Jason Collins takes the court as 1st openly gay active player in major sports

When Jason Collins checked in for the Brooklyn Nets with 10:28 left in the second quarter of a road game against the L.A. Lakers, he was cheered by Laker fans applauding the historic moment.

By playing 11 minutes for the Nets in a 108-102 win for his team, Collins became the first active openly gay player among the four major sports played in the United States. There was nothing impressive about his performance– two rebounds, a steal, two turnovers and five fouls–on the court, but hardly anyone expected any more than he contributed considering it was his first game since last April.

Jason Collins is the first active player to suit up for a team in a major sport

What was important about the moment was how much of a non-issue Collins' presence on the court turned out to be. In fact, there was more of a frenzy at the press conference announcing his signing to a 10-day contract (which rarely warrants a press conference) than in anything else he was involved with beyond that. This big moment in sports turned out to be...well...not much of a big deal at all.

Which is a good thing.

Collins didn't need to be treated any differently than he was used to prior to coming out. Business needed to go on as usual, and that's what happened. It would've been awkward if he entered the game to players hugging, dishing hi-fives or applauding him. It would've been too much of a spectacle, though I can understand if anyone may have wanted to play up this moment for what it's worth. After all college football player and NFL prospect Michael Sam is currently getting the full media scrutiny after coming out prior to the NFL draft. He had previously been projected as a possible third round pick, but some analysts have hinted that his revelation could hurt his draft chances. As he prepares for the NFL Combine, he has pleaded with teams and the media to focus on his skills and not his sexual orientation.

Michael Sam is hoping to be the first openly gay NFL player next season

There have been plenty of gay athletes in major sports for at least five decades. In the 1960s and '70s, NFL running back David Kopay was reportedly one of three gay players who suited up for the Washington Redskins. Though he was the only one to come out, Kopay revealed that he had had a sexual relationship with teammate tight end Jerry Smith after Smith died of an AIDS-related illness in 1986. However, since becoming the first NFL player to reveal his homosexuality, only four former players have followed suit; the latest being former offensive tackle Kwame Harris who came out publicly on CNN after a public spat with his ex-boyfriend was reported by several media. Last year, several media quoted former NFL player and gay rights advocate Brendon Ayanbadejo saying four active NFL players were contemplating coming out, but the whispers eventually died down without fanfare. In the NBA, former center John Amaechi, who came out shortly after his retirement in 2007, remained the only known gay player in the league until Collins' revelation last year. In baseball, former L.A. Dodger and Oakland Athletics player Glenn Burke was known to be gay by some of his teammates during his four-year career between 1976-1979, but wasn't publicly identified as a gay man. There's also former outfielder Billy Bean who retired in 1995, before coming out in 1999.

As much of the United States and other developed countries have become more accepting of gays, the signs have pointed to the presence of active gay athletes as a non-factor. After Sam came out, an ESPN poll showed that 47 of 51 active NFL players polled were OK with having a gay teammate. Several WNBA players, notably 2013 No. 1 pick Brittney Griner, have been playing as openly gay athletes, as have a few athletes in other sports. So while Collins' feat was a historic one, it comes at a time when sentiments toward gays have significantly improved.

During his media rounds Collins described his twin brother Jarron, a retired NBA player, as in support of his decision to come out. Two decades ago, a very similar scenario involving two brothers played out differently. When former UK soccer player Justin Fashanu revealed his homosexuality in 1990 at the age of 29, he was publicly denounced and disowned by his younger brother John Fashanu, also a soccer player. Justin made his revelation as an active player, but was forced to retire after facing what he said was a deep-seated prejudice against him. After a failed coaching career and a sexual assault allegation made by a 17-year-old American boy against him, and without the support of his family, Justin committed suicide eight years after his decision. Even with his brother long dead, John Fashanu has remained defiantly unsupportive of Justin's decision, saying in 2012 that he doesn't believe his brother was gay, but was merely seeking attention.

Justin Fashanu came out as an active player at 29

John Fashanu did not support his brother's decision

Nearly 25 years after Justin Fashanu came out with no support (he was dropped by his team following his announcement,) Collins took the court with plenty of support. And while his future in the sport isn't guaranteed beyond the next 10 days (the Nets could re-sign him to another 10-day contract before they are forced to drop him or sign him for the remainder of the season,) the significance of his achievement isn't lost on sports fans. But it just wasn't all it was hyped up to be because most people recognize what everyone should know by now: that there are gay athletes in sports. That there have been for a while now, and that few care about their dating life as long as they can contribute toward winning.

Collins' historic feat just happened to be the moment that confirmed this notion.

Season finale of Unsung features Niles Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic

I have been a big fan of the TV One series Unsung, which features artistes known for making hits in their heyday, but who never got the full credit they deserved or are being re-introduced to today's generation of music loving fans unaware of their influences on current music.

Tonight's season 7 finale featured disco greats Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards who were largely responsible for the success of the disco era of the '70s and '80s with songs like "Good Times," "I want your love," and "Le freak," also known as freak out. I am a product of the '80s, but I grew up in a musically appreciative family, and the memories of weekends spent listening to the tunes of Barry White or Regina Belle's version of "Baby come to me," are a reminder of how music served as a bonding agent for my family.

