VOA标准英语2013--NBA球员出柜

 

Gay NBA Player Breaks Athletic¹ Barrier

Jason Collins has spent 12 years in the NBA.  But his playing career has never drawn² as much public attention as his recent revelation.  In an interview with ABC News, Collins said his decision to go public with his sexual orientation³ was difficult.

"You know, you go through anger, denial and that is all you know, but when you finally get to that point of acceptance, there's nothing more beautiful.  And just allowing yourself to, you know, really be happy and be comfortable in your own skin," said Collins.

Collins said he first thought about revealing his sexuality last year, after years of what he calls "living a lie."  But he said the recent Boston Marathon bombing finally convinced him to come out.  

"It's kind of mind boggling that I never set out to be the first," he said. "You're sort of waiting around for someone else to raise their hand, and you know I'm ready to raise my hand, but you still look around like 'come on guys.'"

Several male athletes in major U.S. pro⁴ sports have revealed they were gay after they retired⁵, but Collins is the first to do so while planning to continue playing.  Sports writer Christine Brennan says he should be a role model for other professional athletes.

"Jackie Robinson, what he was to integration⁶, and what [tennis legend] Billy Jean King has been to women's rights, and now Jason Collins for gay rights, I think this is not just big sports news this is big news in our country," said Brennan.

Since his story appeared in Sports Illustrated⁷, Collins has received an outpouring of support from across the nation, including from President Obama.

"I think a lot of young people out there who are gay or lesbian who are struggling with these issues to see a role model like that who is unafraid  I think its a great thing," said Obama.

Reaction to Collins' announcement from NBA league officials and fellow players was also positive.

"He's always been a great guy.  He's always been a great teammate," said NBA player Mike Conley.

"I think it's fantastic that he's taking such a positive and influential⁸ role as a spokesperson in many respects," said player Steve Nash.

"If he plays another year, that is going to be a defining moment in the NBA or in professional sports, because you are going to have an openly gay man in a male dominated locker⁹ room," said former NBA player Cedric Maxwell.

Collins, a 34-year-old, 2.13-meter-tall center, finished this season with the Washington Wizards and has played for five other NBA teams.  He wants to continue playing and says he is not worried about what happens when he hopefully steps back on the court.

"From my teammates I'm expecting support, because that's what I would do for my teammates," she said.

Collins is now a free agent, and he is looking for a new contract to play in the NBA next season.

1 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 orientation   

n.方向，目标；熟悉，适应，情况介绍

参考例句：

• Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
• The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。

4 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

7 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

8 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

9 locker   

n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人

参考例句：

• At the swimming pool I put my clothes in a locker.在游泳池我把衣服锁在小柜里。
• He moved into the locker room and began to slip out of his scrub suit.他走进更衣室把手术服脱下来。