Michael Sam’s father says his critical comments of son were ‘twisted’
Michael Sam Sr. says his comments about his son being gay were taken out of context and don’t represent his true beliefs.
In a New York Times interview Tuesday, Sam was quoted as saying that “I don’t want my grandkids raised in that kind of environment.”
He added: “I’m old school. I’m a man-and-a-woman type of guy.”
And that Hall of Famer Deacon Jones “is turning over in his grave” at the idea of an openly gay man in the league.
Sam’s son, Michael Sam Jr., a star defensive player for Missouri, announced earlier this week that he is gay, becoming the first openly gay player to be in the NFL draft.
Late Wednesday, Sam Sr. told KDAF-TV in Dallas that the New York Times got it all wrong.
“He’s a good football player, first of all -- and that’s all that matters. I love my son. It was on the phone and I was just being talkative and they took the words and twisted them,” he said.
Sam Sr. said his son read the comments and his reaction was “Hurt -- hurt that I said that.
“I did not say those things -- the way they came out. To my son, you’re trying to hurt him or cause chaos, a wedge between me and him will not happen.”
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