Jason Collins  Jason Collins, in an essay published in sports
illustrated, revealed he is gay. He's the first active openly
gay pro athlete in major American sports. (US Presswire / March
20, 2013)  He'll never be mistaken for a Hall of Famer on the
court, but NBA journeyman Jason Collins just became one off it,
generating the kind of shockwave he's never been able to create
in over a decade in the NBA.  "I'm black," the former Washington
Wizards center-turned-current NBA free agent's watershed essay
begins innocuously enough on Sports Illustrated's website, "And
I'm gay."  That it took us over a century to reach the point
where a professional athlete felt comfortable being true to
himself is absolutely deplorable. But the fact that Collins felt
comfortable enough in today's day and age to make such a public
announcement without worrying about jeopardizing future
employment opportunities seems to indicate the tide is changing.
Every generation of athletes needs a pioneer to break through
outdated prejudices