Out of the Pocket (review)

There’s no more doubt in Bobby Framingham’s mind: he’s gay. For a popular, talented high-school quarterback who’s already on the recruiters’ radar, this is not a welcome revelation. It’s not that he’s ashamed, or even that he’s afraid of rejection by family and close friends, but he’s enough of a realist to know that the four major professional men’s sports in America can’t produce a single athlete who is both active and out, and the chance for openly gay talent to rise through the system is just about zero. The best Bobby can hope for is to break the news gradually among a small group of trusted individuals and keep the potential wildfire down to a controlled burn. When a Stanford aspirant classmate sees an opportunity to turn Bobby’s story into a national news item (with a writing sample that will wow any admissions committee), however, quarterback Bobby, never much of a runner, finds himself metaphorically “out of the pocket” and forced to scramble. The first half of the novel is workmanlike but unsurprising, with all the anticipated elements falling neatly into place: the straight girlfriend who feels betrayed, the guidance counselor who’s overjoyed at Bobby’s breakthrough, the teammates who variously rally in support or explode in anger. It’s the second half that has something fresh to say, when what has been an intensely personal issue, one that Bobby himself needs time to process, is now a loose ball in play. His cancer-stricken dad sees in Bobby a paragon of courage, an anti-gay church group sees a focus for picketing, the gay press sees a poster boy, sports reporters see the latest cause célèbre, a college journalism major sees a love interest. If Bobby and his teammates are going to finish their senior year with a championship, though, they all need to get beyond the hype and see Bobby as he wants to be seen—a commanding quarterback. There’s a solid sports story here to score with readers who’ve just come for the game, but Konigsberg wraps it up with a decisive two-point conversion: it’s high time to face homosexuality in pro sports with honesty, and allowing outed players a little time, space, and respect isn’t that much to ask.