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Detroit News baseball writer Tony Paul ended a "Sports Cave" talk show appearance Sunday morning by turning to a deeply personal topic.
The Supreme Court's 5-4 marriage equality ruling was "one of the happiest days of my life and "one of the biggest decisions in my lifetime," he says.
"I'll try to get through this," Tony Paul says at the start of his poignant remarks. (WXYZ photo)
In four-minute remarks (video below) that begin "I'll try to get through this," Paul tells WXYZ host Brad Galli and viewers that he declined a proposal "with a ring and all" about five years ago because he didn't want to wed elsewhere "and return to Michigan single in the eyes of my state."
The sportswriter thanks Gov. Rick Snyder and Atty. Gen. Bill Schuette, who fought to uphold a voter-passed gay marriage ban, for accepting the loss "with grace and humility . . . when some of their peers around the country refused."
The journalist, who earned a communications degree at Michigan State in 2006, joined The News in mid-2006 after three years at The Times Herald in Port Huron and a year on the sports copy desk at The Roanoke Times in Virginia. He lives in Southfield.
His public coming out draws praise from blogger Jeff Moss at Detroit Sports Rag, who often is brutally derisive of some local sportswriters and broadcasters. This time, he's all about respect for "Paul's eloquent monologue:"
I commend Tony for his courage in making this announcement because while homosexuality have never been more accepted by the mainstream of America, the locker rooms and clubhouses of professional sports teams has never been a bastion of inclusivity.
Not to mention a lot of sports fans aren’t exactly open minded on the subject. . . .
If you think this was easy for Paul, just remember that you can still count on about one hand how many male sportswriters have announced that they are gay. . . . Kudos to Galli for providing the format for Tony’s address.
Here's the segment:
