DALLAS Longtime WFAA sports broadcaster Dale Hansen's words shot across the Internet this week.
He was defending All American defensive end Michael Sam, who looks to be the first openly gay player in the NFL.
You beat a woman and drag her down a flight of stairs, pulling her hair out by the roots? You're the fourth guy taken in the NFL draft.
You kill people while driving drunk? That guy's welcome.
Players caught in hotel rooms with illegal drugs and prostitutes? We know they'rewelcome.
Players accused of rape and pay the woman to go away?
You lie to police trying to cover up a murder?
We're comfortable with that.
You love another man? Well, now you've gone too far!
It wasn't that long ago when we were being told that black players couldn't play in 'our' games because it would be 'uncomfortable.' And even when they finally could, it took several more years before a black man played quarterback.
But Dale's long used his mantle to speak for equality and defend those with virtue. Here's a sampling of some of his finest moments.
In Nov. 2011, 'The call Joe Paterno didn't make'
Lawyers for the three men being charged say they're innocent, and Paterno's not being charged with any crime. But he's been coaching at Penn State for 46 years. They're 8-1 this year; he's won a record 409 games and two national championships.
He'll always be remembered for all of that.
And he'll always be remembered for that one phone call he didn't make, too.
In Dec. 2011, 'Thank God for kids'
But the victims of sexual abuse? They stay hidden in the darkness, a reminder of the shame so many of them feel... and nobody should.
Sexual abuse of our children is the cancer that lives and walks among us, but a cancer survivor wears their ribbon proudly and we all stand to cheer as they walk by in their annual parade.
But who stands to cheer for the victim of a sexual assault? And much like cancer, we all know a victim.
It might be a child in your family... a cousin or a brother... the kid on the corner... a kid in your class.
We all know somebody. You might not think you do, but I know you do.
Because you all know me.
In Jan. 2012, 'The man Jerry Jones should fire'
He overpaid for this team. Overpaid for a team that finishes 8-8.
The Cowboys general manager has the safest job in America. The only place in America where a general manager withthatrecord would be safe.
He fires people who fail, except the one man in the one job heshouldfire.
In Feb. 2013, 'Real men don't hit women'
My dad hit my mom once (at least only once that I ever knew about), but he broke her nose. My dad was a big man, a truck driver with huge arms and one of the strongest men I've ever known.
But never has such a big man looked so small in the eyes of a little boy.
We need to change the culture of domestic violence. I've laughed at the jokes; I've told some of the jokes; I've seen the T-shirts some men wear.
But it's not funny.
It never should have been funny.
And it's time we change.
