So, do you think America would accept an openly gay athlete? Or do you think they would be ostracized to the point of retirement, or worse suicide, or even be murdered?
It would depend greatly on a number of things I think....
1. What sport
2. How good is the person
3. How "blatant" of a homosexual is he. Or, to be more blunt, how "flaming" is he.
If its a person playing football whose a mediocre wide reciever that looks and acts like Parez Hilton or Elton John then I'd say absolutely not, never going to be accepted.
If its a golfer or baseball player whose one of the better individuals in the association/league that is as flamboyant in their presentation of their homosexuality on a daily basis as say a Stephan Fry or an Ian McKellan, then I'd say there's probably a decent chance to be accepted.
I'd say it'd go kind of like this...
In regards to #1. Nascar would be harder than Football that'd be harder than Basketball that'd be harder that'd be harder than Hockey that'd be harder than Baseball that'd be harder than Golf that'd be harder than Tennis that'd be harder than [fill in most other sports] that'd be harder than Figure Skating/Gymnastics.
Essentially more southern or urban sports, and more physical sports, would likely be more difficult than your more cosmopolitan/wordly or lighter sports.
In regards to #2. The better the person is the more likely people will embrace them. We'd never even pay attention to Tiger Wood ever again after what he just went through if he was even just a Vijay Singh level golfer, but because he's SO good people are willing to get back on that bandwagon if he starts playing well again. Tom Brady comes out as Gay? He's probably going to still be accepted. Rob Grankowski comes out as gay? We're not likely to hear from him again.
In regards to #3, this ones simple. The less "flaming" a person is the more likely they're be embraced. If they seem "just like everyone else" but they happen to screw guys, that'll be ignored FAR more than if they have a crazy colored hair cut, talk with a lisp in a high pitched voice, and constantly saying how the game was FAAAABULOUS tonight.