Bob Fescoe: The Biggest Story That Wasn't
by "Bulldog" Bob Fescoe
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posted Jun 15 2011 2:35AM
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Over the weekend, the New York Times did an exclusive story about an NBA executive by the name of Rick Weltz. He is the President of the Phoenix Suns. What, you have not heard of him? Oh, well that is a good thing. It means we are progressing as a nation. See, on Sunday it was revealed that Weltz is a gay man. He became the first openly gay executive in American sports. His opening up went barely noticed by the sports world. Sure, it was a headline on ESPN.com and the rest of the sports web sites out there, but the story was largely buried behind stuff like Ochocinco riding a bull and the latest on the NFL lockout. It should be buried because it is no longer a story.
The year is 2011. When someone admits they are gay the reaction that I have is “So.” Why is that such a big deal? I think we have progressed as a society where we do not have to worry about the sexuality of an individual anymore, the only thing that is important is whether or not the person in charge can effectively do their job and it appears that Weltz has what it takes to run an organization.
Weltz has been around the NBA since he was a kid and served as a ball boy for the Seattle Supersonics. He worked his way up the ranks to intern, to PR staffer, to the NBA front office to eventually the head job with the Phoenix Suns. Weltz is a guy that everyone in America should strive to be like, work hard and get ahead. Weltz did it the old fashioned way, he earned it. He was never handed anything. His dad did not buy a team nor did his uncle give him the job as president of anything.
The fact that Weltz is gay has no bearing whatsoever on me and anyone that is offended by it needs to grow up. Weltz did the right thing for himself. He took a ton of weight off his shoulders by revealing who he really is. However, it never should have come to this. We need to further grow as a society so Weltz does not feel pressure to “come clean.”
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