Mind Over Sports

When athletes withhold, that is, keep their feelings and issues bottled up inside themselves, it’s a form of lying that demeans them and creates baggage that affects their ability to focus. But when they are honest and go public, they’ll be much happier and more focused resulting in an increase in their performance level. A good example was reported in a past issue of USA Today:

“It’s telling that the day before the U.S. women’s soccer team played Japan in the gold medal game, Megan Rapinoe’s sexual orientation was no big deal. In the most recent issue of Out, Rapinoe announced publicly that she is gay, becoming the first prominent American soccer player to come out in the media.
‘I lived my life pretty open before that, but it was just nice to be out there and be proud about it,’ Rapinoe said. Perhaps being open about her sexuality has helped her game, she says. ‘I guess it seems like a weight off my shoulders: I’m playing a lot better than I’ve ever played before. But I think I’m just enjoying myself and I’m happy,’ she said.

“Rapinoe has been a difference-maker for the USA throughout the Games. In the team’s dramatic 4-3 semifinal victory against Canada in overtime, the midfielder scored the team’s first two goals.”

Based on the above, I predict that whatever NBA team Jason Collins’ plays for next season, they will be getting a new, improved version of him.