At its peak, Chic added another female singer, and replaced Wright who went solo

Thanks to my parents, who introduced me to music by artistes who came decades before I was born, and an older sister and brother who made sure I knew of every hit song that was released in the late '80s and early '90s, I have been labeled an old soul by some of my friends, who are amazed by how much I seem to know about "old school music." A run through my Itunes catalog will reveal music by the likes of John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Zapp & Roger, Billy Ocean, Siedah Garrett and The Manhattans.

Chic was one of such groups that I grew up listening to, though I didn't know much about the story behind their music. That's why I love shows like Unsung, because I've learned so much about the history behind music greats. Rodgers and Edwards, were electrifying guitarists who were rejected by record companies because no one thought two black guys with a rock sound would sell. They formed the band Chic after adding drummer Tony Thompson and singer Norma Jean Wright.

The original Chic: Bernard Edwards, Norma Jean Wright, Nile Rodgers and Tony Thompson

By 1977, they became one of the biggest acts in music, churning out hits after hits after hits behind the electrifying bass guitar sounds created by Rodgers and Edwards. That song credited as the foundation of the Hip-Hop industry, "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang? Yep, it borrowed the instrumentals to Good Times. Something else I wasn't even aware of was that Faith Evans' major hit "Love like this," used the instrumentals for "Chic Cheer."

Sadly, by the summer of 1979, just two years after their massive break out, the group's run of hits would be over after the death of the disco event in which tons of disco records were blown up at a Chicago stadium. Nevertheless Rodgers, Edwards and Thompson remained relevant as hit producers and drummer for several major singers of the '80s and '90s. Sister Sledge (We are a family, He's the greatest dancer,) Diana Ross (I'm coming out, upside down,) Madonna (Like a virgin,) David Bowie (Let's dance,) Rod Stewart (Out of order, Vagabond heart,) and Led Zepellin (Thompson toured as a drummer) are just a few of many artistes who turned to the brains behind Chic for a career boost.

Sadly Edwards died of complications from pneumonia the morning after a performance with Rodgers in Tokyo in 1996. The group had started performing again after a long hiatus and Rodgers was the one who found Edwards in his hotel room. His condition was so bad that he had reportedly fallen asleep during the performance. Thompson died in 2003, a month after he was diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer. Wright, after a brief singing career, became a school principal and currently performs with another female member of the group.

Rodgers remains the most successful member of the band and has managed to keep his career going with production work for current artistes like American Idol alum Adam Lambert. His 2013 collaboration with Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams on the song "Get Lucky," continues to top the charts in 2014 and won several Grammys including record of the year.

You can watch the full episode of Unsung: Nile Rodgers and Chic here.

Video footage emerges in NFL player Ray Rice assault incident

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was arrested Saturday morning after a domestic dispute involving his fiancée at a resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

The Baltimore Sun, which first broke the story, said Rice was charged, and subsequently released, for an incident which his lawyer Andrew Alperstein called a "very minor physical altercation." Rice's fiancée Janay Palmer was also arrested for her involvement in the altercation.

Now video footage obtained by TMZ shows that the incident may have been more serious than reported by the Rice camp. The video shows the NFL player dragging a woman, presumably Palmer, out of an elevator. The woman appeared to be unconscious.

Website Deadspin, citing its sources, says Palmer allegedly spit on Rice during an argument, and in retaliation Rice knocked her out with an uppercut punch.

Police booked both Rice and Palmer for simple assault. Find the video below.

Ray Rice -- Dragging Unconscious Fiancee ... After Alleged Mutual Attack
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Brothers make $300 million from NBA doing nothing

Picture getting paid millions of dollars every year to do nothing. By nothing, I mean play couch potato all day long, lay on the beach basking in the sun and sipping virgin cocktails while money is deposited into your account.

Not too many people enjoy this kind of privilege, but count brothers Ozzie and Daniel Silna among such after they closed what's considered the "greatest sports business deal of all time" with the National Basketball Association.

Dan and Ozzie Silna have earned millions from a lifelong NBA deal

Since 1976, the Silnas have earned $300 million, including $19 million last season, from a lifelong deal they struck with the NBA for a percentage of the league's TV revenue deals. The Silnas were owners of the St. Louis Spirits, one of four teams of the now defunct American Basketball Association that merged with the NBA in 1976. As part of an agreement to give up ownership of the Spirits, The Silnas negotiated a cut "in perpetuity" of the NBA's future broadcast revenue.

According to ESPN writer Chris Broussard, the deal pays the Silnas 1/7 of the TV revenue for the four ABA teams that merged with the NBA. Today, those teams are the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets. The NBA currently makes $7.4 billion from TV deals with Disney (ABC/ESPN) and TNT, making the Silna's arrangement a pretty sweet deal. Add to it Internet media revenue, which according to Fox Sports, a judge recently ruled the Silnas should have rights to, and these brothers have an unbelievable lifetime income worth hundreds of millions; doing nothing!

Ozzie Silna with a Spirits hat at his home

The NBA is currently negotiating with the Silnas after they filed a lawsuit seeking revenue from NBA TV as well as international broadcast of games.

You can read more on their story and how much other owners settled for here and here.