NFL Star Player comes out of the closet…in new book, Football Games!

Football Games tells the story of a gay and closeted professional football player who is fighting against his own internal demons, and the pressure he faces on the home front from his boyfriend of 4 years.  This player must decide, if he will remain a successful and closeted football player, or blaze the trail of being the nation’s first openly gay NFL player.

As he struggles to keep his personal life private, his partner has other desires.  This is the tale of a hidden life style, jealousy, rage and whether or not a young superstar can overcome the challenges of being gay, black and living in the closet.

Recently, professional athletes in other sports have announced that they are openly gay or lesbian.  Professional football has been stigmatized as the most homophobic sport.  It appears to be difficult for some players and fans to seriously support a gay player, assuming he is not masculine or athletic enough.  In Football Games, can our hero change the stereotype?

Football Games is currently available on Kindle.  Paperback will be released soon.

Visit our website to order yours today!

www.footballgamesbook.com

www.michaeldonovanwrites.blogspot.com

Book Excerpt: Football Games

Football Games tells the story of a gay professional football player who is forced to choose between his love for his partner of 4 years and his successful NFL career.  As Brenton Freeman struggles to keep his personal life private, his partner Jason has other desires.  Jealousy raises its ugly head and tries to drive a wedge between the two putting Brenton’s career at risk.  Will they be able to recover?  Will Brenton come out of the closet?  Here is an excerpt for you!

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Brenton blew his tea to cool it and began to share about the series of arguments he and Jason had had recently.  Erica is the only person in the world who knows that he is in a relationship with a man.  Erica isn’t just his sister, but his best friend.

“Jason has been, sorta, uh, pressuring me…no that’s not the right word.  He…”

“Just spit it out.  We’ll make it pretty in a minute.”  Erica interjected.

“Okay…Jason is pressuring me to…to come out.”  He whispered, leaning in close.

The look on Erica’s face told him she was just as tired of Brenton having to hide his sexuality as Jason, but she fully understood why.  With the controversy surrounding Proposition 8 and now the Supreme Court weighing in on its fate, the last thing Brenton wants is a spotlight shining his way.

“What do you mean, pressuring you?”

“Well, for starters, he wants me to come out to my teammates.  He said he feels like a ghost and not a real part of my life.”

“What?  He said that!”  She yelled.

The driver of a cold black Maserati blared on his horn at a paparazzo that risked his life jumping in front of his car to get a shot.  Brenton thought Erica couldn’t hear him because of the noise, so he repeated himself.

“I heard you.  I’m shocked that he asked…is requiring that of you.”

“I wouldn’t say require…” 

“I would.  Hell!  You know I have grown to love Jason like a brother and you know that was no easy feat!  But I support him and I support the two of you together.  But does he not understand the implications public disclosure could have on your career?” 

“Can you keep it down a bit?”  He said.

“Sorry.  You know how I get.”

“I tried to explain it, but it is hard for him to hear.  Sometimes he gets so caught up in his wants and needs.”

Erica is so protective of her big brother; you would think she was the oldest.  They were silent for a moment.  Each of them contemplated the situation from their perspective.  The waiter cleared their table and Brenton began to walk Erica to her car. 

“Hey Brenton, over here.”  A cameraman yelled.

“Mr. Freeman, how does this season look so far?”  Another asked.

Brenton ignored them both, but when a little boy and his mother stopped directly in their path, he smiled, bent down, said hello and gave the boy the autograph he was asking for. 

“Your son is so well mannered.  May I give him something else?”

“Uh, sure.”  She looked down at her son who was beaming with delight.

“Give me one second.”  Brenton reached for his cell phone, pressed a speed dial button and was connected to his publicist.

“What is your name?”  He asked the mom.

“Martha.  Martha Jackson.”

“Destiny.  Can you have 4 tickets available at will-call for Martha Jackson and family for our next home game?  Okay.  Thanks.”  He disconnected.

The little boy and his mother were beside themselves with excitement.  Brenton grabbed Erica’s hand and they continued walking to her car.  They sat down as cameras continued to click and whir from a distance.

“Brenton, do not let Jason bully you into doing something you are not comfortable with.  You haven’t even come out to Mom and Dad yet!”

“Not officially, but you know they know.  Mom has finally stopped begging for a grandchild, so I’m sure she knows.”

“Of course they know.  You are a millionaire football player.  Why would you need a roommate?  They may be in denial, but they are not stupid.”

“So that means, you are going to provide all of the bio-grandkids Mom needs.”  He joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Erica gave him an obligatory smile.

“Gay men can have biological children, Brenton.  And you are the only one of us who actually has a man!”

He laughed.  “I know, but I don’t even know if I want children.” 

