Does Coles revealing of his sexual abuse help other(s) tell their
story - whether mail or female??? Or does he just seem like a popular
footplayer that can does this - get some extra publicity - and be done
and not shunned?

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Clarification of Question by asweet1-ga on 20 Sep 2005 21:31 PDT

New York Jet Laveranues Coles shared that he was molested by his
stepfather from the ages of 10-13.  Does this help other men to share
"their" stories of sexual abuse - or do they look at him as a "star"
athlete who can get out and do this and then go back to life... How
does his story impact the telling of a woman or child's story that
lives down the block or in a shelter - who wouldn't be listened to -
and who would definitely not get a sports page story in the Times for
their "secret"...How doe this advance the cause of "telling" and
teaching the average survivor how to "tell"

Certainly there have been a wide variety of stories in recent years
out of Canada, among NHL players regarding youth hockey coaches that
have done the same. Bet it is also common world wide among youth
soccer coaches. Any circumstance where a small elite group (coaches)
hold the key to advancement and success among young athletes, abuses
can occur. Olympic sports are riff with this as well, where individual
coaching at the premier levels can open doors for young atletes.