodriguez and the anti-Robinson Cano.

When I heard Jeter’s announcement about this being his final season my first thought was, “man I’m old. So is he. Jetes (as I call him) had an epic run.” And a much younger friend of mine who’s in his 20s told me his reaction to the news was, “my childhood is over.” No matter your age, we all followed his progress and his storied career closely. And with Mariano Rivera, another class act who people identify with, retiring last season many are left feeling a baseball void in the New York metro area. Yes, the Yankees have reloaded with new stars. But will they provide the same success that the Jeter era brought us? And if they do provide multiple championships will we feel as emotionally attached to these stars like we are to Jeter? My only thought is… I doubt it.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin: tough hombre!

Tom Coughlin is one tough hombre.

Yes, the coach of the Giants is 67-years-old, but in light of recent events around the NFL in terms of coaches being sidelined because of serious health scares (John Fox and Gary Kubiak) I was reminded that “grandpa” is one tough old ball coach. Here’s my case for the oldest coach in the NFL to keep coaching until he hits 100, that’s right, the century mark.

Consider what Couglin’s career has already survived: he coached an expansion team, AN EXPANSION TEAM, and had immediate success with the Jaguars. THE JAGUARS! He was on the hot seat before the Gmen made a miraculous playoff run and shocked the world to upset the then undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl 42. And just 5 years later he went on to capture a second Super Bowl. General Manager Jerry Reese says Coughlin is thinking about chasing that third or fourth ring. After seeing Coughlin running sprints recently on the Gaints’ practice field Reese told the Daily News, “I was looking at him like, ‘There’s something wrong with this guy.’ You asked me if he’s showing signs of slowing down? That’s not a sign of slowing down.”

Which brings me to this season. Coughlin weathered an 0-6 start to the year, and yet Big Blue is still in contention in a shaky NFC East. And now the Giants stand poised to win their 4th straight (facing an injury ravaged Packers Sunday and 3rd string QB Scott Tolzien making his first career start) and improve to 6-4. Let’s just say the Gmen switched things up this season. Instead of a November swoon which was their M-O in the past, they got their losing out of the way early this season. And now running back Andre Brown is back from injury giving them a ground attack which they had been lacking all season and which didn’t help Eli Manning at all. Easy Eli should start coming into form, cutting down on his league-high 16 interceptions. And if the defensive line starts shaping up then the Giants could make another improbable run. Crazier things have happened. See 2007. See Super Bowl 42.

Under Coughlin the Gmen keep showing mental toughness, true grit. Coughlin won’t let them quit. So keep him around. His contract expires after the 2014 season, but the Giants front office doesn’t usually let coaches go through lame duck seasons. Go ahead and give Grandpa his extension now, no matter the outcome of the season. And keep him coaching until he darn well pleases.

Anchor, reporter & just a dude. El dude? Yup!