[caption id="attachment_96622" align="aligncenter" width="607"] Just do it.[/caption]

Former Phoenix Suns executive Rick Welts's announcement that he is gay didn't come as a surprise to everyone. Welts told friends, coworkers and senior executives at Nike. Nike asked Welts' to deliver a message to any sports stats considering coming out of the closet: Nike wants you as an endorser. Said Welts, “The player who does it, they’re going to be amazed at the additional opportunities that are put on the table, not the ones that are taken off.”

That's right - being gay is officially exciting for advertisers. Nike hopes to join other companies with gay-friendly advertising, including Amazon, IKEA and Macy's. “We’ve passed the tipping point to where national advertisers are no longer afraid of the gay market,” said Mark Elderkin, chief executive officer of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Gay Ad Network.

We're happy to hear that the first openly gay major athlete will have his or her courage rewarded with some sweet sponsorships. We just hope they don't come from hockey - we doubt even an openly gay player could make us interested in that sport.

Four NFL Players to Come Out as Gay, Says Brendon Ayanbadejo