ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

Out of Bounds: Coming Out of Sexual Abuse, Addiction, and My Life of Lies in the NFL Closet

2005

Synopsis

The second NFL player ever to come out as gay and the first ever to come out as HIV-positive, Roy Simmons was an up-and-coming star offensive lineman who quit football after just four years rather than be exposed as gay. Out of Bounds tells his compelling story-from his rape at age 10 to being plucked from his poor Southern background to join the NFL, from his first taste of pro football fame and sudden enormous wealth to his fast-paced, no holds barred nightlife of heavy drugs and countless sexual encounters with women and men. Simmons led a roller-coaster life that peaked in the late 1980s with his playing in the Superbowl. Ultimately, however, reckless living left him penniless, friendless, and on the brink of suicide. Finally in 1992, Simmons tapped the courage to come out as gay on national TV—then coming out as HIV-positive 10 years later—leading him to a healthy path of sobriety and self-acceptance.

Suggested Reading

Out of Bounds: Inside the NBA's Culture of Rape, Violence, and Crime

"Out of Bounds: Inside the NBA's Culture of Rape, Violence, and Crime" is a book by journalist Jeff Benedict that examines the darker side of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the behavior of some of its players off the court. The book explores a number of high-profile cases involving N...

View Details

Riding the Roller Coaster: A History of the Chrysler Corporation

From the Chrysler Six of 1924 to the front-wheel-drive vehicles of the '70s and '80s to the minivan, Chrysler boasts an impressive list of technological firsts. But even though the company has catered well to a variety of consumers, it has come to the brink of financial ruin more than once in its se...

Purchase on Amazon View Details

Latest News

June 22nd, 2021

Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib becomes first active NFL player to come out as gay

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.