The question was simple enough. The answer was the problem.
ESPN reporter Josina Anderson was asked on SportsCenter Tuesday morning about how Michael Sam was fitting in with his Rams teammates.
Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year out of Missouri and a late-round pick by the Rams in this year’s draft, is trying to become the first openly gay player to make an NFL roster.
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During a cringe-worthy report, Anderson explained little about Sam’s ability to fit in with his teammates and a lot about his showering habits. Yes, his showering habits!
She said that one Rams player told her that “Sam is respecting our space” when it comes to the showers.
“Another Rams defensive player told me that ‘Sam is respecting our space’ and that, from his perspective, he seems to think that Michael Sam is waiting to take a shower, as not to make his teammates feel uncomfortable.”
Apparently she was asking multiple Rams about Sam in the shower, because she said two other players told her that they weren’t actually tracking his shower regimen. What?!?
She said she talked to defensive tackle Kendall Langford who said he had not been in the shower at the same time as the rookie. But Langford apparently stressed to Anderson that there could be a “million reasons” why they haven’t crossed paths in the shower. Langford theorized that Sam could be doing extra work on the practice field or extra cardio work.
Langford was full of praise for Sam.
“If he doesn’t make our team … I’m pretty sure somebody will definitely pick him up on another team … he’s shown some flashes,” Langford said.
Social media has been less kind to Anderson and ESPN.
Unreal, disgraceful and shameful are just some of the many comments about Anderson’s reporting from Rams camp.
Rams defensive end Chris Long took aim at the network in a tweet he wrote on Tuesday afternoon: “Dear ESPN, Everyone but you is over it.”
Cyd Zeigler, co-founder of Outsports.com, took his criticism to the next level by getting naked in his shower and filming his response in a video posted on YouTube.
“It’s disgusting to me that ESPN frankly would allow this to happen,” Zeigler said. “Reporting whether a gay athlete is showering with his teammates as though it is part of news.
“Unfortunately, Josina tried to sensationalize the fact that he is gay and that he might be naked in the shower with straight teammates.”
