Scottie Pippen was one of the many who congratulated Jake Conrad and Mike Holtzman, the first gay couple to get engage in an NBA game. (Photo : Getty Images/Jonathan Daniel)
In the NBA, amazing happens. But recently, more than the amazing happened as Jake Conrad and Michael Holtzman became the first in-game same sex marriage proposal in the history of the league in a game between the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night.
Conrad, in a timeout at the United Center, popped the question to his boyfriend, who he says has been a lifetime Bulls fans, with the help of Chicago mascot Benny the Bull and the team's dancers, ESPN W reported. Holtzman said yes.
Conrad posted on Facebook to ask his friends if anyone knew how to contact the office of the Chicago Bulls knowing that his partner had been wanting to go into his favorite team's game. Fortunately, Holtzman did not have a Facebook account as one friend responded to Conrad who successfully contacted the Bulls' office.
Chicago Bulls spokesperson Ross Lipschultz said that Conrad bought a fan experience package to propose before the game but the organization was moved of the deed that they wanted Conrad to propose during the game, as reported by Outsports. Lipschultz added that the Bulls "are honored to have been part of such a special moment for this couple."
Bulls legend and six-time world champion Scottie Pippen was there to congratulate the engaged couple and both even had a photograph with one of the greatest Bull in franchise history.
The NBA has been a trailblazer when it comes to equality between people or different race and gender. Three years ago, 13-year NBA veteran Jason Collins became the first active player in any of the four major American professional sports leagues to publicly come out of the closet.
According to Outsports, Conrad is an assistant women's volleyball coach at the University of Wisconsin Wilwaukee. The Bulls survived the Spurs on a 95-91 verdict.
