Comments on: NBC’s Bob Costas Discusses Gays in Sports

By: RyGuy

RyGuy — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:49:20 +0000

Is this really news? Who cares…

By: trevor whitney-clarke

trevor whitney-clarke — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:38:33 +0000

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..!

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:27:41 +0000

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?”

By: Will

Will — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:31:21 +0000

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.

By: Zeke

Zeke — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:30:28 +0000

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.

By: GayMan

GayMan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:20:06 +0000

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.

By: Ron E

Ron E — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 01:49:16 +0000

At the very least, you gotta give Costas credit for being willing to be so forthcoming.

By: Paul Mc

Paul Mc — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:47:27 +0000

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!

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:57:33 +0000

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!

By: Kyle T.

Kyle T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:32:19 +0000

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.