This book examines how sports journalists covered the historic coming out stories of National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran Jason Collins and football All-American Michael Sam in the context of sports' "toy department" reputation as a field whose standards are often criticized as lacking in rigor and depth compared to other forms of journalism. Employing a media sociology approach, reporting about Collins and Sam is addressed in the book via three content analysis studies and interviews with two prominent sports journalists. An overview of other pertinent research is provided along with a detailed account of both athletes' stories. This work should appeal to readers interested in sports journalism, the role of sport in society, and media coverage of gay professional athletes.

William P. Cassidy is Associate Professor of Journalism at Northern Illinois University, USA. His research has appeared in venues such as Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Communication & Sport, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, and Journal of Sports Media. He holds a PhD in Communication and Society from the University of Oregon, USA.

William P. Cassidy is Associate Professor of Journalism at Northern Illinois University, USA. His research has appeared in venues such as Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Communication & Sport, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, and Journal of Sports Media. He holds a PhD in Communication and Society from the University of Oregon, USA.

1. Sports Journalism, Jason Collins and Michael Sam.- 2. An Overview of Media Coverage of Gay Male Athletes.- 3. Comparing Sports Journalism Coverage of Collins and Sam.- 4. The Kiss.- 5. The Status of the Conversation.