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Players, coaches,
media
react to Amaechi
Compiled
by
Cyd Zeigler jr. and
Jim Buzinski
Outsports.com
Below is a
compilation of reactions to the
revelation that former NBA player John Amaechi is coming
out of the closet. Some of the people are reacting directly
to Amaechi's coming out and others are reacting to the
general idea of having an openly gay professional athlete.
Thanks to our readers and
bloggers, including
Towleroad,
who have been helping stay on top of this growing list.
Discuss:
John Amaechi's coming out
Basketball
players and sports leaders
Shaquille O'Neal, Miami
Heat player
Palm Beach Post
"I was always taught as a youngster to never judge people,
so I never judge people and to each their own. If he was my
teammate and people ridiculed him and jumped on him, I would
probably have to protect him."
Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat
player
Palm Beach Post
"Anybody who knows me knows I'm a guy who loves his
teammates and if anything ever comes up like that, I don't
look at that. I look at what guys can do for you on the
court. And in the locker room you have great relationships
with guys. I don't have any negative views."
Darrell Armstrong, former
Amaechi teammate
Indianapolis Star
It's always unfair to judge anyone, to be honest with you,
unless it's something going on with you and that person. If
you hate somebody, keep it to yourself, especially in that
state of mind. . . . I don't understand why other people get
so offended by it. I could understand if John Amaechi came
on to him or something."
Mike
Miller, former Amaechi teammate
Palm Beach Post
On Amaechi: "He's a great person. Everyone has the right to
be how they want be."
On a gay NBA player: "It would be difficult, but at the same
time our league is a league that has taken on anything. We
bring on and accept anything, and I think that's what's
special about the NBA."
Scottie
Pippen, former NBA player
Palm Beach Post
On Hardaway's comments: "It was pretty shocking," former
star Scottie Pippen said. "You hate to see that happen to
one of your colleagues knowing the damage he's caused to
himself, his family and friends ... I'm very disappointed it
happened."
Jason
Kapono, Miami Heat player
Palm Beach Post
On Hardaway's comments: "Everyone has their own views on
life, and that's something that's obviously his point of
view, but that's definitely not the point of view of all the
rest of us."
Mark Cuban, Dallas
Mavericks owner
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"From a marketing perspective, if you're a player who
happens to be gay and you want to be incredibly rich, then
you should come out, because it would be the best thing that
ever happened to you from a marketing and an endorsement
perspective. You would be an absolute hero to more
Americans than you can ever possibly be as an athlete, and
that'll put money in your pocket. On the flip side, if
you're the idiot who condemns somebody because they're gay,
then you're going to be ostracized, you're going to be
picketed and you're going to ruin whatever marketing
endorsements you have."
"When you do something that the whole world thinks is
difficult and you stand up and just be who you are and take
on that difficulty factor, you're an American hero no matter
what," Cuban said. "That's what the American spirit's all
about, going against the grain and standing up for who you
are, even if it's not a popular position."
Earl
Watson, Seattle Supersonics player
Seattle Times
"In our society,
religion, politics and race have been the big topics and now
sexuality is up there and for some guys, they're educated on
the subjects, but in honesty most guys don't think about
these things on a daily basis," Sonics guard Earl Watson
said. "And that's true for most people, not just [basketball
players].
"Most guys will tell you that
they just want to win games and anybody who can help them do
that is cool. I don't really care what guys do off the
court. That's the same thing with anybody. Whatever they do
in their personal life, you just want respect from anyone.
It could be from someone who's straight, gay or whatever."
Sam
Mitchell, Toronto Raptors head coach
Toronto Sun
"It shouldn't be about
tolerance, it should be about respect. Treating people as
human beings. Are you supposed to tolerate me because I'm
black or are they supposed to treat me with respect because
I'm a human being?"
Chris Chelios, NHL player
Detroit Free Press
"I don't consider it any issue at all. As far as I'm
concerned, it's a non-issue. I don't care if a guy comes out
and says he's not gay or he comes and says he's gay. Who
cares? I don't know who made that an issue."
Henrik Zetterberg, NHL
player
Detroit Free Press
"I've probably played with a gay guy during some point in my
career, but I didn't know about it. I think that if you are
gay, you would probably keep it to yourself until you stop
playing. I think in games and such, I think they would be on
him a lot. Unfortunately right now, I don't think you can
play when you're (openly) gay. But they have the right to
play hockey, too."
