A very recent Big 10 basketball player comes out and there seems to be very little interest in this story. I would love to think that this is because we as a society are so evolved that this simply isn't a big deal. However I don't believe for a minute that this is true. I live in Minneapolis and to my knowledge this story hasn't hit the local press (outside of the U of M) at all. Perhaps if Zach was having sex at the airport we would have heard about more about him. I'm just curious if anyone has any thoughts as to why this story hasn't caught on in the media or even here on the Outsports discussion board. Is there just no more to be said? By the way Zach, thanks for the brave move.

Well if you look on the Outsports homepage...

Seriously, I think part of it is nobody knows what to make of him. While I think it's great that he came Out; the way he did it is a bit... weird... at least that's how it struck me. His comments since then have been a little confusing too.

Also he is an EX-Gopher, not a current player, and I doubt that he will be picked up.

Lots of Ex -Players these days coming out; the next real media circus will be for a current player.

I'm with ITJock. He's not an active DI athlete and he didn't really come out. Does anyone really think this guy is bi...at least I don't. Of course that could be totally wrong but it's my honest initial reaction.

If he gets closer to the NFL this will probably become a bigger story.

I for one really respect him, and his comments actually make me respect him a lot more, since I am still in the process of determining what m sexual identity actually is. Not everyone is able to just straight out say they are gay or they are straight. What he did was at least say that he is not totally straight and for someone who wants to play in the NFL, that takes a lot of balls.

He sounds like an interesting person to me, especially his willingness to acknowledge that sexuality is not always black or white, and for his ability to reveal his own story so originally. But, this is not exactly a high profile coming out story, nor will it get that much press mileage since he's not currently playing.

And while small town America still freaks out over all things gay, we are everywhere these days...thank god.

Even a high profile player's coming out story would only garner so much attention...the news cycle is too damn fast.

He got up at that fashion show and announced, "I'm gay." Now he's redefining himself. It's a bit weird, but as long as he's happy good for him.

Guys...guys...come on..."gay" liberation was about the right to define yourself however you choose to, not according to rigid labels.

I respect Zach for choosing not to choose. It could be a situation where he needs time, a la Little Kim (I used to be scared of the d*ck, now I put lips to the sh*t), or the "I don't judge people according to their race/gender/etc." could mean that I am straight but I'm willing to get drunk and explore. I have had sex with women in the past as a part of my own process of finding out who I am so I think we should just live and let live. Zach is the best! Cheers, Jay

It isn't necessarily a question of choice. If you're bisexual you're bisexual - even if you choose to spend the rest of your life with a man. And Zach sounds like a bisexual to me.

[quote name='Bryan' date='Oct 29 2007, 07:50 PM' post='343092']
He sounds like an interesting person to me,

From what I've read about him he is a very interesting person. He went to Harvard out of high school played football I believe. Then with a year of eligibility left he came back to the U of M and sat out a year because he wanted a chance(as a walk-on with no quarantee) to play BB for the Gophers. After he was done at Minnesota he went back to Harvard to finish his degree. Unusual choices for sure but if it worked for him I'm all for it. I get the sense that he is a real individual and does things his own way. I admire that quality in people. Unfortunately I'm often not one of them.

Yet, with that pedigree of Harvard and the UofM, he had the opportunity to live with it and figure it out in an atmosphere of tolerance than at other schools and parts of the county.

This is not diminish the challenges he faced, but put him at VT or WVU or other southern schools, regardless of how good them may be, the support available might not be as extensive.