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Loading ...NBC’s Bob Costas Discusses Gays in Sports
Prior to his win, Mitcham had dealt with depression and anxiety, dropped out of competition, only to return and make the Australian Olympic team. When later asked if he was in a relationship, Mitcham disclosed he was living with his partner Lachlan Fletcher. His subsequent triumph at the Beijing Games was the most significant win ever by an out male athlete during the Olympics.
It’s a combination of sports history in the making and moving personal story that usually makes for great Olympic coverage.
Yet during NBC’s two evening’s worth of platform diving coverage, neither Mitcham’s status as the only out gay male athlete, nor his moving personal story was ever mentioned. This dramatic and historic information was instead replaced by the commentators with a vague reference to Mitcham overcoming “personal issues”.
Contacted by AfterElton.com, NBC Sports gave an initial response indicating they had no problem with their coverage of Mitcham, only to later follow up with an apology when we contacted them again.
Bob Costas
In this exclusive interview with AfterElton.com, Bob Costas, NBC Primetime Host for the Beijing Olympics and one of the nation’s most respected sports’ broadcasters, discusses NBC’s omissions in the Mitcham coverage, how and when the sexuality of an athlete may merit mention in sports coverage, homophobia in professional sports, and what it might take for a professional athlete to come out.
AfterElton.com: Since Matthew Mitcham was the only out gay male athlete at the games, and it was historic for an openly gay athlete to win such a high profile Olympic event, do you think it would have made a good story or been worth mentioning that fact?
Bob Costas: Yes, I do. I was not focused on it. It wasn’t like I was sitting there thinking, “Gee, I have a chance to get this in.” It was just something that wasn’t on my radar screen to be perfectly honest. But had it been, I would have thought it was a worthwhile thing to mention.
Why it wasn’t mentioned by the people covering the event, that’s up to them to answer. There’s lots of different dynamics, in all these things. So I’m not being critical of them for not mentioning it. But I think – generally speaking – especially if the guy is out…
AE: He had done a big interview a few months before the Olympics. It was clear he was out.
BC: Yeah. Sure. I think it’s a story.
AE: Did you know that he was out, or that he had come out recently, or that he was an openly gay athlete?
BC: I guess I did, in looking over the profiles of many Olympic athletes in the high-profile sports. But it just wasn’t something that I was focusing on while hosting. Because a lot of times what the host does is he’ll comment on the last thing seen before it comes back to the studio. Kind of capture the whole overview. The case is that more often than not, you’re not commenting on every specific individual athlete or medal winner. That’s more done at the venue than by the host. So it just wasn’t something that was in the front of my mind.
Had it been and had the circumstance arisen so it would have played in a way that made sense, and it wouldn’t have been going around six corners to get to it – I would have done it.
AE: Would you have been concerned that maybe this wasn’t something the audience wanted to hear?
BC: No. My concern would be the privacy and the personal prerogatives of the person involved. But if the person is already out, and actually thinks that it’s an issue and worth talking about – like John Amaechi, the NBA player, or Billy Bean the baseball player – why not?
In fact I had Billy Bean on the radio show about a year ago after Tim Hardaway made his comments and they banned him from the All-Star Game.
AE: The commentators mentioned that Mitcham had overcome some personal issues, so clearly they knew or should have known he was an out gay athlete [the fact that he was an openly gay athlete did appear on the NBC website]. Is there a timidity about mentioning it, not just because there may be concern about audience reaction, but because they may feel that it’s an invasion of his privacy even though he had already come out?
BC: That is possible. Although the other thing is they may feel – and this is a reasonable consideration – that going from one dive to the next, and one event to the next, and you’re analyzing the dives and what the standings are, that those circumstances don’t allow for the proper tone and context to treat this properly.