“Or do you mean you are unsure of having children with Jason?”

That question was a punch in the gut for Brenton.  He loves Jason, but if he were honest with himself, he was not sure he could trust Jason enough to parent with him.  He would never admit to it though.

“Right now, children would impede on my pseudo-bachelor lifestyle.”

They both laughed at that.

He continued.  “During season, I’m so busy.  And you know how I love to travel during the off-season.”

“Just excuses, Brenton, but anyway…”

“My name is not Susan?”  He sang.

“Okay, those broad shoulders, fancy feet and three 100 yard games last season might have others fooled, but you are definitely gay!”  She said, laughing.

“Hey! Hey!  Whitney was the best singer of all time.  Everybody knows that!”

“Yeah, but everybody doesn’t know her complete musical catalog like you do!”

Brenton lifted his large, strong and heavily insured hands in mock surrender.

The Tales of Closet Abuse, part 2

What is the reason for Russell ‘Hollywood’ Simpson to put Kerry Rhodes on blast? 

As a gay man, he should understand the reasons why, Black men specifically, are relegated to the closet – right, wrong or indifferent.  Hollywood claims he is making Rhodes relevant by putting his name out there.  Rhodes is a football player who is a free agent!  A gay scandal is not going to get him a contract!  Stop playing boo!  There is a different motive here.  Kerry Rhodes sexuality IS his own business.  Why is it necessary for Rhodes to publicly acknowledge that he is gay?  How would that validate Russell Simpson if they were no longer together?  B.S.!  Obviously, Rhodes felt comfortable with PDA in certain situations around certain people.  That’s should have been enough.  Friends do hold other friend’s confidences.  Hollywood claims that Rhodes’ teammates were aware of his sexuality.  If so, isn’t that enough?  If these two were in ‘love’ or whatever, why couldn’t that be sufficient, given the climate in professional sports?  Rhodes denying his sexuality, is NOT outing himself.  That’s B.S.!  Rhodes was employed in a heterosexist and homophobic industry.  When we have ignorant comments made by public officials and other NFL players (and the awesome responses to them), it is understandable why Rhodes would keep his sexuality on a need-to-know basis.  Kerry, I support you.  I cannot say that you are gay, because I do not know you.  From the pictures floating around the Internet, I come to a different conclusion.  If, and when you do come out, there are plenty of people out there who will have your back. If you haven’t already, reach out to Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Attempting to ‘Out’ someone is such a public way, is another form of Closet Abuse.  We are locking people in these closets and then ripping the doors off.  Everyone who is around Rhodes or any other professional male athlete has heard, seen and understands the potential impact that a public admission of homosexuality can have on their career.  This pressure to keep their life compartmentalized, forces them to live in a ‘closet’, until the pressure is too great, leading to some disastrous outcome.  It is unfortunate that in these situations, someone else thinks it is their right or responsibility to disclose another’s personal information.  Wrong!  Hollywood knew who Rhodes was when he got into their ‘situation’. 

We know that Rhodes (if he is gay) is not the only gay professional male athlete.  Between statistics and the retired players who have come out, there has to be other active players who are also gay.  And again, there is nothing wrong with that!  One of these players is going to come out.  There will be media hype around it for a while and then it will be as normal as female reporters in the locker room and showers after the games!

The right to marry the same gender and the right to marry another race.

Why is it so hard to see these are two sides of the same human rights coin?

I enjoyed the interview of Brendon Ayanbadejo by Anderson Cooper about him being cut from the Ravens because of his LGBT advocacy (not true!) and the four pro athletes who ‘may’ be coming out in the near future.  Brendon is heterosexual man using his public and professional platform for LGBT advocacy. Anderson is homosexual journalist and talk-show host who does the same thing in a very different manner.  I have such respect for both of them in this regard.  However, the comparison Brendon made between the issue of race in marriage and gender in marriage was so illuminating for me. He made an important historical reference that many of us forget. In some ways, he is a physical manifestation of that reference. 

In 1967, the Supreme Court deemed the illegality of interracial marriage unconstitutional in the case of Loving v. Virginia.  Although both of my parents are African American, it is hard to believe that in the year of my birth (1966), marriage and/or procreation between black and white persons was against the law!  Thankfully, those anti-miscegenation laws were overturned.  Brendon’s handsome face is a reminder that love is love, irrespective of race or gender.  I am glad he is an advocate.  As he stated, someone else took the heat for racial marriage equality in the 1960s.  So his shoulders are broad enough to take heat for LGBT marriage equality.  Yes, Brendon, you definitely have a broad set of shoulders!  I’m glad they are strong enough for the gridiron and the court of public opinion.   Looking forward to following you next season with your new team!

What do you think?  Michael Donovan Writes...wants to know!