När St. Louis Rams valde Michael Sam i NFL:s draft blev han ligans första öppet homosexuella spelare. ESPN visade bilder på hur en känslosam Michael Sam kysste sin pojkvän i firandet och många gladdes åt den historiska milstolpen.
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Men alla var inte helt förtjusta över att se två män kyssas på teve. Basketspelaren Marshall Henderson, som spelat på collegenivå, gav sig ut på Twitter och uttryckte sin avsky över bilderna. Han skrev till och med att han skulle bojkotta ESPN:s sportprogram framöver.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Boycotting sportscenter til this michael sam nasty ass shit is off .... My brothers are 7 and 11 and saw that!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=#SICKENING&src=hash">#SICKENING</a></p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465845074215960577">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Im sorry, but I DO NOT AGREE WHATSOEVER that should be shown to where innocent eyes can see!!!</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465855207767695360">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Folk blev givetvis upprörda och gick till motangrepp. Det verkade han däremot inte bry sig särskilt mycket om.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>POINT #3: Who is the worse person, me for what I said or any of the HUNDREDS who just cursed me?? LOL uh oh... <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=#ThisIsFun&src=hash">#ThisIsFun</a></p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465862061591781376">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ross Bjorkär sportchef i Ole Miss, Hendersons tidigare collegelag, och tog starkt avstånd från sin tidigare spelares tweets.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I'm extremely disappointed & we do not condone the statements made by our former bball player. We believe in respect & dignity for all......</p>— Ross Bjork (@RossBjorkAD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RossBjorkAD/statuses/465865939020693505">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>We use significant resources to educate our student-athletes about respect & dignity for all people & unfortunately not everyone gets it....</p>— Ross Bjork (@RossBjorkAD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RossBjorkAD/statuses/465866126791286784">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sportjournalisten Pat Forde passade också på att dela ut en syrlig passning till Henderson.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Nobody will care who Marshall Henderson kisses on NBA draft day. He won't get picked.</p>— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooForde/statuses/465858225829863424">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kanske blev kritiken till slut för mycket för honom. Ungefär en timme efter sin första tweet kom han med förklaringen att hans uttalanden bara var ett bidrag till sin homosexuella väns studier och han tackade alla för reaktionerna.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INPUT AND RESPONSES!!! MY NEXT TWEET IS REALLY GONNA THROW EVERYONE A CURVEBALL</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465864232655785984">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>One of my best friends, WHO IS GAY, is about to graduate in psychology, asked me to say these things so he can have responses ... TBC</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465866311973629954">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The point of his study was to see how people react when others say things or act a certain way against another group of people ... TBC</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465866523895009280">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>He chose gays because of how he relates to it and has to live it EVERYDAY of his life ... He asked me because he knew I would get incredible</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465866837880631297">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Feedback, and OMG how crazy you people are lol ... It is absolutely amazing to see what people have said, whether agreeing or disagreeing</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465867126259994625">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>As far as what I said, Totally was 100% for the project ... as far as my ACTUAL views - its irrelevant because its gonna happen regardless!</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465867634341203971">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sorry for messing with everyone like that!!! Everyone really helped my boy AND FOR THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE!!!</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465867935035052032">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>ITS CALLED PSYCHOLOGY .... and everyone just got taken to school</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465870499801595905">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>People shouldn't be so fast to judge or react..... RIGHT OR WRONG???</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465872045050327040">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>How important is education??? Everyone can get educated off this scenario ... Think about it</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465872520705372160">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>THANK YOU MICHAEL SAM FOR STANDING UP FOR YOU AND MAKING THIS WHOLE PROJECT POSSIBLE!!! TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP ONE DAY AT A TIME!!</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465874377867673600">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>THANK YOU ALL!! HAVE A WONDERFUL MONDAY</p>— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) <a href="https://twitter.com/NativeFlash22/statuses/465874655778070528">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trots att han påstod att det bara var för ett skolprojekt ville han inte gå ut och försäkra folk om att han inte var homofob eller hade något emot att se två män kyssas. Hans riktiga åsikt tyckte han var irrelevant att dela med sig av.
CBS Sports reporter Matt Norlander påpekade att Henderson nu försvarade mer och bättre än han någonsin hade gjort under sin karriär.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Marshall Henderson playing more defense now than he ever has in a basketball uniform.</p>— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattNorlander/statuses/465868196390506496">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Om man ska tro på Hendersons förklaring? Nej, det ska man nog inte göra. Det finns givetvis många anledningar till det, men journalisten Hugh Kellenberger kom nog med den tydligaste förklaringen. Hendersons påstådda kompis måste ha varit väldigt sen med sin inlämning om historien ska stämma.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Important to note about Marshall Henderson's excuse: finals were last week.</p>— Hugh Kellenberger (@HKellenbergerCL) <a href="https://twitter.com/HKellenbergerCL/statuses/465870064768782336">May 12, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>