View Full Version : First NBA Player to come out
Snacks
02-07-2007, 09:46 AM
<p> </p><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=amaechi&prov=st&type=lgns">http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=amaechi&prov=st&type=lgns</a></p><p>"Former NBA player John Amaechi will declare he is gay in his book to be released later this month. </p><p>Amaechi would be the first NBA player to publicly declare his homosexuality and join a very short list of males in professional team sports who have come out"</p><p>He wasnt that good, I just find it odd that he is the first to admit to being gay.</p>
<strong>Snacks</strong> wrote:<br /><p>He wasnt that good </p><p>He preferred to "take it to the hole" OFF the court.</p>
<p>From the linked article:</p><p>"He's dedicated his life to philanthrophy," Ziegler said. "His real passion is helping kids." </p><p> </p><p>Uh oh. </p>
JPMNICK
02-07-2007, 02:40 PM
I guess it is good. it means nothing to come out once you are retired though. They need active players to come out to really break the stigma.
andywhat?
02-07-2007, 03:03 PM
<p><img src="http://www.chump.com.au/april_05/rob_halford.jpg" border="0" width="178" height="284" /></p><p>first gay metal head to come out.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17160685/">Tim Hardaway: "You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I’m homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States."</a></p><p>Next time be a little more candid, Tim. </p>
johnniewalker
02-14-2007, 08:18 PM
<p>I thought more players would catch shit for the initial reaction. </p><p>"</p><p>Player reaction was mixed, but Martina Navratilova, perhaps the most famous openly gay athlete in the world, lauded 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. </p><p> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" align="left"> <tbody><tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> "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." </p><p>Orlando's <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/2626/">Grant Hill</a>, who said he didn't know Amaechi when he was with the Magic, also applauded the decision to go public. </p><p>"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," Hill said. </p><p>NBA commissioner David Stern said a player's sexuality wasn't important. </p><p>"We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is always 'Have you got game?' That's it, end of inquiry," he said. </p><p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3704/">LeBron James</a>, 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. </p><p>"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," James said. "So that's like the No. 1 thing as teammates -- 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." </p><p>Injured Philadelphia Sixers forward <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3992/">Shavlik Randolph</a> acknowledged it's a new situation. </p><p>"<span style="background-color: #ffff00">As long as you don't bring your gayness on me I'm fine</span>," 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." </p><p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="right" style="padding-left: 8px; padding-bottom: 5px"> <tbody><tr> <td> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1"> <tbody><tr> <td class="ysptblbdr2"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="137" height="46" class="yspwhitebg"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center"><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/gallery"><br /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> News that Amaechi had come out surprised some players. </p><p style="background-color: #ffff00">"For real? He's gay for real?" said Philadelphia center <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3525/">Steven Hunter</a>, who added he would be fine with an openly gay teammate. </p><p><span style="background-color: #ffff00">"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."</span> </p><p>Orlando's <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3262/">Pat Garrity</a> acknowledged reaction was bound to vary throughout the league. </p><p>"They would have teammates that would accept them for being a good person and a good teammate, and there would be people who would give him a hard time about it," he said. "I think that's true if you're playing basketball or in an office job. That's just how the world is right now." </p><p> <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-amae
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