Interesting responses to the revelation that former NBA legend John Amaechi is gay.
?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.? – Martina Navratilova
?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.” – Grant Hill
?We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is always ?Have you got game?? That?s it, end of inquiry.? – David Stern
Those comments are not the interesting ones. Those are the typical stock responses, the ones that are expected from their respective sources. Of course Martina Navratilova, herself a homosexual athlete, would support Amaechi. Of course Grant Hill, a generally diplomatic, classy athlete, would think it was a good thing. And of course David Stern, the Commissioner of the NBA, would take a neutral position.
The interesting responses come from younger players — ones who haven’t been groomed to be diplomatic and avoid the issue.
LeBron James, face of the NBA:
?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.?
Not an inflammatory comment, per se. I might be misunderstanding what he means, but it does come off as if James would feel violated by a gay teammate who kept his orientation a secret. Is that a justifiable feeling? Or does it stem from the obvious homophobia in many pro sports locker rooms?
Other quotes:
?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.? – Shavlik Randolph
?For real? He?s gay for real? … 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.? – Steven Hunter
Interesting how players always need to add the qualifier “as long as you don’t do me”. As if the expectation is that a gay player would naturally just start hitting on players in the showers. James, Randolph and Hunter’s comments reflect the general fear that is at the crux of homophobia — the fear of being sexually assaulted by another man.
Considering that nobody from the Utah Jazz or Orlando Magic was raped, those fears might not be well-founded.
UPDATE: Found this via Can’t Stop the Bleeding; it’s an extended quote from Steven Hunter, that wasn’t included in the AP article I found on MSNBC.
?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,?