Peter Magowan, San
Francisco Giants owner
Sacramento Bee
"It would not bother me if one of my players came out of the
closet. He would get my support.
"I'm speaking for myself. I
can't tell you (my) view that I have would be the democratic
majority (in the Giants' clubhouse). I doubt that it would.
"I'm sure that's why people
don't come out of the closet. But as a society, we're moving
toward where people won't be as scared."
Larry Bowa, former
Philadelphia Phillies manager
Jim Litke column
"All I know is that if he hits .340, it
probably would be easier than if he hits .220."
Jerry
Sloan, Utah Jazz coach
Associated Press
"Oh yeah, it would have probably mattered. I don't know
exactly, but I always have peoples' feelings at heart.
People do what they want to do. I don't have a problem with
that."
In another
statement, Sloan said: “John is 1 of 117 players I have
coached in the past 19 seasons, and it has always been my
philosophy that my job is to make sure Jazz players perform
to the maximum of their abilities on the floor. As far as
his personal life is concerned, I wish John the best and
have no further comment.”
Doc
Rivers, Boston Celtics coach who coached Amaechi in Orlando
Associated Press
"We're all insensitive at times. There's no taboo subject in
the locker room. I think if he would have come out they
would have got on him jokingly. ... And I actually think
that when guys do come out, when that day happens, it will
make it easier. ... [Amaechi]'s better than a good kid; he's
a fantastic kid. John Amaechi, when I was coaching him, was
a great kid. He did as much charity work as anybody in our
city, and he's still doing it. That's what I wish we focused
on. Unfortunately, we're talking about his sexual
orientation, which I couldn't care a flying flip about."
Isiah
Thomas, New York Knicks coach
Newark Star-Ledger and Newsday
"If [there was an openly gay player] in my locker room, we
won't have a problem with it. I can't speak for somebody
else's locker room, but if it's in mine, we won't have a
problem. I'll make damn sure there's no problem.
"I think [an openly gay player] will and I think he should
[be accepted.] We're a diverse society and we preach
acceptance. We're proud of diversity and no matter what your
sexual preference may be, there is an acceptance and a
tolerance level that should be accepted everywhere. No one
should be excluded."
Jamal Crawford, New York Knicks
Newark Star-Ledger
He said the players' professionalism should overcome any
hesitance about playing with or against an openly gay
player, but acknowledged it might be "awkward."
"I don't know how people would accept it," Crawford said.
"It would probably be a little awkward, I'm sure. Because
most people have girlfriends, wives, whatever. But we're all
professionals and have a job to do."
Eddie Curry, New York Knicks center
Newsday
"If one of my teammates came out and said that, I'd be
supportive of him because those are my teammates. Those are
the guys I went to war with night in and night out.
Regardless of what he does off the court, we battle
together."
Michael
Doleac, Miami Heat center and former teammate of Amaechi's
in Orlando
Palm Beach Post
"If that's who he is, good for him. John was a smart guy, a
great guy, a fun guy."
Eddie Jones, Miami Heat guard
Palm Beach Post
"Guys would probably stay away from him," Jones said when
asked what would have happened had Amaechi come out while
playing.
Troy
Hudson, Minnesota Timberwolves player and former teammate of
Amaechi
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"I just knew him as a teammate. He was a cool guy. I didn't
expect that [announcement]. He kept it pretty hush-hush.
"That's his
own personal preference. So you can't fault a man for who
they are or what they are. It's probably a good thing for
himself that he finally opened up. He's probably been going
through a lot trying to keep it a secret."
Would Amaechi have been accepted? "Probably not," Hudson
said. "The majority of people in pro sports -- I mean, in
the world -- don't feel comfortable with that type of person
around. Especially in a masculine sport where you're always
touching each other, you have to take showers together. But
the way I see it, if you keep it to yourself, I don't care
what you are."
Tracy
McGrady, Houston Rockets player who played with Amaechi in
Orlando
ESPN.com
"I"m the type of dude who don't give a f---. I don't care
what you are as long as you're doing what you're supposed to
be doing on the court. You could be the most flaming (guy)
on earth and answer to boyfriend and kiss him after the game
as long as you don't try it with me. I just want to win. And
that's how I am. To each his own, be yourself, and be proud
of it. Everything else is just a bunch of crap."
