Jason Collins

Jason Collins: In a first-person article posted Monday on Sports Illustrateds website, Collins begins: I m a 34-year-old NBA centre. I m black. And I m gay, according to 660 News. I didnt set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasnt the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, I m different, Collins writes. If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I m raising my hand and WASHINGTON With the simplest of sentences, NBA veteran Jason Collins set aside years of worry and silence to become the first active player in one of four major U.S. professional sports leagues to come out as gay. Collins has played for six teams in 12 seasons, most recently as a reserve with the Washington Wizards after a midseason trade from the Boston Celtics. He is now a free agent and wants to keep playing in the NBA. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.