The overwhelming majority of first-responder comments to NBC's 'Breaking News' story about Jason Collins's coming out asks this very question: Why is this Breaking News?
It shouldn't be. In a perfect world, it shouldn't be.
Wouldn't be?
Shouldn't be.
Ours is not a perfect world.
Jason Collins defies stigma simply by being who he is, but he never would have been given the chance to do so--to come out in Sports Illustrated with the confidence of his career and connections--if he hadn't hid who he was for thirty-three years.
That makes this announcement important--not just for Jason Collins, but for the next guy.
And the next.
And the next.
Maybe he won't have to wait thirty-three years. Maybe he won't need the laurels of a well-won career to rest on.
Maybe it won't even be breaking news.
But today, it is. And it should be. Because being a black, gay basketball player may not break down a barrier--not all by itself--but it has surely caused a crack.
And we all know about cracks, don't we? Cracks permit a little light to shine in too-dark places.









