Gun Used In 2012 Shooting At FRC Office Goes On Display At Crime Museum

The gun used in the 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council's headquarters has gone on display at Washington DC's Crime Museum. Via World Net Daily:

The yellowed “eyes” of the Volkswagen Beetle that serial killer Ted Bundy used to kidnap his victims still watch over a grisly display of crime artifacts: Unabomber letters. The noose from a Ku Klux Klan lynching. Rubble from 9/11. And now, the gun used by homosexual activist Floyd Lee Corkins in his attack on the Family Research Council has joined the collection of the Crime Museum in Washington, D.C., as part of the exhibit “Domestic Terrorism and Hate Crimes,” which opened to the public on March 18.

Corkins admitted he picked FRC, which promotes traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs about family and sexuality, because the organization was listed as an “anti-gay” hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center on its website. Retired Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin, FRC executive vice president and a member of the board of WND.com, told WND the exhibit’s inclusion of the FRC attack makes sense in a domestic terror and hate crime display.

Boykin told WND he wants the U.S. government and its agencies to stop working with SPLC and citing its work, but said his group has never appealed to the SPLC to take them off its hate map because they don’t think it is legitimate. The general called the map capricious and noted it has no definition of a hate group: “More importantly, we think what they’re doing is absolutely reckless, particularly given they put us in the same category as groups like the Klu Klux Klan and the skinheads.” Pressure has to be put on the SPLC to stop this, because, Boykin said, “It is reckless behavior that has, at least in this case, incited someone to want to kill people who don’t believe what they believe and stand for.”

Also on display in the exhibit is a copy of the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in 2009, Judy Shepard's book about her son, and the #98 Brooklyn Nets jersey worn by Jason Collins in Shepard's memory. Those items, of course, are not mentioned in the above-linked World Net Daily article.

Jason Collins Signs With Yahoo Sports

Outsports has the announcement from Yahoo:

At Yahoo Sports, we're always look to guide our readers to the best, most relevant, original content we can. And today I'm happy to welcome the latest addition to our lineup, former NBA player Jason Collins. Jason will provide original video programming for the Yahoo Sports studio including basketball analysis for both the upcoming men's NCAA basketball tournament and the NBA. Jason played 13 seasons in the NBA. During his career, he competed at center and power forward for six franchises: the Brooklyn Nets and New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies. Jason was an All-American at Stanford University and played in the Final Four his freshman year. Jason will debut on Yahoo Sports "Tourney Bracket Live" show on March 15 at 7:30pm ET.

NBA's MLK Spot Features Jason Collins

Jason Collins Retires From NBA

"It has been 18 exhilarating months since I came out in Sports Illustrated as the first openly gay man in one of the four major professional team sports. And it has been nine months since I signed with the Nets and became the first openly gay male athlete to appear in a game in one of those leagues. It feels wonderful to have been part of these milestones for sports and for gay rights, and to have been embraced by the public, the coaches, the players, the league and history.

"On Wednesday at the Barclays Center, I plan to announce my retirement as an NBA player. The day will be especially meaningful for me because the Nets will be playing the Bucks, who are coached by Jason Kidd, my former teammate and my coach in Brooklyn. It was Jason who cheered my decision to come out by posting on Twitter: 'Jason’s sexuality doesn’t change the fact that he is a great friend and was a great teammate.' [snip]

 "There are still no publicly gay players in the NFL, NHL or major league baseball. Believe me: They exist. Every pro sport has them. I know some of them personally. When we get to the point where a gay pro athlete is no longer forced to live in fear that he’ll be shunned by teammates or outed by tabloids, when we get to the point where he plays while his significant other waits in the family room, when we get to the point where he’s not compelled to hide his true self and is able to live an authentic life, then coming out won’t be such a big deal. But we’re not there yet." - Jason Collins, writing for Sports Illustrated.

Out Magazine Unveils 2014 Out 100 List

Out Magazine has unveiled this year's Out 100 list. The 2014 ranking features Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner (seated above) and New York Times writer Josh Barro (third from left.) Others on the list are Dan Savage, Larry Kramer, Andy Bell, Armistead Maupin, Jason Collins, Richard Chamberlain, Carmen Carrera, and the cast of Looking.  See the full list.

YouTube's Spotlight Video Of The Day

(Tipped by JMG reader David)

Brooklyn Nets Advance In Playoffs

Next up for the Nets are defending NBA champions Miami Heat.