Pete
Lisicky, former
Penn State player
Harrisburg Patriot-News
"I never felt uncomfortable with John. We'd all go out
together. John would talk to guys and girls, socializing
with everybody. It never crossed my mind. I'll say this: Of
all the teammates I've had over the years, he's in the top
five. Articulate, caring, and not just because I was a guy;
he was like that with everyone. If you needed anything, he
was there. But I'm not a big Bible thumper. I'm not one of
these people who say [homosexuality] is immoral or
whatever."
Grant
Hill, Orlando Magic player
Associated Press
"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."
David
Stern, NBA Commissioner
Associated Press
"We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is
always 'Have you got game?' That's it, end of inquiry."
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers player
Associated Press
"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 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."
Ed
Heintschel, St. John's High School Coach, who coach Amaechi
for one year
Toledo Blade
“That’s John’s lifestyle choice. I respect his personal
choice. He was an outstanding student athlete and was a
bright guy. ... Everywhere he’s been as a professional
athlete he’s done a lot in the community. He’s a great
person.”
Shavlik Randolph, Philadelphia 76ers player
Associated Press
"As long as you don't bring your gayness on me I'm fine. 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."
Steven
Hunter, Philadelphia 76ers player
Associated Press
"For real? He's gay for real? Nowadays it's proven that
people can live double lives. I watch a lot of TV, so I see
a lot of sick perverted stuff about married men running
around with gay guys and all types of foolishness. ... As
long as he don't make any advances toward me I'm fine with
it. As long as he came to play basketball like a man and
conducted himself like a good person, I'd be fine with it.
Pat
Garrity, Orlando Magic player
Associated Press
"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. I think that's true
if you're playing basketball or in an office job. That's
just how the world is right now.''
Greg
Aiello, NFL spokesman
Jim Litke column, Associated Press
"Society is more open and tolerant than it's ever been. I
don't think anybody would care, other than how he was
performing."
Aiello was asked whether he could imagine a football player
coming out any time soon. "I'm sure it will happen someday,"
he said. "I don't see why not."
Anonymous
sports voices
Philadelphia Flyers player
Phillyburbs.com
“Personally, I would have no problem with it. Some others
might but I think most wouldn't. ... We're not to that
[point of acceptance] point yet. You still hear racial stuff
out there from time to time (among players and from the
stands).' ... It all depends on the person's personality.
Does he want to be a poster boy for the cause?"
Gay leaders
Martina
Navratilova, tennis great
Associated Press
"It's hugely important for the kids so they don't feel alone
in the world. We're role models. He will definitely help a
lot of kids growing up to feel better about themselves.''
Esera Tuaolo, former NFL player
Associated Press
"What John did is amazing. He does not know how many lives
he's saved by speaking the truth. ... Living with all
that stress and that depression, all you deal with as a
closeted person, when you come out you really truly free
yourself," Tuaolo said. "When I came out it felt like I was
getting out of prison."
Billy Bean,
former Major League Baseball player
ABC News
"I think that's great to see images of strong people who
succeeded like John Amaechi and this, this coming out wasn't
shrouded in controversy. It wasn't forced. He didn't do
something bad."
Eric Anderson, author and
former high school running coach
ABC News
"They're still afraid of residual homophobia. They are still
afraid of losing contracts and sponsorships in some team
sport. But the reality is, when all athletes come out of the
closet, in all sports, at all levels, these things don't
materialize."l
Charles Kaiser, author
Sacramento Bee
"We're still
waiting for our Jackie Robinson. He has to be a star player
and have a lot of guts. A second-string player is, by
definition, more reluctant."
The Media
Jeff
Miller, Orange County Register
"The reaction here
today is the same reaction I had five years ago:
"Good for John Amaechi, and
what's the big deal with the rest of us anyway?
"For a society that loves to
celebrate its remarkable progress, we remain pathetically
stalled in yesterday in so many ways. The fact this story
was received by many like a space alien would be at 7-Eleven
says way too much.
Michael
Wilbon. Washington Post columnist
"A lot will be made over the comments of LeBron James, who
is quoted as saying: '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. So that's like the
number one 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 there. It's a trust factor.'
