Excellent news to start the week. Mike Survillon, the abtastic narrator and one of the co-stars of Logo’s gay-basketball reality series Shirts & Skins, will reportedly play professional basketball. Outsports reports the newly-out player "received an offer from the ABA’s San Francisco Rumble",which played the gay amateur Rock Dogs team in the first episode of the series.
Cyd Zeigler writes: "This has long been the way experts have believed one of the four major sports leagues would have its first openly gay active player: An out player would simply be too good to pass up either in a draft or as a free agent."
Survillon becomes "the second openly gay male professional basketball player" in the United States. The first was Survillion’s Rock Dogs teammate, DeMarco Majors, who played on "the ABA’s Hawaii team even while he was training for the Gay Games" where he won gold. Clik magazine profiled Demarco's ABA career.
This is a beautiful thing. When we reviewed Shirts & Skins, you'll recall we wanted to hear more about his aspirations to play professional ball. Openly gay former basketball player John Amaechi gave some good advice to Survillon, who also said he wanted "to be an influence on those who are not out" and a role model for black gay youth and athletes. Mike Survillon is definitely a draft pick in more ways than one.
Gay Player Recruited by the ABA [Outsports]
You May Have Missed ...
Preview: Logo's "Shirts & Skins" Is a Slam Dunk [R20]
DeMarco Majors Named to the "Out 100" [R20]
Clik Preview [R20]
Amaechi on Coming Out [R20]
Amaechi Shines, Tim Learns the Hardaway [R20]
Inside the Locker Room [R20]
NBA Reprimands Hardaway [R20]
Nelson George on Evan Ross [R20]
Shaq and Wade Defend Gays [R20]
No Coming Out Party for Amaechi [R20]
"Tired of Having to Pretend" [R20]
oooh ... iloved mike, he was the hottest one, i wish him the best of luck
Posted by: farris | 17 November 2008 at 08:07
Congratulations to Mike. Of all the men in the Shirts and Skins series, he seemed the most and one of the best players. I wish him the best.
Posted by: JOSEPH | 17 November 2008 at 08:10
Congratulations to Mike! As an avid basketball fan, I watched the series with great interest. It was good to see them show the guys laugh & "kee kee", and then throw down on the court. Hopefully this will help improve the perception of gays in professional sports.
Posted by: Aaron | 17 November 2008 at 08:17
Good for him ... after resisting this show for a minute I did watch it and I actually enjoyed it. He, Simon and Rory were my favorites. Many congrats to him.
Posted by: S. Flemming | 17 November 2008 at 08:37
This is an amazing moment. It's great to show young people that coming out in your own truth is always a good thing. This really shows that his talents are talents that can't be denied. Now he gets to live his dreams AND be authentic in his life!
WOW...THIS JUST MADE MY MONDAY AND MANY MONDAYS TO COME!
Thanks Rod!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 17 November 2008 at 09:03
This is brilliant!
Mike said he wanted to play pro basketball and he is! He said he wanted to be an inspiration and he is! Ask and ye shall receive!
Posted by: Carter G | 17 November 2008 at 09:13
This is very good news. Mike has always come across as professional in this arena. He is serious about his goals and watching him come out to his family was very interesting. He seems very genuine and I wish him all the best.
Posted by: Bill | 17 November 2008 at 09:19
I ma so proud of Mike. Shirts & Skins wasn't the best produced show, but Mike was one of the highlights. I wanted to learn more about his story and his hopes and dreams....I am so glad he is realizing his potential and living his dreams. What a beautiful out and proud black gay man. And you know he is loving another black man, probably another athlete. Hmmm
Posted by: Woody | 17 November 2008 at 09:24
Dayumn. Mike is phine. I want to be his baby's daddy ...
Posted by: Billy W | 17 November 2008 at 09:37
HOT BUTCH BOTTOM
Posted by: CA | 17 November 2008 at 10:21
Yea, I think Mike Mike is kinda verse but that is why he is so hot. But who cares, he is living his dream and a real live baller, CONGRATULATIONS MIKE WE LOVE YOU ...
Posted by: Ralphie | 17 November 2008 at 10:24
Mike is very sexy and an inspiration. I wish him congratulations and much sucess.
Posted by: Gina O | 17 November 2008 at 13:10
Good luck Mike. Make all of your dreams come true brother.
Posted by: freeleo | 17 November 2008 at 14:42
Mike Survilon is a lil sexy mf'er and very talented. Best of luck and congrats, papi.
Posted by: AVERY H | 17 November 2008 at 15:21
great news. I wish him the best of luck.
Posted by: ff | 17 November 2008 at 15:22
I want to echo the good reverend. This young man could become the first gay player drafted by the NBA. I wish him the best of luck
Posted by: HRW | 17 November 2008 at 15:31
And yes yes yes he Mike is sexy
Posted by: HRW | 17 November 2008 at 15:31
good luck mike and we will be cheering you on
Posted by: Tandio | 17 November 2008 at 15:35
Mike was the only reason I watched the series. He seemed level headed, down to Earth, he had game and he is sexy as hell. He is an average brutha who happens to be gay.
The show left me feeling incomplete however. I assume that because of the gay angle, they didn't want to get to personal in exposing the players lives.
The obnoxious guy (excuse me Queen) Jamel ruined the whole series for me.
Posted by: Dre | 17 November 2008 at 17:49
Dre, I echo your sentiments. Jamel was too much.
Anyway, good for Mike. Hope he goes far.
Posted by: Dex123ter | 17 November 2008 at 21:54
he is such a cutie, i wish him all the best.
Posted by: AzzedineAliaFan | 18 November 2008 at 10:28