re: Michael Sam comes out.

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Anybody else think that some aggressive J-schooler trying to get a job at ESPN is feeding them rumors? I'd be curious to know how ESPN initially got turned on to this and the swim thing

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This was planned, Sam had a team of people and they picked ESPN to do the story. The only thing that changed was the original date had to be bumped up when everyone else got a hold of the story.

It's all here, it's a pretty cool article: https://www.outsports.com/2014/2/9/5396036/michael-sam-gay-football-player-missouri-nfl-draft

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Howard already knew he wanted the TV element to be on ESPN. He has a working relationship with ABC, who shares a parent company — Disney — with ESPN. He had worked with Chris Connelly before and respected his work, and he knew ESPN would treat Sam well. Plus, ESPN is a sports media outlet with a good track record on LGBT sports issues: The story had to be the football, the sport.

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