Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Gay has been taunted and teased his entire life for his name and he’s finally decided enough is enough.
On Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, 25-year-old Gay, who, for the record, is not gay, wore special anti-bullying cleats to send a message of solidarity with LGBTQ people and others who have been subject to bullying.
“It’s so easy to hide behind a phone and say whatever you want,” he told the Tampa Bay Times prior to the game. “I think it’s pure coward-ism for those who do it and there’s no place for it in this world.”
“I got bullied and teased all the time for my last name and things like that. Luckily I was stronger willed than they were and overcome it. There’s a lot of kids that get bullied in this world and have no way to stand up for themselves.”
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#Bucs K Matt Gay unveils his cleats for #MyCauseMyCleats in support of Anti-Bullying. Gay spoke on why he chose this cause. pic.twitter.com/J94kkvwOY2
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) December 4, 2019
“Some of the messages I receive, it’s almost like people forget you’re an actual human being,” Gay said. “That you’re sending this to another person. It’s easy when you’re sitting behind a phone and not face to face with someone and can say whatever you want.”
He continued: “But you don’t know it’s affecting that person, it’s affecting the mom and those that are around them. Just being able to show a little faith in humanity and love everyone. We’re all struggling through life. There’s no reason to beat somebody down for no reason.’”
This Sunday, @MGtweetymonster will be raising awareness for anti-bullying on his cleats.#MyCauseMyCleats pic.twitter.com/R43CV5G6uz
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 6, 2019
Gay chose to wear the cleats as part of the NFL “My Cause, My Cleats campaign,” which has players decorate their shoes to show support for a cause they personally believe in.
The Buccaneers beat the Colts 38-35 during yesterday’s game.
Donston
For a sec I thought an actual active NFL player (albeit a kicker) was coming out. Oh well. But good for him.
KM201
The gay press is presuming that Matt Gay is standing up for gay people, but he’s not. He’s a mormon and probably a homophobe. The only reason he’s supporting this “anti bullying” initiative is because he was teased for his last name. If someone in the sports press had any balls, they’d ask him what his views are on the gay community. I guarantee you the answer will be as infuriating as Daniel Murphy’s.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Oh look a new troll account!! He had a multitude of causes to support and he chose to prevent Gay kids from being bullied.
And he is spot on noxious vile repugnant troll cowardsmcubags hide behind a keyboard and spew their toxic vitriol. Sound familiar????
maleficent
KM201: PWWO is a fu*cking idiot. He’s a shoot-from-the-pus*sy vapid sissy azzhole with a oral cavity that is indistinguishable from his an*al-wart infected bung-hole. He vomits his spew throughout this site. In the words of the great Cheeto man…he is scum!
maleficent
correction: with “an” oral cavity
KM201
Re PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: New troll account? Sweetie, I’ve been a commenter on this site for six years. I’m not new and I’m not a troll. I’m telling the truth. He wouldn’t be linking to the LDS website on his Twitter account if he wasn’t a mormon and wasn’t a homophobe. As I’ve said, the sports press should go ask him about what he thinks of “gay people.” It won’t be what you want to hear.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
My apologies, didn’t know he was linked to the Moron website. However still willing to give him a pass for at least being vocal…