Former NBA Player Coming Out

[sooner333]

Saw this on another board...wonder who it could be

Mark your calendars..... On Monday, February 12th, a professional NBA basketball player will come out nationally -- as of now..... only his book publisher knows who he is.

An inspiring memoir by a former NBA star who is gay. Man in the Middle chronicles one man’s extraordinary journey from an awkward, overweight child to a jet-setting NBA star. Along the way, he encountered endless obstacles to achieving his hoop dreams—his father’s abandonment, being cut from his first college team, a life-threatening injury, abusive coaches, the death of his mother—all the while protecting a vital secret that could end his career. He was gay.

AUTHOR BIO: Author to be revealed February 20, 2007

[MikeVic]

A.C. Green?

edit: I have no idea, just the first name taht popped into my mind for some reason. Don't have any clue as to whetehr his life follows those obstacles mentioned.

[rkmsuf]

Greg Kite was gay? Who knew.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Brad Lohaus

[gottimd]

George Murehsan?

[Butter]

Bill Laimbeer. It would explain a lot.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Yinka Dare ... WRITING FROM THE GRAVE.

[molson]

No idea, but there sure are a lot of hints there. Someone should be able to figure it out.

[MikeVic]

Abusive coaches has to mean Bobby Knight?

[sooner333]

I don't think it necessarily means a center or big man. Man In the Middle could mean that since he was gay in a straight world and didn't come out, he was kind of "in the middle". However, I could be wrong.

[albionmoonlight]

It will be interesting to see who they call a "former NBA star."

"Star" can mean a lot of things to a lot of people.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Blue Edwards!!!

[stevew]

There was some big rumor last month that Richard Jefferson and his personal assistant were more than just buddy buddy. But it was from sketchy blog, so I don't think it was correct.

mediatakeout.com i think is the blogs name.

[Butter]

I take "star" to mean "fringe player".

[Ksyrup]

Mark Price

[cartman]

Shawn Kemp. Some people will go to any lengths to not pay child support.

[gottimd]

There was some big rumor last month that Richard Jefferson and his personal assistant were more than just buddy buddy. But it was from sketchy blog, so I don't think it was correct.

mediatakeout.com i think is the blogs name.

hahahahah, my wifes hot friend used to date him.

[Desnudo]

World B. Free

[miami_fan]

Well I am guessing it is someone who has at least played in the All-Star game. The Jet-setting description suggest someone of with at least some recognition to most NBA followers.

[John Galt]

I take "star" to mean "fringe player".

Agreed. They would have said "superstar" if they meant "star."

[gottimd]

http://www.amazon.com/Man-Middle/dp/1933060190/sr=1-4/qid=1169829831/ref=sr_1_4/102-9875051-6341709?ie=UTF8&s=books

[Ksyrup]

I'm kinda surprised this guy didn't want to just test the waters and come out within his home state or even regionally, before going national with it. I wonder when he's scheduled to come out internationally? I guess this guy's got a better grip on internet privacy than AE.

[Butter]

Agreed. They would have said "superstar" if they meant "star."

Exactly what I thought as well.

[Ksyrup]

http://www.amazon.com/Man-Middle/dp/1933060190/sr=1-4/qid=1169829831/ref=sr_1_4/102-9875051-6341709?ie=UTF8&s=books

I love the UIC that comes from the linking of search terms to ads:


Man In The Middle Ringtone (http://rd.a9.com/srv/redirect/?key=KqZA9YAqBPAY1OtrPyJaSokLfPE_&awt=1&s=) — Complimentary Man In The Middle Ringtone Real Music Ringtone. No Credit Cards Required. — www.find-real-tones.com (http://www.find-real-tones.com)


So, anyone want to guess what a gay former NBA star's ringtone would sound like?

[Toddzilla]

Hawthorne Wingo

[Logan]

A.C. Green?

edit: I have no idea, just the first name taht popped into my mind for some reason. Don't have any clue as to whetehr his life follows those obstacles mentioned.

Funny to see that as the first reply in this thread...another board I frequent talked about this yesterday, and I brought up Green for the first time on the 5th page of guesses.

