"The Truth About Heroes..."

To my mind, heroes come to us in all shapes and forms and from all walks of life.  From the world of sport, my consummate hero of the day is Brendon Ayanbadejo   He is one of our fierce advocates.  He does what he says he'll do and that is the first mark of the heroic and courageous.  In a guest editorial for USA Today, Brendon speaks to the truth of his convictions about equality...

 A voice says: "I don't know who he is, or where he is, but he's coming." The scene captures the anticipation of Jackie Robinson crossing the Major League Baseball color barrier. That moment just before history is made is a moment that sure feels a lot like now, as we wait for the arrival of the first openly gay man in U.S. major professional team sports.

This is our time and our cause. Everything we know as athletes, teammates, spokesmen and vehicles of American pastimes compels us toward the kind of action and camaraderie we saw from Pee Wee Reese nearly 66 years ago. It's as simple as putting our arm around the shoulder of another athlete. It's a gesture; it's a pledge; it's solidarity at its most basic. Our Jackie is coming. We need to pave the way.

Read his entire essay here: USA TODAY

Brendon Ayanbadejo is a linebacker for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens and an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a non-profit organization committed to ending homophobia in sports.

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