Former Villanova University forward basketball player turned singer-songwriter Will Sheridan has publicly come out in a major profile by Dana O'Neil at ESPN.
He's an athlete, a former Division I basketball player who was good enough to start for most of his four seasons, pivotal seasons as the Wildcats blossomed into a national power.
He's a musician, with a video ("Welcome to the Jungle") that has gone mini-viral on YouTube and another one ("302") about to drop this week.
He's an artist, a performer who is packing the club scene in New York, people responding to his music and his message.
He's a businessman, a manager at a world-renowned fashion retailer. And he happens to be gay.
"I'm trying to have a voice, and I want that voice to reach as many people as it can," he said. "I mean, look at me. I'm black. I'm gay. I'm like a quadruple minority, and I feel like a little piece of me resides in everybody. Maybe there's a kid out there who doesn't think he's OK, and he can look at me and say, 'OK, he played college basketball. He went overseas. He has a music career and now he's living his life. Now he's who he wants to be and he's happy and confident and comfortable.' It's my responsibility to talk about that."
Sheridan says he was out to teammates and dated guys while he was at Villanova. "He wasn't out publicly in college, he didn't entirely hide, either. ... There was plenty of stereotypical ammunition and rumor mill gossip to load up opposing fans."
"I remember at some games, especially Saint Joe's games, they were unreal," said Sheridan, recalling taunts about specific homosexual acts. "At first, I was like, 'My grandma is sitting right there,'" Sheridan said. "And as a human being you feel it when people say nasty things. But then I thought, 'That's just stupid. If you were gay, you'd like to do [those things], too."
The taunting and hostility from fans—and possibly from fellow players—surely speaks to why so few premier athletes are willing to publicly come out. "Sheridan [graduated] four years ago [and] is only the second former Division 1 male basketball player to publicly come out of the closet as gay," reports Outsports. "John Amaechi was the first. Former Long Beach State 49er Travon Free previously came out as bisexual."
It's an excellent article and well worth the time to read. Sheridan's profile is also ESPN.com's top-ranked and most-sent article today. Congratulations and keep 'em talking, Will. Visibility means everything.
Sheridan appeared on ESPN's Outside the Lines. Watch that interview and Sheridan's music video for "Welcome to the Jungle" from the album Ngoma—listen on iTunes—AFTER THE JUMP ...
Follow Will Sheridan on Twitter.
Bravo to him. Is there something in the air? NBA exec, Don Lemon now Sheridan. I'll check out his music too. Well played young man.
Posted by: bartonhughes | 16 May 2011 at 19:20
What a week.
Posted by: Osiris | 16 May 2011 at 19:31
Yes, I agree Osiris: What a week! Much respect to Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Lemon. Yes!
Posted by: Mel Smith | 16 May 2011 at 19:54
YAY PRIDE!!! June is REALLY going to MEAN something this year with PRIDE!
Thanks for letting me know about Will's music! I love WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE and posted it to my Facebook. Great song.
Thanks R20!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 16 May 2011 at 20:23
Mr. Lemon, meet Mr. Sheridan. Now there's a couple for ya. Hubba hubba.
Posted by: seahawk | 16 May 2011 at 20:31
Will didn't hide it, so to those of us who know of him...it's no shock. What I'm waiting for is a couple of the major athletes who are/were pretty much "ho's" to finally admit it. It's not necessary to me, but it would be a relief for them. It has to be stressful living such a public double life.
Posted by: Antonio | 16 May 2011 at 21:52
Fantastic. Just goes to show you there's so many of us out there in so many different arenas (lol) who have to hide our sexuality for whatever reason. I just hope these recent high profile coming out stories can serve as an inspiration to those similarly conflicted. Sometimes it just takes one. Also what I find so fascinating about Mr Sheridan's story is that none of his teammates flipped out even though he was out to them.
Posted by: Mikey-He Likes It | 16 May 2011 at 21:59
Love that video. What an incredibly catchy record. "Welcome...to the jungle...You're looking...like dinner." Yum! Fab-U-Lous.
Posted by: harlemboy | 16 May 2011 at 22:07
Wow. We're coming out of the woodwork today. Ha! Awesome day!
Posted by: Xander | 17 May 2011 at 01:34
That track of his is like Traxx c.1990.
Posted by: Jim | 17 May 2011 at 01:50
This is truly amazing. Let us not forgot the vast majority of Black men are not gay and the vast majority of Black gay men are not TV news anchors or celebrated basketball players. Even so, Will and Lemon are very brave, courageous and seemingly wonderful examples for us all. Hat off to them.
Posted by: kirk | 17 May 2011 at 01:52
They say they come in three's. Kudos to you brother.
Posted by: JBK! | 17 May 2011 at 02:56
Seahawk, don't be hooking up my Lemon with random dudes. He's mine, thanks.
Posted by: Osiris | 17 May 2011 at 04:46
He is living a whole, integrated and authentic life! I admire his courage.
Posted by: chris w | 17 May 2011 at 13:44
Here's an article from Barkley saying essentially why all the hub bub...bub?
http://www.bvonsports.com/2011/05/17/charles-barkley-in-sports-ability-to-play-outweighs-sexual-ori/?icid=bv|dl7|http://www.bvonsports.com/2011/05/17/charles-barkley-in-sports-ability-to-play-outweighs-sexual-ori/
Posted by: Miguel | 17 May 2011 at 14:00
This dude is hotttt in person, and a great entertainer, he MC'ed a showing at a local art gallery in Newark recently and he was on fire! He had the crowd in a great mood, his music and energy were explosive, and yeah, he was tall eye candy.
Great interview, love his multifacetedness. I can bang a tennis racquet but can't hoop to save my life, Will, teach me baby!
Posted by: Procrastination_Xtravaganza | 17 May 2011 at 15:48
rod: you outdid yourself these last couple of days - there's some hopeful news out there and as usual some hot pix (that brazilian dude is spectacular lol). reading the will sheridan story on espn.com was a real pleasure, just nice all around. not everything was easy, but things are working out nicely for him, a truly inspirational story of teamwork and family. thanks for keeping us informed, rod!
Posted by: will in nyc | 17 May 2011 at 20:46
kudos to all who are honest and brave as we must all be!
we have to defy homohaters as visible homos!!!
Posted by: ALICIA BANKS | 18 May 2011 at 21:42