Michael Sam entered the NFL draft with one stigma he did not want. He easily could've had another against him.
Sports Illustrated's The MMQB writer Robert Klemko revealed that a week after Sam came out as gay, he tried to secure an interview with the NFL hopeful.
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Sam had made the difficult and unbelievably brave decision to come out with the hope that in time he would be known simply as a football player, rather than "the gay football player."
But his then-publicist jeopardized the bold act Sam had done. Klemko said Sam's agents, Cameron Weiss and Joe Barkett hired Howard Bragman to become Sam's media relations director.
According to Klemko, Bragman was not an NFL publicist. He was known for helping celebrities come out as gay, such as actress Meredith Baxter and former NBA player John Ameche.
When Klemko reached out to Bragman in hopes of landing an interview -- Klemko even said he would wait until "the time was right" -- he received a Dr. Seuss-doctored response:
I am the rep for Michael SamI am
He would not like to chat with the press
In a suit or in a dress
He would not like them
Here or there
He would not like them
anywhere.
He would not like them
in a house
He would not like them
with a mouse
He would not do them
on a box
He would not do them
with a fox
He would not,
could not,
in a car
You may want him.
You will see.
You may want him
in a tree
He would not, could not in a tree.
Not in a car! You let him be.
A train! A train!
A train! A train!
Could he, would he
on a train?
Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! Michael Sam! Let him be!
He would not, could not, in a box.
He could not, would not, with a fox.
He will not do them with a mouse
He will not do them in a house.
He will not do them here or there.
He will not do them anywhere.
Would he, could he, in the dark?
He would not, could not,
in the dark.
Would he, could he,
in the rain?
He would not, could not, in the rain.
Not in the dark. Not on a train,
Not in a car, Not in a tree.
He does not do them, Sam, you see.
Not in a house. Not in a box.
Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.
He will not do them here or there.
He will not do them anywhere!
Could he, would he,
with a goat?
He would not,
could not.
with a goat!
Would he, could he,
on a boat?
He could not, would not, on a boat.
He will not, will not, with a goat.
He will not do them in the rain.
He will not do them on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! You let him be!
He does not like them in a box.
He does not like them with a fox.
He will not do them in a house.
He will not do them with a mouse.
He will not do them here or there.
He will not do them ANYWHERE!
* With apologies to Dr. Seuss
HOWARD BRAGMAN
Vice Chairman, Reputation .com
Chairman, Fifteen Minutes Public Relations
Sam since had fired Bragman.
Do you think Howard Bragman's response to The MMQB's Robert Klemko about an interview request with Michael Sam was appropriate? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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