Another positive story from ESPN

[ThorsHammer]

I posted one about the college lacrosse goalie a while back, and people liked it, so I thought this might be of interest too. I'm straight, but think that stories like this go a long way to showing people that GLBT people are just like anyone else. The sports world has always been somewhat homophobic, and if gays are accepted there then there should be no problems with being accepted by the rest of society. There are still some disturbing parts, like the lineman in the story, but it was nice to see that he (the trainer) got a standing ovation at their alumni dinner.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2077320&num=0


The Healer
By Chris Bull
ESPN The Magazine

(Excerpt)

It was a journey he had made countless times. The stadium lights were off, the last banged-up player bandaged, iced and sent home. Lindsy McLean would pull out of the deserted lot on Candlestick Point and snake the darkened streets of San Francisco. As he drove, his mind would pivot from one world to another. At the Sunday night services in the Castro, few knew or cared about his five diamond-and-gold-studded Super Bowl rings. At the stadium, few knew about the gay church.

He spent more than 20 years on the brink of putting his two lives together, but he'd always step back. Worried about what his peers would think. Worried about his mom's reaction back in Nashville. About embarrassing Bill Walsh, godfather of the 49ers family, who lured him from Bo Schembechler in '79. And not least, fearful of being terrorized by players he'd kept on the field and in the money.

...When running back Garrison Hearst fractured a fibula in a 1999 playoff game in Atlanta, McLean rushed to his side. As he placed Hearst's arm around his shoulders and helped him off the field, the head trainer was already plotting the player's comeback. For the next two years, McLean and the training staff guided Hearst through several operations and countless hours of rehab. Hearst made it back into the starting lineup in 2001. Though he had lost a step and some of his power, his strength of will helped propel the Niners to the playoffs. "I was so proud of him," McLean says. "A lot of guys would have given up, lost their spirit. I never saw Garrison doubt even for a second he'd make it back." Whenever he got the chance, Hearst made sure to thank his loyal trainer. Then in November 2002, McLean read this quote from Hearst in the morning paper: "I don't want any faggots on my team."

....Last October, McLean was a guest of honor at the Niners' alumni dinner. When he agreed to attend, he wondered how he'd be received, how many of the old gladiators knew his story, how they would react when his name was called.Here's how: When McLean got up to receive his retirement award, the alumni stood up on their creaky knees to cheer. And cheer. And cheer some more. When McLean toddled back to his seat with his trophy, a miniature wooden football on a stand, his ears were ringing. He was followed to the podium by former quarterback John Brodie. "Hey," Brodie said, "the trainer got the most applause."

[nikraye]

1. And yet, the Niners have learned nothing...

I cried when I read McLean's story. And I give ESPN Magazine a deserved nod of thanks, and author Chris Bull a standing ovation: This piece is beautifully and poignantly written, and so very necessary.

The piece was published in 2004, just a little over a year ago. And yet, in spite of McLean's coming out, his painful stories of harassment and abuse by 49ers players, coach Walsh's and the team owners public declarations of taking "appropriate actions" to make amends, nothing at all has changed in this organization. Witness: the "diversity training" video the Niners PR man produced for players -- the very one which has in the past week generated much anger and hostility in both the GLBT and Asian communities, and from Mayor Gavin Newsom, due to its offensive depiction of all of the aforementioned in this so-called "training" video.

Makes me think that the 49ers players and management are beyond educating and bereft of compassion. The references in this article about the Niners accepting and respecting McLean are apparently just lip service meant for both McLean and the paying public. How despicable are the 49ers? McLean gave them nothing but hard work, dedication and loyalty ... and in return the San Francisco Forty-Niners gave him a metaphorical knife in the back.