Obama Appoints Jason Collins To Federal Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition Council

Via White House press release:

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts: Jason Collins, Appointee for Member, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Jason Collins is a professional basketball player with the Brooklyn Nets, where he has played since 2014. Previously, he played for the Washington Wizards, the Boston Celtics, the Atlanta Hawks, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the New Jersey Nets. He joined the National Basketball Association in 2001 after playing for Stanford University, where he was a National Association of Basketball Coaches third team All-American and a member of the All-PAC-10 first team. Mr. Collins is a partner with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Mr. Collins received a B.A. from Stanford University.

Other appointees include Rachel Ray, Alonzo Mourning, and ballet star Misty Copeland.

Jason Collins Lands Inside Cover Of TIME

Chelsea Clinton has written a Jason Collins profile for TIME's most influential people issue. Via Today:

TIME magazine unveiled its 11th annual “Time 100 Most Influential People in the World” issue on Thursday, with major — and controversial — figures from music, movies and the political world filling up a large portion of the list. Superstar Beyonce Knowles-Carter is on the cover of the popular issue, and subsequent inside covers feature actor Robert Redford, Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay athlete, and General Motors CEO Mary Barra. Other honorees include actress Amy Adams, Amazon founder and The Washington Post’s newest owner Jeff Bezos, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Pope Francis, actress Christy Turlington Burns, potential presidential candidate and grandmother-to-be Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State John Kerry, Late Night host Seth Meyers, country singer Carrie Underwood, “Happy” singer Pharrell Williams, Russian President Vladimir Putin and singer Miley Cyrus, making it possibly the first time Putin and Cyrus have had something in common.

Inside covers are a thing? (Tipped by JMG reader RKK)

Jason Collins & Michael Sam Tweet Congrats To Newly Out NCAA Player

(Tipped by JMG reader Str8 Grandmother)

NCAA Basketball Player Comes Out

ESPN has the story:

Derrick Gordon, a sophomore starter for the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team, stepped forward Wednesday as the first openly gay player in Division I men's college basketball, sharing his story with ESPN and Outsports. The 22-year-old shooting guard came out to his family, coaches and teammates in the span of just a few days at the beginning of April. That's when he also decided to publicly acknowledge his sexuality. I just didn't want to hide anymore, in any way," Gordon told ESPN. "I didn't want to have to lie or sneak. I've been waiting and watching for the last few months, wondering when a Division I player would come out, and finally I just said, 'Why not me?'"

Gordon says he was inspired to come out by Brooklyn Nets player Jason Collins. He came out to his teammates last week and his school is behind him.

"UMass is proud to have Derrick Gordon as a member of our athletic family and to honor his courage and openness as a gay student-athlete," athletic director John McCutcheon said in a written statement. "UMass is committed to creating a welcoming climate where every student-athlete, coach and staff member can be true to themselves as they pursue their athletic, academic and professional goals."

Tweet Of The Day - Jason Collins

The attack is in full swing over at Twitchy.

NBA Auctions Signed Collins Jerseys

The NBA just emailed to tip me that they have launched an auction for autographed Jason Collin jerseys. Sales will benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation and GLSEN.

Each jersey is authenticated by the NBA and MeiGray Game-Worn Authentication Program. MeiGray Group, the official game-worn partner of the NBA, offers collectors the highest standards of authenticity, integrity, and reliability for all game-used items. Collins became the first openly gay, active male athlete from one of the four major North American professional team sports on Feb. 23, after signing with his original team, the Nets. Since he was added to the roster, Collins’ jersey spent three weeks in the No. 1 spot on the top-selling jersey list at NBAStore.com. Collins wears the number “98” in honor of Matthew Shepard, a college student who was murdered in 1998 after being targeted for being openly gay. The NBA has a long history of supporting the LGBT community including partnerships with GLSEN, GLAAD and Athlete Ally and was the recipient of the 2012 Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion Award at the GLSEN Respect Awards. In addition, Jason Collins received the 2013 Courage Award at the 10th annual GLSEN Respect Awards and Denver Nuggets star Kenneth Faried was awarded the 2012 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, in part because of his relationship with Athlete Ally.

Bidding has opened at $250 for each jersey.

Brooklyn Nets Clinch Playoff Berth

Last night the Brooklyn Nets clinched a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs with their 14th consecutive home win at Barclays Center, setting the stage for Jason Collins to add a another item to his list of first-ever accomplishments when he enters a playoff game with his Matthew Shepard-honoring jersey. Most of the hubbub about the NBA's first openly gay player died down within a week or so of Collins returning to the game in February, but a couple of sportswriters have pleasantly joked this week that Collins has been a good luck charm in light of the team's surprising comeback. The playoffs begin on April 19th.