[Toddzilla]

I love the UIC that comes from the linking of search terms to ads:


Man In The Middle Ringtone (http://rd.a9.com/srv/redirect/?key=KqZA9YAqBPAY1OtrPyJaSokLfPE_&awt=1&s=) — Complimentary Man In The Middle Ringtone Real Music Ringtone. No Credit Cards Required. — www.find-real-tones.com (http://www.find-real-tones.com)


So, anyone want to guess what a gay former NBA star's ringtone would sound like?

"It's Raining Men! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Men! Amen!
I'm gonna go out to run and let myself get
Absolutely soaking wet!
It's Raining Men! Hallelujah!
It's Raining Men! Every Specimen!
Tall, blonde, dark and lean
Rough and tough and strong and mean"

[JimmyWint]

Dominique Wilkins is my Guess.

[Mustang]

Toddzilla beat me to the song...

[Toddzilla]

Toddzilla beat me to the song...It's on my Inno, so I knew the words already...*cough* *cough*..I mean I'm fast with teh google.

[Lathum]

Bobby Hurley is who I thought of

[stevew]

Bobby Hurley is who I thought of

Yeah, but his dad was a famous high school coach, doesnt really fit with the storyline. Injury does though.

[Logan]

hahahahah, my wifes hot friend used to date him.

I'm sure even Lance Bass was with a hottie once in his life.

[bbor]

Rodman

[Ksyrup]

Dominique Wilkins is my Guess.

He would be more than a "star."

[rkmsuf]

Paul Mokeski

[Maple Leafs]

Even though it doesn't fit the clues, I'm going to go with Isiah Thomas.

[molson]

I'd imagine "life threatening-injury" might be exaggerated as well, that would seem to really narrow it down, and all I can think of Bobby Hurley and Rudy Tomjanovich.

Or, it could be older guy that played in the 60s, before such injuries would be instant ESPN news.

[Ksyrup]

Just because it would be an interesting exercise, can we come up with a list of some NBA'ers over the past 20 years or so who had serious injuries that could also be somehow construed as life-threatening?

[Ksyrup]

I'd imagine "life threatening-injury" might be exaggerated as well, that would seem to really narrow it down, and all I can think of Bobby Hurley and Rudy Tomjanovich.

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. I'd start with "career-threatening" or even "season-ending" injuries that required rehab and work from there. I can imagine it ending up being a blown-out knee where the guy was rehabbing in a pool, slipped, choked on some pool water, and claims he almost died.

[path12]

I'm kinda surprised this guy didn't want to just test the waters and come out within his home state or even regionally, before going national with it. I wonder when he's scheduled to come out internationally?

I think these days there's no such thing as doing something like this regionally. A pro athlete coming out is automatically a national story, especially if he's anything above a scrub.

[Ksyrup]

I think these days there's no such thing as doing something like this regionally. A pro athlete coming out is automatically a national story, especially if he's anything above a scrub.

Check your sarcasm meter.

[path12]

Check your sarcasm meter.

Goddamnit, I hate missing the sarcasm. :mad:

[Ksyrup]

Aside from the injury clue, what else is there?

Someone who wasn't highly recruited out of high school, may have played at a small college after being cut somewhere else. Eliminates some potential candidates from big-name schools. In fact, I'm thinking this is an older player for some reason, before grade school kids were recruited for college. How many Rodman-types are there who were virtually unknown?

Man in the Middle suggests a center/big man, but could just be a reference to basketball in general.

[Ksyrup]

The other thing to assume is that it's probably a name we know, but most likely a fringe player. I wouldn't even think "star" star. Anyone can claim to be a star. The lesser-known the person, the tougher it would be to know about abusive coaches, dead mothers, etc., all of the personal background.

[Swaggs]

I'll go against conventional wisdom and say... Brady Anderson.

[bbor]

Man in the Middle suggests a center/big man, but could just be a reference to basketball in general.

Or his sex life.

[Ksyrup]

Paul Mokeski

On another board, his name came up in the 6th post.

[Maple Leafs]

Just because it would be an interesting exercise, can we come up with a list of some NBA'ers over the past 20 years or so who had serious injuries that could also be somehow construed as life-threatening?
Oh my god, it's Manute Bol!

[Ksyrup]

Yes, I think it's a little-known fact that Manute Bol was overweight as a child!

