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In US sports landmark, NBA star Collins says he's gay

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 20:00

Basketball center Jason Collins on Monday became the first active player in a major American professional team sport to reveal he is gay -- a groundbreaking disclosure greeted with broad support. Collins, a 34-year-old free agent who has played for six NBA teams over the past 12 seasons, went public with his sexuality in an essay published on Sports Illustrated magazine's website. "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation," Collins said.

NBA: Players, celebs hail Collins' courage for coming out

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 19:45

From superstars Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade to celebrities like Spike Lee and US President Barack Obama, NBA center Jason Collins found support Monday for his landmark admission that he is gay. The 34-year-old NBA center became the first active American professional team sports player to publicly reveal his homosexuality, doing so to Sports Illustrated in an article published on the magazine's website. "The President called Jason Collins to express his support and said he was impressed by his courage," a White House aide told AFP.

Jason Collins becomes NBA's 1st openly gay player

Agencia EFEApril 29, 2013 19:00

Los Angeles, Apr 29 (EFE).- "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay," Jason Collins says in a front-page article in this week's edition of Sports Illustrated, becoming the first openly gay player in U.S. pro basketball. "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation," he said in the piece, posted Monday on the magazine's Web site.

NBA: In landmark for US sports, Collins says he's gay

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 16:15

NBA center Jason Collins on Monday became the first active player in a major American professional team sport to reveal he is gay -- a groundbreaking disclosure greeted with broad support. Collins, a free agent who has played in the NBA for six teams over the past 12 seasons, went public with his sexuality to Sports Illustrated in a major cover story released on the magazine's website. "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black and I'm gay," begins the essay that Collins penned for the magazine with writer Franz Lidz.

NBA: Players hail Collins' courage for coming out

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 15:16

NBA superstars Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash on Monday led a throng of players and celebrities offering support for Jason Collins, after the veteran center made the landmark revelation that he is gay. Collins, who played for Boston and Washington this past season but who is now a free agent, has become the first active American professional team sports player to publicly reveal his homosexuality. "Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others #courage #support," Los Angeles Lakers star Bryant posted on Twitter.

NBA: Players hail Collins' courage for coming out

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 15:04

NBA: Spurs sweep depleted Lakers out of playoffs

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 01:30

Tony Parker led five San Antonio players in double figures Sunday as the Spurs beat the depleted, dispirited Los Angeles Lakers 103-82 to knock them out of the NBA playoffs. Parker scored 23 points as San Antonio completed a four-game sweep in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series -- the first time the 16-time champion Lakers had been swept in a first-round series since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in the 1983-84 season.

NBA: Retired NBA legend Jordan marries Prieto

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 23:31

Retired NBA legend Michael Jordan married model Yvette Prieto at a ceremony in Florida on Saturday with a lavish reception at a luxury golf community, People magazine reported on Sunday. Jordan, 50, led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles during his playing days and his name remains one of the top brands in sports marketing. He now owns the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats. Prieto, 35, met Jordan at a Miami club in 2008 and they have dated for five years. The couple became engaged in 2011 and applied for a marriage license last month at the county courthouse in Palm Beach, Florida.

NBA: Heat complete playoff sweep but Celtics stay in hunt

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 18:45

LeBron James scored 30 points to lead Miami over Milwaukee and complete a sweep into the second round of the NBA playoffs on Sunday while Boston avoided being swept out by New York. Defending champion Miami rolled over the Bucks 88-77 to win their Eastern Conference best-of-seven series in four games and become the first team to advance despite guard Dwyane Wade being sidelined by a knee bruise. Wade will have time to heal. The Heat will not open the second round against Chicago or Brooklyn until Saturday at the earliest.

Thunder and Bulls move closer to next round of NBA playoffs

Agencia EFEApril 28, 2013 17:31

U.S. Sports Desk, Apr 28 (EFE).- It was an emotional weekend in the NBA playoffs with games that moved the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls closer to the semi-finals in the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively. The Memphis Grizzlies played their best basketball and rolled over the Los Angeles Clippers to tie that series and the Atlanta Hawks got their first win over the Indiana Pacers, a victory that gave them new life. Forward Kevin Durant led the Thunder to a 104-101 victory over the Houston Rockets in the third game of their first round playoff series.