Imentioned that Bob Costas would be a good choice to speak out on this story at the time it happened. You can read for yourselves my blog on Aug. 28 under the headline NBC talks about failure to mention. My stance is still the same. Maybe someone saw it and thought it would make a good article. I hope so. Peace
I hate to say it, but Bob Costas left a very negative impression on me that has stayed to this day. It was in about 1990, and he had some kind of late-night (not sports-specific) interview program. He has interviewing one of the two men who portrayed the “Mens on Film” in the recurring skit on “In Living Color.” Many people, including me, considered (and still consider) that skit to be mocking, derisive, and harmful. The emotion behind it seemed to be contempt. (I was in a gay men’s rap group at the time, and you should have seen the pain in a c. 18 year old African American gay man’s eyes when the subject of that skit came up.) Anyway, Mr. Costas mentioned criticism of that skit, and was very sympathetic to the interviewee (Damon Wayans, I believe) and quite disrespectful of those who objected. It was like the two of them were allied in feeling self-righteous and proud of their homophobia, and defended their right to be homophobic and publicly express homophobia, while refusing to try any empathy or understanding relative to people who were complaining. I was very, very unfavorably impressed.
You didn’t see the camera pan in on the Mitcham family of his boyfirend and mother, where normally you would hear “oh there’s his girlfriend, and mother” or some such other reference. Here you had a bona fide out gay sports hero, who would be a great role model for gay youth around the country, and no mention made. Why doesn’t Costas want to criticize his colleagues? or NBC? or himself? He says he guesses he was aware that Mitcham is out. Costas misses the boat, and we shortchanged again!
I was so interested in Matthew’s performance and lucky enough to watch the whole 10m final live on BBC in the UK (who incidentally did not mention Matthew’s partner or sexuality either at that time). It was a hugely emotional moment for Matthew and for me and for any gay person. I was overwhelmed. I also thought that maybe one reason Matthew performed o well is precisely BECAUSE he was out. I noted that maybe there were other divers in the final not out who whose performance may have suffered due that fact and to the presence of an out gay man beside them!
At the very least, you gotta give Costas credit for being willing to be so forthcoming.
You can’t change history. NBC as well as most major news outlets did not cover Matt Mitcham’s historic win. Back in 1936 Jesse Owens’ gold medal wins at the Berlin Olympics were major news stories. A parade in New York City was held in his honor and he recieved many endorsement deals. NBC knowingly omitted Matt’s story. For that I cannot forgive them.
I can appreciate the point that is trying to be made in reference to what many feel NBC should’ve done with regard to Matthew Mitchum. Two things I will point out: 1. If they HAD mentioned is being gay, or referenced his partner, there’d be an outcry from gays and straights alike about “Why does it matter? Let him just dive!” 2. Watching Mitchum in the later dives as he gained ground and was coming closer and closer, you could tell by the way he expressed his excitement that he was gay. I’m thrilled as a gay man to see another gay man win an Olympic gold medal. But then, I’m thrilled when anyone, regardless of their sexuality, achieves greatness. Also, Costas’ comment about heterosexuality being part of a persona and homosexuality becoming one’s identity seems right on target. To me, in this instance, I would label Mitchum and Olympic athlete before labeling him gay. In this scenario, I just don’t think it amounts to much.
As mentioned.As remembered.As forgotten.
No one remembers the USA company..had the balls to air a movie. A gay swimmer. Annoyingly aired by Mario L.
As I don’t think NBC was trying to be bad.They just wanted to play safe. To favor neither side. Dammed if you do, damned if you don’t.
Yes it be nice to know because such things are nailed, taped, blocked to be aired. Especially anything gay.And often if it is, it is negative that is only aired. No offense to this site, gay.com or other shows who continually do this.(TNT) Few shows have been positive, out about the people there airing.WE, and as the house, clothes, make over shows.But sure some can see the cliches traits in them.
Where’s my barf bag? I read only the first page of the Costas ivu, and had enough of his bullshit. I couldn’t go on to another page. “Oh, gee, if only I’d thought to report facts . . .” “But other commentators should have thought to do so . . . What’s the matter with those guys?”
why is it we continue to challenge the media on certain issues, it obvious that this athlete did have personal issues to overcome, and that he did and cam back to win gold..excellent…the community is always pushing for equality in every way, which is great but im sure that many of the other athletes probably also had personal issues to overcome, but we should not have to mention the details. i take my hat off to matthew, and wish him all the success in the future. we have to realise that the us media has always felt awkward about the whole gay issue in sports, its crap, but it is what it is..!
Is this really news? Who cares…