LeBron James, NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers: “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 … 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.”
Shavlik Randolph, NBA, Philadelphia 76ers: “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.”
Jerry Sloan, NBA, Utah Jazz (on knowing Amaechi was gay while he was coaching him): “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.”
Chris Broussard, ESPN analyst: The overwhelming majority of comments have been politically correct, even the ones that were considered homophobic by Philadelphia?s Shavlik Randolph and Steven Hunter?.
But America has become so politically correct ? not to mention that, in my opinion, much of the media and Hollywood are promoting the idea that homosexuality is a normal lifestyle ? that many players are afraid to voice their true feelings publicly?.
Well, anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I?m not concerned with being politically correct. So here?s where I stand: I?m a born-again, Bible-believing Christian (no, I?m not a member of the Religious Right). And I?m against homosexuality (I believe it?s a sin) and same-sex marriage. …
But if a gay player just goes about his business in the shower, showing that he has no sexual interest in his teammates and that he?s not ?checking them out,? I think the awkwardness would wear off fairly quickly.”
And don’t hand me the it’s-harder-in-sports crap, either. I’ve been an out sportswriter for years now. I’ve been on TV, had my face in one of the largest newspapers in the country and my mug is sitting right next to this column. I’ve been called names in work meetings, received death threats and told I was going to hell more times than the devil. But you know what, I don’t give a rip. Because at the end of the day I know walking within what I know is true for me is a lot easier than trying to run from it.”
Ray Allen, NBA, Seattle Supersonics: “You don?t want to know that there is somebody in your locker room and you are not aware of it. And maybe you had to be careful being where you put yourself in a situation where you might get hit on by a teammate.”
