The 6-foot-2, 260 pounder, 24 year old Michael Sam was the first openly gay football player to be drafted by the St. Louis Rams. He was drafted in the 7th and final round. He had come out to New York Times and to his football team, University of Missouri, in August. He was shocked to see that his team wasn't surprised because some of them already knew he was gay. He thought he was going to suffer with the NFL because he didn't know if they would allow a gay athlete. He wanted to be judged as a football player and not as a gay athlete. The drafting board picked him for this specific team because they knew that the coach would keep him focused on football. Michael grew up in Hitchcock, Texas with his mom and eight siblings. He didn't live an easy life, he once lived in his mothers car and briefly stayed with another family. Before he was drafted he played defensive on the University of Missouri football team. He was also rewarded the co defensive player of the year at the Southeastern Conference. After Michael was drafted Obama congratulated him at the White House. Obama was proud that the drafting board picked him for being a good football player. He also congratulated the St. Louis Rams and was looking to the upcoming football season. This is a very important time in history. During history African Americans didn't have any rights, but we have Obama has our president and now Michael is an NFL athlete.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/11/us/football-michael-sam/index.html?hpt=us_c1
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