[Content Note: Homophobia.]
Yesterday, ESPN aired a report on first out gay NFL player Michael Sam's bid to earn a spot on the St. Louis Rams' final roster which included information on Sam's showering habits: The reporter noted a "defensive player told me that 'Sam is respecting our space' and that, from his perspective, he seems to think that Michael Sam is waiting to take a shower, as not to make his teammates feel uncomfortable."
Some people had a wee problem with that, for reasons that I'm going to assume are obvious to anyone with a functioning sense of decency.
This morning, ESPN responded to the criticism with this tepid statement: "ESPN regrets the manner in which we presented our report. Clearly yesterday we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports."
Ya think?
By the way, it takes some fucking cheek to reference your own "standards" in reporting on LGBT topics, as if they're sterling, in your non-apology for a report that invoked the despicable stereotype of the gay male predator.
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