AssetID: 55688480
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Jason Collins, First Openly Gay NBA Player, Dies At 47
Caption: Jason Collins, First Openly Gay NBA Player, Dies At 47. Jason Collins has died at the age of 47 after battling stage four glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Collins made history in 2014 as the first openly gay player to compete in a major US professional sports league. His family said they were “heartbroken” by his death and described him as an inspiration who changed lives in unexpected ways. The former center played 12 seasons in the NBA and represented teams including the Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. Collins publicly came out in a 2013 interview with Sports Illustrated, receiving widespread praise and support across the sports world. Former US president Barack Obama called Collins a “terrific young man” and praised his courage after he came out publicly. Collins later attended Obama’s 2014 State of the Union address as a guest of Michelle Obama and also spoke at the United Nations. His former agent Arn Tellem said Collins’ legacy would be remembered for promoting tolerance, inclusion and understanding. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Sports,Jason Collins,NBA,Brooklyn Nets,Barack Obama,glioblastoma,LGBTQ+ sports history,basketball,cancer
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