[Dean's World] Shay: Amaechi's Announcement Talk Of The League

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Posted by Shay:
Amaechi's Announcement Talk Of The League
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1170972398.shtml


   [1]A day after former center John Amaechi became the first NBA player
   to publicly come out, everybody is talking about the British-raised
   athlete and the idea of gay players in the NBA. Mr. Amaechi, who spent
   five seasons with four teams, acknowledged that he was gay yesterday,
   making him the sixth professional male athlete from one of the four
   major U.S. sports â basketball, baseball, football, hockey â to openly
   discuss his homosexuality. He details his life in his autobiography
   Man in the Middle, which will be released on February 14.

   Martina Navratilova, perhaps the world's most famous openly gay
   athlete, lauded Mr. Amaechi for taking a courageous stand and said
   it's imperative for athletes to come out because of what she called an
   epidemic of suicides among young lesbians and gays. "It's hugely
   important for the kids so they don't feel alone in the world. We're
   role models," she said. "He will definitely help a lot of kids growing
   up to feel better about themselves."

   Grant Hill, who said he didn't know Mr. Amaechi when he was with the
   Orlando Magic, also applauded the decision to go public. "The fact
   that John has done this, maybe it will give others the comfort or
   confidence to come out as well, whether they are playing or retiring,"
   Mr. Hill said.

   LeBron James, however, said he didn't think an openly gay person could
   survive in the league and worried about any players who have not
   revealed they are gay. "With teammates you have to be trustworthy, and
   if you're gay and you're not admitting that you are, then you are not
   trustworthy," Mr. James said. "So that's like the No. 1 thing as
   teammates â we all trust each other. You've heard of the in-room,
   locker room code. What happens in the locker room stays in there. It's
   a trust factor, honestly. A big trust factor."

   News that Mr. Amaechi had come out surprised some players. "For real?
   He's gay for real?" said Steven Hunter of the Philadelphia Sixers, who
   added he would be fine with an openly gay teammate. "As long as he
   don't make any advances toward me I'm fine with it," he said. "As long
   as he came to play basketball like a man and conducted himself like a
   good person, I'd be fine with it." Shavlik Randolph of the
   Philadelphia Sixers acknowledged that it's a new situation. "As long
   as you don't bring your gayness on me I'm fine," Mr. Randolph said.
   "As far as business-wise, I'm sure I could play with him. But I think
   it would create a little awkwardness in the locker room."

   My response: Who? Never heard of him before opening up my morning
   newspaper about the story. So he is gay. And? Much fuss about nothing.
   Was he a good basketball player? Is he a productive, law-abiding
   member of society? What young gay person in today's America would be
   stupid enough to believe that they are the only one in the world,
   given gay portrayals in media and real life?

References

   1. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4537348.html