Page 152 of Game Changer
“I’m gay,” he said, for the first time ever.
There was silence.
“Todd?”
“I heard you. Just give me a minute here.”
“Sure.”
More silence. Then Todd exhaled loudly. “All right. You’re gay. Got it. Now tell me that isn’t what you want to announce.”
“It is.”
“Scott,” Todd said wearily. “No. You can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
Todd actually laughed. “Youknowwhy not! Jesus, do I really need to explain it to you? Do you know how many players are lined up to take your sponsorship deals? You think I’m not fighting Matti fucking Jalo’s agent for this shit now? You’re only the second-biggest heartthrob on the team these days, and that’s not going to get better as you get older. Right now, you need to grab as much as you can. You’re in your prime and it’s not going to last. An injury, another slump—”
“I know. I understand,” Scott said tersely.
“I’m just saying, there’s no reason topushsponsors and fans away. Not when there are so many other ways for it to happen that you can’t control.”
“I get that,” Scott said, “but I think some things are more important than all that.”
“More important than everything you have been working your whole life for?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Scott was a little less sure.
“All right, let me try another angle: Have you thought about what an announcement like this would do to your teammates?”
“Do to them?”
“You think it wouldn’t be weird for them? Knowing that you’re, you know—”
“What? Checking them out in the locker room? I’m not.”
“It’s just, with some of these guys, it’s like their biggest fear, right? I know it’s not rational. I’m an open-minded guy, Scott. You know that. I’m only being real here.Someof your teammates, at least, are going to be weirded out. And that’s going to affect the team dynamic, and performance. You’re the goddamnedcaptain. It’s your job to consider these things!”
“Right,” Scott mumbled. “Yeah. I know.”
“Can I ask why the hell you are even considering this?”
“I don’t want to lie anymore.”
“Why not? Everyone lies. You think you’re the only gay guy in the NHL? No chance. You’re just the only one who’s considering telling the fucking world. Don’t do it, Scott. You’ll lose everything.”
“Come on,” Scott said. “I wouldn’t loseeverything. And isn’t ityourjob to make sure I don’t?”
“I’m not a fucking wizard! I can only do so much. Now, granted, an announcement like this—being the first openly gay NHL player—might open up some new marketing opportunities, but I can’t see you being on the cover of video games, or even representing the big athletics companies...”
“I think you’re wrong about that. I think the world might be ready.”
“Well, you’re a lot more optimistic than I am.”
“We knew that already.”
Both men laughed.