[GoldenEagle]

I predict it will be an ESPN movie by the end of the year.

[albionmoonlight]

Yes, I think it's a little-known fact that Manute Bol was overweight as a child!:D

[Ksyrup]

I predict it will be an ESPN movie by the end of the year.

It's already an ESPN book...

[wade moore]

Aside from the injury clue, what else is there?

Someone who wasn't highly recruited out of high school, may have played at a small college after being cut somewhere else. Eliminates some potential candidates from big-name schools. In fact, I'm thinking this is an older player for some reason, before grade school kids were recruited for college. How many Rodman-types are there who were virtually unknown?

Man in the Middle suggests a center/big man, but could just be a reference to basketball in general.I think the two key hints that you can really go on is the Injury and the College situation. Both are things that you could garner from say a wiki search or something potentially if they're not too fringe.

I don't even care that an NBA player was gay, but this is like a Quiksand puzzle now ;).

[Ksyrup]

:D

Wait, I haven't finished.

...and he suffered from anorexia his entire life!

[GoldenEagle]

It is not Green...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C._Green

He is married and claims he was a virgin throughout his NBA career.

[Ksyrup]

I don't even care that an NBA player was gay, but this is like a Quiksand puzzle now ;).

Exactly!

This is like Who's Gay In Sports (WGIS) 2...the first being the thread way back when where we discussed the East Coast baseball player whose former boyfriend wrote an article about their relationship. It's like a puzzle.

Maybe if this becomes an epidemic - and it will if this guy's book makes millions - we can aspire to have our own forum!

[John Galt]

It is not Green...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C._Green

He is married and claims he was a virgin throughout his NBA career.

And yet another example of why we need the "going over someone's head" smiley.

[Ksyrup]

Mrs. Christie would be awfully pissed to learn that Doug penned an autobiography without her permission.

[albionmoonlight]

Let's see what clues can help us.

"awkward, overweight child"--very hard to get info on this

"to a jet-setting NBA star"--if he flew to games with the team, he was jet-setting.

"his father’s abandonment"--sadly, that's probably half the league.

"being cut from his first college team"--a bit more of a real clue, but, again, very hard to know. Was he cut because he wasn't any good? Was it a grades thing? Did he not get along with the coaches? Did it happen during a redshirt freshman year? There is no reason why this has to be a high-profile cut.

"a life-threatening injury"--Could be anything from a bad car wreck to one night when he got a really bad concussion and "the doctor's said that I probably might have died had I gone to sleep before I got medical attention."

"abusive coaches"--Every coach ever, right?

"the death of his mother"--hard to spin this, but I don't know how easily available the info would be.

Basically, this is not an easy case.

And, no, I have no idea why I am so interested.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, jet setting NBA star = was on the 12 man roster and flew with the team to games.

[wade moore]

"being cut from his first college team"--a bit more of a real clue, but, again, very hard to know. Was he cut because he wasn't any good? Was it a grades thing? Did he not get along with the coaches? Did it happen during a redshirt freshman year? There is no reason why this has to be a high-profile cut.

I keep going back to this one as it seems relatively easy to verify that someone was on more than one college team. There can't be all that many NBA players that fit this profile, can there?

Unfortunately, my knowledge of the NBA is probably the weakest of the big 3 sports so I'm not much help here.

[Ksyrup]

That is, by far, the best clue. From there, we could cross-reference players with known injuries and available info about their family (specifically, death of mother).

The problem is that if a guy was cut and never officially a member of a team, would there be a record of him as having been to 2 schools?

[rkmsuf]

That is, by far, the best clue. From there, we could cross-reference players with known injuries and available info about their family (specifically, death of mother).

The problem is that if a guy was cut and never officially a member of a team, would there be a record of him as having been to 2 schools?

cut could mean he didn't play as a freshman but made the team as a sophomore. not necessarily a part of two different colleges.

[stevew]

my guess might be someone who was prop 48. Jet Setting would indicate to me that this person played on several different teams.

[Butter]

That is, by far, the best clue. From there, we could cross-reference players with known injuries and available info about their family (specifically, death of mother).

Why don't you get on that?

