ESPN's SportsCenter is coming under heavy fire from the LGBTQ press and other commentators for turning the showering schedule of Michael Sam, the first openly gay player in the NFL, into a news story.

The report, aired August 26, initially began with how Sam, a rookie player with the St. Louis Rams, was fitting in with his new surroundings. Sam was drafted into the team earlier this year. One player told reporter Josina Anderson that Sam was "simply just one of the guys, and he seems to be taking a rookie approach in terms of just listening and learning at his own pace." 

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However, Anderson quickly took a tangent with an as of yet unnamed player and began to explore when Sam took a shower and whom else was in the lockeroom at the time. 

"Another Rams defensive player told me that 'Sam is respecting our space' and that, from his perspective, he seems to think that Michael Sam is kind of waiting to take a shower, as not to make his teammates feel uncomfortable," she told viewers 

Anderson went on to ask defensive tackle Kendall Langford and linebacker Alec Ogletree about Sam's showering schedule, and was told they had not been "tracking it."

Gay publications Instinct, The Advocate, and the EDGE Media Network slammed ESPN and Anderson for the homophobic report, saying that who showers when has nothing to do with a player's ability, gay or straight. Sports Illustrated similarly condemned the move. 

Rams' defensive end Chris Long took to Twitter, saying witheringly: "Dear ESPN: Everyone but you is over it."

ESPN vice president of communications Josh Krulewitz released the following statement, also through Twitter: "ESPN regrets the manner in which we presented our report. Clearly yesterday we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports." 

Tagshomophobia, Michael Sam, NFL, Football, st. louis rams