#MMay--Michael Sam, First NFL Player WithOUT a Girlfriend, Kisses Boyfriend on TV

Michael Sam is a hot topic this week. Just last Monday, he was drafted as the 7th round pick to the NFL (the first openly gay in its history) by the St. Louis Rams. This all takes place in a hotel room in broadcast by ESPN on the final day of the 2014 NFL Draft. What made news here is the thing he did next. He takes his partner, Vito Cammisano, a former University of Missouri swimmer who graduated last year and now interns for a broadcasting company in Columbia, Missouri, hugs him longingly, and then kisses him. After another long hug, Sam kisses Vito again.

Sam later throws cake in his face, and throws the same slice in his mouth.
That kiss was seen on live television all around the world and across the Internet. And the Internet Gods responded swiftly, not only negatively, but also positively.

Here are some responses from Twitter, both good and bad.

ESPN... You serious right now?

— Case McCoy (@CaseMcCoy6) May 10, 2014

I'm sorry but that Michael Sam is no bueno for doing that on national tv. I'm fine with it being a new day in age but for him to do that on

— Derrick Ward (@derrickward32) May 10, 2014

Any straight person who says "#MichaelSam/bf kiss pic doesnt look disgusting" can't pass a lie detector test saying it. Prove me wrong. #nfl
— Patrick Dollard (@PatDollard) May 12, 2014

Welcome to the squad @MikeSamFootball #D-LineShowtime

— Robert Quinn (@RQuinn94) May 10, 2014

I don't want to see Michael Sam kissing his bf, I want to see Bortles and his piece

— Evan Johnson (@EvanJ34) May 10, 2014

These are some of the saddest. They all have in common the word "fag".

I don't have a problem with Sam being gay. Be gay. I have a problem with ESPN showing Sam kissing his bf 5,492 times.

— Christopher Nicolai (@Nicolai60) May 10, 2014

Even though this is completely different, this is the same feeling.

So Derrick Gordon is the first openly gay player in Division I basketball. ...okay. I wonder what's for dinner tonight.

— Andrew Pollard (@APollard36) April 10, 2014

We are staying home! Could not be more proud of my babe! #stl #rams #missouri

— Vito (@Vitcamm) May 10, 2014

I really don't mind or care their embracing at all. People get very emotional when they are given things that--well, get them very emotional. Their kiss was unexpected, though. I never seen his boyfriend before, and after this, his face and that smooch will be in my mind for a while; well, second to Solange Knowles kicking Jay-Z's ass.

I don't blame the people who didn't like seeing two guys kissing on live TV. And it's ESPN. Kids could've been watching this and ask parents if it's okay for a boy to kiss another boy, even if they're not gay. And then the parents have to tell them about gay people. Boy, that'll be one for the Thanksgiving table.

Anyway, I think it's great that the NFL is opening its doors to openly gay players. To me, it doesn't matter about a player's sexuality. What matters is the talent he possesses. That should matter in professional sports. Being a great player in a terrible team is better than a player with sex appeal and lots of endorsements in one of the best teams in the NFL. You might choose the latter, but wait a few years and see if diehard fans will still like you.