Feedback & Improvements » looked ready to put away a big road win

SALEM, Ore. -- Conner Mertens didnt want to pretend anymore -- especially with his teammates. So the redshirt freshman kicker at Division III Willamette announced Tuesday that hes bisexual. "It got to a point where I just got tired of it, trying to hide who I was and trying to pretend I was something I was not," he said. Mertens, 19, announced his sexual orientation to his teammates during a meeting on Monday. A story about him appeared on Outsports.com on Tuesday. Speaking on campus later in the afternoon, Mertens said he hopes his announcement helps dispel the stereotypes and stigmas associated with bisexual athletes -- and in turn let other LGBT athletes know they are not alone. "You can be real and you can be yourself," Mertens said. "That only starts when you can love yourself and let others love you. Thats kind of where I was going with this." Bearcats coach Glen Fowles said the players were overwhelmingly supportive of his decision. "Its been great to see the way our guys have rallied around," Fowles said. "For our guys, Conner is just a kicker." Team captain and junior inside linebacker Jack Nelson said: "It wasnt a big deal and we were glad he felt comfortable to tell us." While several LGBT athletes have come out, including former NBA player Jason Collins, WNBA star Brittney Griner and Major League Soccer player Robbie Rogers, its believed that Mertens is the first active college football player at any level to publicly announce his bisexuality. Willamette issued a statement supporting Mertens decision, saying the university "respects his contribution to a more humane and just world." Fowles joked about how Mertens first approached him: "He says, Coach, Im really going to utilize this open door policy." Mertens, who told his family just after Christmas, said he was humbled by the response. "It sounds corny, but I legitimately feel theres a weight off my shoulders. Its tiring to pretend your something else for 24-7, for 18 or 19 years of your life," he said. "So finally to be able to joke about it, to be honest about it, not have to put on this mask, Im finally able to take a deep breath." The Bearcats play in the Northwest Conference. The team went 7-2 overall last season and finished third in the league at 4-2. Mertens did not play his freshman season because he hurt his left knee while playing soccer. He will compete with two other kickers on the Bearcats roster. Cheap Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys . JOHNS, N. Cheap Brewers Jerseys Authentic . The Los Angeles Clippers showed them just how ugly that life could be. Jared Dudley scored a season-high 21 points, Chris Paul added 16 points and 17 assists, and the Clippers jumped all over the Bulls in Roses absence for a 121-82 victory Sunday. http://www.cheapbrewersjerseys.com/ . Nikolai Khabibulin was yanked in the second period, and the Ottawa Senators looked ready to put away a big road win. Cheap Cecil Cooper Jersey . -- The Kelowna Rockets earned their 16th straight win with a 7-2 rout of the Portland Winterhawks in Western Hockey League action Thursday. Wholesale Brewers Jerseys . After a tight first half, the Croatians took command in Reykjavik after Skulason was dismissed for a professional foul in the 51st minute, but couldnt find a way past Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson and his packed defence. Eduardo had a weak shot cleared away from near the goalline after barely a minute for Croatia, whose substitute Ivica Olic forced a fine reaction save from Halldorsson in the 55th.CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Cliff Lee gave up a run in three innings, outpitching fellow Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, but Adam Lind and Dan Johnson each homered for the Toronto Blue Jays in 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night. Lee, the 2008 AL Cy Young winner with Cleveland, allowed three hits and struck out two. He matched up against the 2012 NL winner -- with the New York Mets -- for the second time in six days. "Cliff was solid, a normal outing for him," Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He had his fastball command and he made some good pitches. I thought he looked sharp." Dickey yielded three runs and four hits in four innings of his second spring start. He struck out two and walked three. "I felt strong, which is all I really care about right now," Dickey said. "Being able to get up and down (for four innings) early in spring, feeling great, thats important for me. Lind connected off right-hander B.J. Rosenberg with two outs in the fourth inning. Marlon Byrd hit an opposite-field homer in the third off Dickey. STARTING TIME Phillies: Lee threw a perfect first inning en route to three sharp innings in his second spring outing. The left-hander hasnt walked a batter in five spring innings. "Im pretty happy with it," Lee said. "I know what my job is (this spring) and I know what I need to do to prepare..dddddddddddd. . Its just a matter of doing it." Blue Jays: Dickey hit the second batter he faced and walked three but remained encouraged following his second start of the spring. "I had a really good (knuckle) today," Dickey said. "The one that hit (Freddy) Galvis, it broke three feet and just broke right into his shoe. Thats part of the deal; you get one, it catches and goes that way. Thats tough. Other than that I felt pretty good." BIG BYRD Byrd finished the game 2 for 3 and is hitting .385 in five games this spring. The Phillies signed Byrd to a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract to play right field and bat behind cleanup hitter Ryan Howard. "Hes swinging a good bat and having consistent at-bats," Sandberg said. "Hes a good bat for us and hes showing it early." TRAINERS ROOM Phillies: Third baseman Cody Asche took batting practice with his teammates but was out of the lineup for the second straight day. Asche was hit in the right hand with a pitch from Pittsburghs Yao-Hsun Yang on Sunday. He could return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Braves, according to Sandberg. "Hes a quick healer," Sandberg said. Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins was a late scratch from the starting lineup. Rollins took part in pregame work with the team but has had flu-like symptoms. Rollins illness kept him out of camp on Monday. 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