ABC Greenlights Sitcom Based On Life Of Out Pro Soccer Player Robbie Rogers

Deadline has the details:

Written by Claudia Lonow, who serves as showrunner, and Jordon Nardino (Desperate Housewives), Men In Shorts centers on a young pro soccer player who takes one small step out of the closet and one giant leap into the spotlight. Zadan, Meron, Lonow and Nardino will executive produce, while Rogers will be a producer and Storyline VP Mark Nicholson, who developed the project, a consulting producer. The project falls under Storyline’s deal at Universal TV. Lonow admits she wasn’t that familiar with soccer or Rogers before meeting with him, Zadan, Meron and Nicholson this past summer, though the 2014 World Cup was playing in her house as her college-age daughter is a big fan. “I was absolutely captivated by his charm and his humor, and I just thought it could make a great show,” Lonow said.

The character based on Rogers has a conservative father, who unlike Rogers' real father, "has more of a journey to go" on accepting his son. Deadline characterizes Men In Shorts as a combination family/workplace comedy - which means we can probably expect some locker room drama. (Tipped by JMG reader Peter)