On February 23, 2014, Jason Collins made history.  When the Brooklyn Nets signed Collins to a 10-day contract, he became the first openly gay athlete to play in any of America’s four major professional sports. Collins would suit up and play that same day against the Los Angeles Lakers. Although he didn’t score in a winning effort, he did pull down two strong rebounds and set many serviceable screens.

The Nets did something that no NBA team or any professional sports team had done before, which was look past a player’s sexual orientation and simply address the team needs at hand. After losing starting center Brook Lopez for the season to a broken foot and shipping power forward Reggie Evans to Sacramento at the trade deadline, Brooklyn was in dire need of a big man that could come in and contribute right away. That is exactly the type of player the Nets got when they signed Collins. Although never a major scorer throughout his career (boasting a career average of just 3.6 PPG), Collins does one thing exceptionally well, which is hustle, a quality the Nets desperately needed in a player.

When Collins stepped onto the court Sunday night, none of the “other stuff” mattered, he simply played his game like he had been doing his entire career. I believe that Collins’ story really shows the beauty of professional sports, when players step onto the court or field, whether gay, straight, African American, or White, none of those labels matter; it is simply athletes playing the game they love. While many agree that this is a groundbreaking moment for the NBA, junior Noah Baker gave his contrasting opinion. “I don’t really see the big deal surrounding the hype of signing Collins.  As far as I’m concerned, he is a just another basketball player and those personal issues are his business.”

Perhaps the signing of  Collins could not come at a more opportune time, with the NFL draft looming and Michael Sam awaiting his NFL future as a fellow openly gay athlete. After a mediocre showing at the NFL combine last week, Sam ultimately failed to turn any heads with his athletic ability, and his size continues to be a question. However, Sam did impress many during the interview portion of the combine, showing a refreshing and confident personality that pleased many teams. When asked about his sexuality, Sam responded, “I wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player, not Michael Sam the gay football player.” Sam ultimately knew what he was getting into when he decided to come out before the NFL draft; how could he not anticipate this label being thrust onto him as permanently as a tattoo? While tattoos can be removed, it is a long and arduous process, something Sam will inevitably have to go through if he ever wants to become just “Michael Sam the football player” again.

While the stories of Collins and Sam are comparative to that of Jackie Robinson, only time will tell if they will be able to thrive in what is really uncharted territory for the gay community. In the meantime, look for Collins as he brings his rugged, “team first” playing style to the Brooklyn Nets and for Sam as he looks to begin his NFL journey at the 2014 NFL Draft.