Headline Of The Day

Nobody is claiming that Jason Collins is responsible, but neither can anybody say that the NBA's first openly gay player is jinxing the team as the Brooklyn Nets have been on a wild winning streak ever since Collins was signed. In fact, the previously languishing Nets are now very close to clinching a spot in the playoffs.

The Brooklyn Nets are thisclose to clinching a playoff berth, and when they do, they’ll go into the postseason as a very dangerous team. Yep, the team that started 10-21 and lost its starting center for the season has established a home-court advantage that is daunting, a style of play that is vexing and a level of confidence that is surging. The Nets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-99 Sunday night in Barclays Center to tie a franchise record with 13 straight home wins. Had the Knicks lost to the Warriors in Oakland last night, Brooklyn would have clinched a playoff spot. The Knicks eked out the win, leaving the Nets thisclose to clinching.

If the Nets do make the playoffs:

As of today the Nets are looking at a rematch from last season with the Chicago Bulls in the first round. If this match up sticks, expect the Nets to be involved in a grueling seven game series, much like the season before. Despite their improved play late in the season, Brooklyn’s offense will have a difficult time executing against the stifling Chicago defense. Jason Kidd will also be entering his first playoff run as head coach, while Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau has had several years of experience, including a run to the Eastern Conference finals.

In addition to the current 13-game streak, the Nets have won 20 of their last 22 home games.

Jason Collins Staying With The Nets

The Brooklyn Nets will sign Jason Collins for the remainder of the season.

Sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that the Nets, who feel they're getting everything they expected from Collins when they signed him for frontcourt depth Feb. 23, are already operating under the premise that the 34-year-old will finish the season with them even though his second 10-day deal doesn't expire until after Friday. Sources say that the internal expectation all along was that Collins would be a Net for the rest of the season, from the moment he signed his first 10-day deal, as long he proved that he could still be an effective defender, which he did immediately. Collins is averaging 9.8 minutes per game off the bench in eight appearances since his historic debut against the Los Angeles Lakers last month, which made him the first openly gay athlete in North America's four recognized major team sports. He most recently provided the Nets with some meaningful minutes defending against DeMarcus Cousins, logging 20 minutes in a 104-89 win over Sacramento last Sunday.

Freep This AFA Poll

Even though most of us probably wouldn't know who Jason Collins is either, we're going to say "YES" just to fuck with them again. (Tipped by JMG reader Bill)

HomoQuotable - Blake Skjellerup

"In the space of 30 seconds, I saw one of the greatest things about sport, and something I had always believed existed, but never witnessed. The gentleman beside me was not the only person calling out 'Jason Collins.' As I think about it now, the goosebumps I felt last night re-appear. An arena full of people, calling and chanting the name of a player who is undoubtedly one of the most well-known athletes in the world, who is in a professional sport, and is gay. As Jason took to the court, the crowd, myself included, took to our feet. The applause and cheering that followed was something I will never forget. As a 16-year-old I longed for a role model and visible identity like Jason Collins. Now, as a 28-year-old, I was a part of something that showed the greatness of sport, and also, the greatness of humanity." - New Zealander Olympic speed skater Blake Skjellerup, writing for HyperVocal.

Gay NYers Turn Out For Collins Debut

According to openly gay former NFL player Wade Davis, there were many gay sports fans in the arena for Jason Collins' home debut last night.

“As a gay man, I’m always very much aware of how to recognize other gay men,” Davis said. “I won’t give up any of our secrets, but from an eye contact standpoint, I can definitely tell there is a higher proportion of gay men than I have ever experienced at an NBA game.” Anthony Nicodemo, head coach for the Saunders High School basketball team in Yonkers, who came out to his team last year, got tickets for Davis and friends. “It’s a big deal for the LGBT community. We always talk about sports as the last barrier, the last frontier. So being in New York, as diverse as it is, what’s a better place than Brooklyn for him to come place his first home game?” Former ESPN radio personality, Jared Max, who came out to his listeners in 2011, was sitting in the press box, taking it all in.

RELATED: In case you haven't noticed: the NBA has been advertising the Collins jersey right here on JMG.

BROOKLYN: Jason Collins Enters Game To Standing Ovation From Home Crowd

More details are in my update in the post below this one.