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BERLIN -- A former World Cup player from Germany came out as gay on Wednesday, rebuking the Russian anti-gay law that threatens to tarnish next months Sochi Olympics and challenging the longstanding stigma against homosexuality in football. With his announcement, Thomas Hitzlsperger became the biggest name in football to declare he is gay. He said he wants to help break down the prejudice against homosexuality that has long permeated the macho, testosterone-fueled culture of the worlds most popular sport. "I am expressing my sexuality because I want to promote the discussion of homosexuality among professional athletes," Hitzlsperger said in the German newspaper Die Zeit, a statement that was widely welcomed by his countrymen and former teammates. His disclosure came less than a month before the start of the Winter Games in Sochi, which have been the focus of a furious backlash in the West against a recently enacted Russian law banning gay "propaganda." The Olympics "are ahead of us, and I think we need some critical voices to counter the campaigns by various governments against homosexuality," Hitzlsperger said. Before retiring from the game four months ago, the 31-year-old former midfielder played in Englands Premier League and in Germany as well as Italy. He is the first German player to come out and the first from the Premier League. The fact that Hitzlsperger waited until his career was over to make the announcement reflected the persistent taboo in the game, where many players are reluctant to discuss homosexuality because they fear the reaction of teammates and fans. Hitzlsperger said he felt the time was right to broach a subject that was "simply ignored." "I get particularly annoyed by the fact that people who know the least are precisely the people to talk the loudest about this issue," he added, noting that the word "gay" is commonly used as a slur against footballers. At many football grounds, sexually themed chants are not uncommon. Fans in Britain sometimes chant songs that are viewed as religiously, sexually or racially offensive. In many European countries, especially in Russia and Eastern Europe, thousands of fans chant obscene songs, defying all attempts to stop them. Hitzlsperger said his own record shattered the idea that gays are "sissies." "I was a pretty tough guy with an extremely strong shot. Thats not something many can claim," he said. "My nickname is The Hammer. Its complete nonsense that gay men are unmanly." In England, outspoken Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton praised Hitzlsperger for his "courage" but lamented that he had to wait until now to make his announcement. "Sad times when people have to wait until they retire from their chosen profession before they feel other people will judge them solely on who the human being is," Barton said on Twitter. "Shame on all of us as a society." Hitzlsperger said he grew up in a small community in Catholic-dominated Bavaria, where homosexuality was treated as something unnatural or even criminal. He had a long-term relationship with a girlfriend and planned to marry her. "But then after eight years, the relationship ended without my partner knowing about my feelings for men. That was six years ago," Hitzlsperger said. "Only in the last few years did it dawn on me that I would rather live with a man." Hitzlsperger represented Germany at the 2006 World Cup and 2008 European Championship. He played for Bayern Munichs youth teams before switching to English club Aston Villa in 2001. He later played for Stuttgart, Italian club Lazio, West Ham, Wolfsburg and then Everton in the Premier League. "Homosexuality is not a serious issue in England, Germany or Italy, not in the dressing room in any case," said Hitzlsperger, who made 52 appearances for Germanys national team from 2004 to 2010. "Thats why its not easy to find anyone in the football scene who will talk publicly about his sexual orientation. To this day, I dont know any footballer personally who has made this an issue. "I was never ashamed of how I am," said Hitzlsperger, adding that the behaviour of some of his teammates was sometimes hard to take. "Think about it. There are 20 young men sitting around a table drinking. You let most of it go, as long as the jokes are halfway funny and the rubbish about homosexuals is not hugely offensive." Last February, American player Robbie Rogers declared he was gay before announcing his retirement. He returned to action with the Los Angeles Galaxy after an overwhelmingly positive reaction to his declaration. Former English player Justin Fashanu, who played for Norwich and Nottingham Forest, was the first footballer to say openly that he was gay in 1990. He committed suicide eight years later at age 37. Swedish defender Anton Hysen came out in 2011. Athletes from other sports have also spoken about their sexuality. Last month, British Olympic diver Tom Daley said he was in a relationship with a man. Other high-profile gay athletes include former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas, English cricketer Steven Davies and former NBA players Jason Collins and John Amaechi. On Twitter, German forward Lukas Podolski welcomed his former international teammates announcement, calling it "brave and right" and "an important sign in our time." Another former international teammate, Arne Friedrich, tweeted, "Im proud of you. Good decision and at the right time in my opinion." Government spokesman Steffen Seibert praised Hitzlspergers announcement on behalf of Chancellor Angela Merkel. "We judge footballers by whether they conduct themselves well and with dignity on and off the pitch, and I believe both are true for Mr. Hitzlsperger," Seibert said. German football federation president Wolfgang Niersbach said Hitzlsperger "was always an example for whom I had the highest respect, and this respect is even greater now." Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said players were unaware of Hitzlspergers sexuality until after his retirement, when the player informed both him and Germany coach Joachim Loew. Said Bierhoff: "Well give him every support so he can continue on his courageous path." Loew hoped Hitzlspergers "announcement helps us all to be more relaxed about this issue." Cheap Jordan Shoes Online .Y. -- Cory Schneider has to make the most of his opportunities to guard the New Jersey Devils net to earn more playing time. Air Jordan Shoes Australia . The Rangers centre left early in Game 1 with an upper body injury after being checked by Canadiens defenceman Mike Weaver and has not played since. Brassard told reporters after practice that he was good to go. 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Now Schultz is ready for more action.HAMILTON - Brandon Stewart and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats emphatically punched their playoff tickets Saturday.Stewart scored a key first-half touchdown before Brandon Banks and Nic Grigsby added fourth-quarter scores as Hamilton cemented top spot in the East Division with a 29-15 home win over the Montreal Alouettes. The Ticats capped their regular season with a 7-2 record, their best second-half mark since 72 when after a 1-3 start the squad won 10 straight en route to a Grey Cup title.Following a 1-6 start, Hamilton is a win away from a second straight Grey Cup appearance.Whoever is coming theyve got to come to Tiger-town to see us, Stewart said. What else would we want?You have to come through Hamilton to get to the ship.Hamilton (9-9) needed to beat Montreal (9-9) by eight or more points to finish first and host the division final Nov. 23. The Ticats have not hosted the CFL East final since 1998. The Alouettes won the first meeting 38-31 on Sept. 7.The Ticats also eliminated Toronto (8-10) from post-season contention. The Argos, who beat Ottawa 23-5 on Friday night, needed Montreal to win in order to take second in the East Division.The Alouettes will host the B.C. Lions in the East semifinal next weekend.Zach Collaros hit Banks on a 15-yard TD strike at 2:31 of the fourth, capping a smart 57-yard, 11-play drive that mostly came against a stiff wind in the third. After a Montreal field goal, Grigsby scored on a six-yard run at 11:24 to put Hamilton ahead 28-9.We never lost the faith, Collaros said of Hamiltons stunning turnaround. We knew we were a good football team, we knew we were a bunch of good football players.We finally started to execute a little bit and just played great team football.Added head coach/GM Kent Austin: We have a really strong locker-room and these men believe in each other. Theyre a no-excuse football team, they come to work, they understand they have to have constant improvement.Hamilton improved to 6-0 at Tim Hortons Field before an enthusiastic gathering of 24,186 that braved wet and windy conditions. The contest marked the first time the upper deck was open.Collaros was an efficient 20-of-28 passing for 208 yards with a TD an interception. Banks finished with five catches for a team-high 65 yards but Hamiltons offensive workhorse was Grigsby, who ran for game-high 93 yards on 19 carries.He really ran the ball well, especially on a day when we needed to be able to kill the clock against the wind, Austin said. To have the lead at halftime and then run out the clock in the third was big.Hamilton ran for 131 yards and scored 29 points against a Montreal defence that had allowed just 74 points over its last six games. Offensively, Hamilton had the ball for almost 37 minutes as the Alouettes offence managed 281 yards, including just 17 yards rushing.ddddddddddddWe did a great job against the run and got them into passing situations, Austin said.Montreal had its six-game win streak snapped and fell to 8-2 with Jonathan Crompton as its starter. Crompton was 18-of-35 passing for 284 yards and had a 17-yard TD strike to Duron Carter, but it came with 19 seconds remaining.Wed rather have it (bad game) now than next week, Crompton said. Were in the playoffs, were hosting a game so its a bitter-sweet feeling.Wed rather have a week off but, you know, lets do it the hard way.Montreal could be back in Hamilton for the East final, but Crompton said redemption is the furthest thing from his mind right now.Our focus is on the semifinal, he said. Weve got to come in and make sure we focus on the little things because now its win or go home and we know that.Weve just got to make sure we come out and perform like we need to.Justin Medlocks 23-yard field goal at 5:25 of the third put Hamilton ahead 14-6. It was set up by Craig Butlers recovery of an onside punt as Medlocks 17-yard kick hit Ed Gainey, who had lined up onside, allowing Butler to give the Ticats the ball at the Montreal 24-yard line.It was Hamiltons second such attempt and despite the two Ticats lining up onside, Montreals returners remained deep and allowed the ball to hit the ground rather than have someone come up to play it short.Medlock had two field goals, three converts and two singles.Whyte had Montreals field goals.The opportunistic Ticats scored 10 points off Montreal turnovers to take an 11-6 half-time advantage. Medlocks 18-yard field goal at 3:03 of the first came after Erik Harris recovered James Rodgers fumble on the opening kickoff.Stewarts recovery at 5:31 of the second to put Hamilton ahead 11-0. Stewart jumped on a loose ball in Montreals endzone after running back Chris Rainey couldnt handle Cromptons swing pass.Rainey, figuring it was an incomplete pass, gave no chase on the play.I dont know what he was doing but we all saw a live ball on defence, Stewart said. It was a scramble but I ended up with the ball.Cromptons 53-yard completion to S.J. Green was the big play on an 81-yard, six-play drive that Whyte capped with a 23-yard field goal to cut Hamiltons lead to 11-3 at 8:57. Whyte then connected from 30 yards out at 12:19.NOTES — Defensive back Emanuel Davis and offensive lineman Jake Olson didnt dress for Hamilton while receiver Mardy Gilyard and defensive tackle Corvey Irvin were Montreals scratches . . . The Ticats have had CFL-high 83 players on their roster this year. Theyve also had 54 different starters, also most in the league. Montreal has had the fewest starters this season with 40 . . . Former All-Pro receiver Chad Johnson remains on Montreals injured list. ' ' '