Derrick Gordon Article

[Pirate Hat]

Why did Derrick Gordon make history and then suddenly shun the spotlight?


IN THE YEAR after he made history, it seemed like the most amazing thing that happened to Derrick Gordon was that nothing really did.........

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...k-gordon-transfers-seton-hall-shuns-spotlight

 

[lwyrup]

The reporter needs to leave the kid alone. Maybe he once wanted to be in the spotlight and be the face of change. But clearly he has a different focus. Was it necessary to write an article about that? It really added absolutely nothing to society except to make people question a college kid.

 

[Section112]

I have a lot of respect for how he has handled all of this. I have no respect for the reporter.

 

[SPK145]

There's no TGIF's in Plainfield.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

I don't see what was wrong with that article. Seems fair to question his apparent 180 as it seems a little bizarre, at least the way the writer portrayed it.

One thing I learned is that he apparently has serious NBA aspirations after this season, which now appears to be the case for 3 of our players. I'll leave it at that.

 

[mbraue]

I don't see what was wrong with that article. Seems fair to question his apparent 180 as it seems a little bizarre, at least the way the writer portrayed it.

One thing I learned is that he apparently has serious NBA aspirations after this season, which now appears to be the case for 3 of our players. I'll leave it at that.

I picked up on the same thing. NBA aspirations seem a little unrealistic as the only other schools looking at him were a few mid-majors. Can't have too many kids looking to pad their own stats and impress the scouts at the expense of the team. But good coaching takes care of that, right? Seems like a good addition and a much-needed one after the loss of Gibbs and Sina.

 

[lloyde dobler]

Reporter had a blatant agenda and seemed to feel betrayed that Gordon for whatever reason changed his thought process. People are entitled to change their minds; the writer seems to be whining that Gordon did so. The idea that there's more than one way to think is being lost on so many people nowadays. Doesn't matter which side of the fence you sit on.

 

[jimmyd36]

The fact that ESPN let this article up on the website is insane. Whatever Gordon's reason for dialing back on the exposure after he came out is his choice, and this article, which is making a ton of assumptions and innuendos against a 20 something college athlete is just plain awful. The video was even more painful. If Gordon didn't like the spotlight, asked Willard to not comment, wants to focus on his last year of college ball, didn't like the negative comments on twitter or people contacting him for a publicity tour, etc- why is it anyone's business? Good for him and if he wants to focus on the sport.. Good for him if he just wants to get on with his life privately after being caught up in a PR machine which he didn't enjoy... I am happy to have the kid as a basketball player on our team and hope his defense is great as people tell me!

 

[shu09]

I don't see what was wrong with that article. Seems fair to question his apparent 180 as it seems a little bizarre, at least the way the writer portrayed it.

One thing I learned is that he apparently has serious NBA aspirations after this season, which now appears to be the case for 3 of our players. I'll leave it at that.

Everything you wrote is pretty much the same reaction I had when I read it. I have no ill-will towards Gordon or the reporter.

 

[hallgrad80]

Whenever you agree to speak to the media whether you're an athlete, a politician , a celebrity or a public figure you put yourself at the mercy of the reporter who can slant the story any way they want. That's especially true for those who are young, unsophisticated and have little experience in dealing with the media especially when a story attracts national attention and Gordon is learning that now. I have little doubt that there will be a few more stories that surface during and after the season especially if he signs a pro contract , even if he doesn't speak to the media.

 

[donnie_baseball]

I'm going to agree, reluctantly, with Willard, here. It's a non-story. The kid did what he had to do, and has been true to himself. Obviously he feels that basketball defines him more than his orientation, so leave him alone. This writer, who continually states the point that he is an NBA-longshot, seems disappointed that he's concentrating on basketball (and, hopefully, graduate work), and not waving the rainbow flag 24/7. He's being treated just as he wanted to -- like everyone else. Good for him.

 

[Halldan1]

Pablo S. Torre ‏@PabloTorre 23h23 hours ago

I put 5 months into this @ESPN Mag story on Derrick Gordon, the first openly gay man in D-I bball. Hope you see why: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/13950235/openly-gay-basketball-player-derrick-gordon-transfers-seton-hall-shuns-spotlight…

 

[TrueBlue1989]

I'm going to agree, reluctantly, with Willard, here. It's a non-story. The kid did what he had to do, and has been true to himself. Obviously he feels that basketball defines him more than his orientation, so leave him alone. This writer, who continually states the point that he is an NBA-longshot, seems disappointed that he's concentrating on basketball (and, hopefully, graduate work), and not waving the rainbow flag 24/7. He's being treated just as he wanted to -- like everyone else. Good for him.

This should only be about basketball. I do think that the espn writer was trying to stir controversy. I'm pleased to have Derrick on the team!

 

[SPK145]

I don't like the article, let Derrick Gordon be Derrick Gordon.

 

[donnie_baseball]

Pelzman has a much better story on Gordon, online at northjersey.com

This should only be about basketball. I do think that the espn writer was trying to stir controversy. I'm pleased to have Derrick on the team!

That is the "movement" in a nutshell. Achieve tolerance, demand acceptance. When activists said "this is only the beginning" after the SCOTUS ruling, believe them.

This article is a sad reminder of the "you will conform, or be steamrolled" mentality; it applies to even their own.

 

[pmulcahy96]

I have no problem with how Coach Willard handled this. It's a non-story to me. The only thing that appears to make Seton Hall look bad in the story is the way the communications staffer Chen handled the reporter by ignoring him. If true, it reflects poor communication skills and way of doing business by our athletic department. Hopefully it's not, and we obviously don't know Chen's side of the events that took place.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

What did the reporter do wrong here exactly? Wrote a pretty good story about Gordon, who appeared to be relishing the spotlight at the time, and then all ties were cut off. Kid writing the story had a job to finish, and he capped it off with an angle that highlighted Gordon's sudden change of direction.

I was ecstatic that we landed this kid for reasons that had nothing to do with his basketball ability. Just find his NBA aspirations and sudden turnaround from promoting his cause a little odd.

 

[Halldan1]

My take.

I can understand both sides of the issue. The writer has a job to do and obviously he put in a lot of time and effort into the interview. For that he should be commended.

The problem occurs when during the process Gordon does a 180 and no longer wants the focus to be on Derrick the trailblazing gay BB player. That's certainly his right but you have to understand what that does to the writer.

Now where I have an issue with the reporter is that once cut off from Gordon he interjects himself into the story. Understandable to a degree but eventually it crosses the line as he forces his agenda to finish a story that was very well written until his loss of access.

Bottom line, this was a very awkward situation and it's easy to both sympathize with the reporter yet understand why Gordon no longer wanted the focus to be on him as a gay man.

No winners here. Best to move on.

 

[jimmyd36]

I thought this was pretty relevant to Gordon. Cook too made an initial splash and then dialed it back....
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-30/tim-cook-speaks-up

 

[Seton75]

Did Derrick make a splash or tell who he was?

 

[jimmyd36]

Yes that's the "complaint" of the writers from ESPN... That he was very public when he came out and then was no longer as vocal about being a gay athlete. Here is the CEO of Apple who did the same thing....