What Does Jason Collins Mean For Gay Athletes?

Jason Collins played 32 games for the Boston Celtics this season before being traded to the Washington Wizards. But, the 7-foot-tall center made the biggest play of his life yesterday, when he announced in Sports Illustrated that he is gay.

"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport", he wrote in a frank and personal Sports Illustrated article. "The recent Boston Marathon bombing reinforced the notion that I shouldn't wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect. Things can change in an instant. So why not live truthfully?"

Sports are among the most important cultural touchstones in the country. So are pro athletes finally catching up to the nation when it comes to shifting opinions on homosexuality?

Bill Littlefield, host of NPR's Only A Game

Jim Buzinski, co-founder of Outsports.com

Wade Davis, openly gay former NFL player and co-founder of the You Belong Initiative

ABC News: ""I think the country is ready for supporting an openly gay basketball player."