Longtime NFL special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo has been an outspoken advocate for same-sex marriage.
(Photo: Eric P. Mull, USA TODAY Sports)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo says he plans to be at a rally in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning as it prepares to hear a challenge to California's Prop 8, which bans gay marriage. Ayanbadejo, a California native, is among a group of NFL players who filed a brief in the case supporting same-sex marriage. He talked to USA TODAY Sports on Monday.Question: You've been quoted as saying you believe the NFL will have its first openly gay player within a year, but that's a mistake?
Answer: I was misquoted. Everyone says that I said a specific date, but I never mentioned a date. I just said that it will happen soon, and we're definitely ready for it.
Q: How about the chances of it happening in baseball?
A: Honestly, I think it will happen in baseball sooner than in football or basketball. The reason I say that is because I think there is less of a connection to religion in baseball. The religious roots are a lot deeper in basketball and football. With that being said, I think baseball players are more open minded.
Q: Why do you say that?
A: The baseball players I have known from growing up — I've known guys like Pat Burrell — just my interaction with the baseball players and them being on the road and stuff, their lives are a lot different. Whereas, the football guys, we have chapel every Sunday, no matter where we are — there are a lot of religious things going on, whether it's chapel or Mass or whatever religious group you're a part of, we have something for you.
We do prayers before and after every game. I don't know if baseball is like that, but I don't think that it is. I played baseball for 12 years growing up as a kid. So I don't know. I could be wrong. But I just felt that they were a bit more open-minded and not so tied to religion as much as football and basketball.
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