"My first reaction to LeBron's ramblings is that the person
who needs to feel the trust is the person in the room who
feels he's at risk by talking openly of something that's
been taboo in locker rooms since the beginning of time. Then
again, James, because of who he is, is asked most every day
about anything and everything NBA-related. ...
"Not to be too cynical, I don't want to pay too much
attention to reactions from a 22-year-old ballplayer with
incredibly limited exposure, whose life has been little more
than a series of tip-offs from biddy ball to AAU to high
school to the pros. LeBron's reaction simply reflects the
self-absorption of the day when it comes to young athletic
gods whose transition from boyhood to manhood is in too many
cases put off until retirement from the pros.
"If we're lucky, the men and women who are both enlightened
and emboldened will not only be supportive but will drown
out the knuckleheads and Neanderthals and everybody who
wants to slow the march of progress. Even one step away from
tolerance, whether we're talking about race, gender,
religious beliefs or sexuality, simply slows the march to
the day when none of this stuff matters."
Jim
Litke, Associated Press columnist
"Thousands of ball players have worked, traveled, showered
and dressed in the same locker room together for more than a
century. Most understand now it's a numbers game."
David
Steele, Baltimore Sun
"The first active athlete to announce himself as gay -- and
it would have to be an "announcement," which, for obvious
reasons, [Jackie] Robinson didn't have to do -- will have to
go through an initiation different from Robinson's, but
surely just as brutal. The prejudices against homosexuality
in the major sports are deeply ingrained. Just as gay rights
leaders have followed the old civil rights playbook almost
page by page, this pioneer will have to work from Robinson's
playbook, and subs for the roles of Rickey, Pee Wee Reese
and all the heroes and villains will have to step up."
LZ
Granderson, ESPN.com
"I do not mean to
belittle Amaechi's experience or the experiences of any
other athlete who comes out after retirement. I am friends
with gay, former pro athletes and look forward to reading
Amaechi's book (to be published by ESPN Books). But I can't
help but wonder: When will somebody simply man up? That is,
come out while he is still playing and finally demystify
this whole gay athlete thing once and for all."
Brian
Schmitz, Orlando Sentinal
"Without a doubt, he's one of the most refreshing athletes
I've ever been around. He actually read books."
Matthew
Sayed, The Times (London)
"John Amaechi is a combative, articulate and intellectually
inquisitive firebrand whose courageous decision to come out
marks a watershed in the painfully slow process of
enlightenment in professional sport."
Steve
Luhm, Salt Lake Tribune columnist
"Let's be clear
about one thing.
This isn't about John Amaechi's sexual orientation or his
decision to write about being a gay man in the NBA in a
soon-to-be-released book. This is about John Amaechi,
basketball player with the Utah Jazz from 2001-03. Because
it is, there's little to tell.
That's because John Amaechi remains one of the worst players
in franchise history.
I'm not Amaechi-bashing here.
I'm just stating a fact."
Mark
Morford, San Francisco Chronicle
"The modern psychosexual threshold demarcating where we as a
homophobic sports-lovin' culture simply refuse to allow
ourselves to go, given how pro sports is a
multi-gazillion-dollar industry and no way in hell male
sports fans (or team owners or sponsors) would stand for a
gay sports hero. No. Freaking. Way. If it happened, there
would be fear and hate and mistrust. Other players would
shun and recoil and cry. Sponsors would flee. Alabama would
implode. The red states would spontaneously combust. Just
the way it is.
"Sure, WNBA MVP and three-time Olympian Sheryl Swoopes can
come out and admit she's a lesbian and no one really gasps
all that loudly because, well, it's the WNBA, and she's a
woman, and it wasn't much of a secret anyway and -- perhaps
the biggest reason of all that her coming-out story is a
nonstarter -- it's not about manhood."
David
Brown, Northwest (Chicago) Herald
"It’s
always a big deal to make such an announcement. At least in
your own corner of the world. It takes a good amount of
bravery. As Martina Navratilova put it, somewhere, there’s a
gay teenager who read about Amaechi and was given more
confidence to be him or herself. That’s good, too."
Related:
Pre-order "Man In The Middle"
List of
out athletes
Baseball: Billy Bean, hitting a home run for my lover
Football: Gay former player addresses rookies
Football: Dave Kopay, still fighting the good fight
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