Thoughts on John Amaechi and American Sporting Society

As we all know, former NBA player John Amaechi announced to the world he was gay to the world, a few days before his book, ‘Man in the Middle’ is due to come out. This week, he’s gotten more than enough press via the television, in print, and on the internet via news sites and blogs.

The question is, are we in the United States ready for an athlete in a team sport to come ‘out of the closet’ and announce that they are homosexual?

In the past, athletes who announced to the world their homosexuality as a member of a team sport have been retired. No active player in a team sport has come out of the closet.

The only prominent athletes who have come out and announced their homosexuality have been from individual sports, such as Martina Navratilova who played tennis, Greg Louganis who was a diver, and Rudy Galindo who is a figure skater.

A lot of the reaction to Amaechi’s announcement has been all across the board. Here are some of the quotes I have found around the web.

"I haven't been around a person like that, so I don't know how I'd react." – LeBron James

(ESPN) Charles Barkley said with Kenny Smith on TNT, “Kenny knows and I know we have played with gay guys before. It never comes up [in team settings]. It's not our business. We don't care."

"It's not so much a curiosity about John. It's a curiosity simply because people want to know how the NBA is going to respond, how people in the NBA are going to respond. I'm curious. But I walked through the locker room the other day and guys were talking about it and it was like, 'No big deal.' … "Everybody's got a little homophobia in them. Everybody's got a little prejudice in them. It's just natural. But I'm sure there are other [current] players who are gay as well. If they came out, maybe some people would have a little bit of trepidation, but I think it would pass pretty quickly. Those days [of intolerance] are gone." – Mark Cuban

"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.

Now we have four different and divergent viewpoints. In our politically correct world, people might say things are ok, but more often that not, they aren’t.

The belief along some is that the NBA is diverse and homosexuality won’t be a big deal, while some insinuate that may be a problem, or in the least will make them uncomfortable.

Playing sports for a lot of my life, whether in high school, college or just casually, people say a lot of stupid things to assert their bravado or supremacy on the field or court and sometimes it involves questioning one’s masculinity – the f-word. For most people, a homosexual man is effeminate, and doesn't hold the traditional perception of what a man "should be" - right or wrong. For some, that would present a big problem in team sports.

This is partly why America is not ready for a gay athlete in a major team sport such as baseball, football, hockey or basketball.

In addition, if you add some of the political viewpoints shared in this country, and as well as of the defense of marriage legislation passed, you get closer to why no athlete in a team sport would ever come out. Think of it this way, homosexuals still cannot serve in the United States Armed Forces, and if they do, their sexuality must be kept secret.

The problem would not be localized to the locker room, but going into stadiums, going on the road, and dealing with the fans which as some big time athletes know would is an experience within itself. Imagine what it would be for a homosexual athlete. For many, team sports define masculinity and togetherness, as I could imagine many athletes as well as fans would feel very uncomfortable with a homosexual player on their team – even if there may be no reason to worry.

As well, add the pressure of big money sports and maintaining your spot on a roster. Now, if you’re good, you might be able stay on a team, but endorsements may not come your way. However, if you’re a marginal player, you might be on the bench and on your way out. If some coach or GM finds a problem with your lifestyle, you might be sent on your way. Players could be philanderers, abusers and drug users and still keep their spots, but being a homosexual would be a different matter.

If a player is out to come out, they’d have to be one hell of an individual, and have skin thick as cowhide. They would have to take hate mail, have epithets thrown at the, be looked at funny and sometimes have their physical safety threatened.

Simply, I don’t think America is ready, and although American culture changes rapidly, we are several years, if not a generation away from seeing an athlete in a term sport proclaim their homosexuality.

I consider myself to be liberal thinking on social issues, and I have friends and acquaintances, co-workers who are homosexual, so it really has no bearing on what I think of someone; however, to some it does matter. For the athlete who comes out and proclaims their homosexuality, it will no doubt be a difficult decision to have been made, but they would have probably made a profound difference in the world.