[GoldenEagle]

Anfernee Hardaway did not play his first year at Memphis due to academics. He also got shot before he came to Memphis State and had several injuries throughout his career. He jumped around to different teams. But I do not think he was awkward and overweight and you really could not say he was cut by his college team. Plus, I think he is still actively seeking a job in the NBA.

[wade moore]

cut could mean he didn't play as a freshman but made the team as a sophomore. not necessarily a part of two different colleges.

being cut from his first college team

The word first here to me implies he was on more than one college team. Now, the point that he may have never been on the roster makes a search hard, but may make it so that it can be found in someone's bio.

[Ksyrup]

cut could mean he didn't play as a freshman but made the team as a sophomore. not necessarily a part of two different colleges.

But it says, "cut from first college team," which suggests more than one "team." Are you thinking 1995-1996 = one team, and 1996-1997 another, even though at the same school? Could be.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Anfernee Hardaway did not play his first year at Memphis due to academics. He also got shot before he came to Memphis State and had several injuries throughout his career. He jumped around to different teams. But I do not think he was awkward and overweight and you really could not say he was cut by his college team. Plus, I think he is still actively seeking a job in the NBA.
The bolded part brought me the most laughs in this entire thread.

[GoldenEagle]

The bolded part brought me the most laughs in this entire thread.

Penny can still play! I do not see why the Griz do not give him a roster spot, just for drawing fans to the game.

[timmynausea]

Looks like John Starks "bagged groceries for several years before playing basketball for several small colleges," according to Wikipedia. Plus he had a really badly broken arm (not exactly life threatening, but still).

It's really doubtful that it's him, but that's the best I could find so far. He already released his autobiography in 2004.

[Ksyrup]

Ok, work with me here. I'm sure this is the wrong answer, but maybe some of you in the know can fill in the missing pieces:


Subject: Mark Eaton

Position: Center - "Man in the Middle"

College: UCLA, by way of a JUCO where he was a walk-on after being spotted by a college recruiter while working as an auto mechanic. Possibly cut by "first college team"?

Family: Unknown - anyone? Mother dead/alive, relationship with father, is he married (would seem to suggest he wouldn't be coming out if currently married)?

Injuries: End of career was derailed by knee and back injuries, although none were considered "life-threatening" to my knowledge.

Coaches: Jerry Sloan, you abusive bastard!!!

Childhood: Was he overweight?

Extra Credit: This book is coming out in February. Coincidentally, a movie about Eaton's life and his journey to the NBA is in the works. Perhaps this is will be the gay Rudy story, only that part of the storyline hasn't been revealed yet? (http://nba.aolsportsblog.com/2006/12/27/the-mark-eaton-story-coming-soon-to-a-theater-near-you/)


http://charlielovett.com/mainpages/studyguides/clouseau.jpg

[Ksyrup]

It's really doubtful that it's him, but that's the best I could find so far. He already released his autobiography in 2004.

...which didn't make nearly as much money as this one will!

[rkmsuf]

Ok, work with me here. I'm sure this is the wrong answer, but maybe some of you in the know can fill in the missing pieces:


Subject: Mark Eaton

Position: Center - "Man in the Middle"

College: UCLA, by way of a JUCO where he was a walk-on after being spotted by a college recruiter while working as an auto mechanic. Possibly cut by "first college team"?

Family: Unknown - anyone? Mother dead/alive, relationship with father, is he married (would seem to suggest he wouldn't be coming out if currently married)?

Injuries: End of career was derailed by knee and back injuries, although none were considered "life-threatening" to my knowledge.

Coaches: Jerry Sloan, you abusive bastard!!!

Childhood: Was he overweight?

Extra Credit: This book is coming out in February. Coincidentally, a movie about Eaton's life and his journey to the NBA is in the works. Perhaps this is will be the gay Rudy story, only that part of the storyline hasn't been revealed yet? (http://nba.aolsportsblog.com/2006/12/27/the-mark-eaton-story-coming-soon-to-a-theater-near-you/)


http://charlielovett.com/mainpages/studyguides/clouseau.jpg

You wish Mark Eaton was gay.

[Ksyrup]

You wish Mark Eaton was gay.

That was the post I've been waiting to write since the first time I laid eyes on him wearing those 80s basketball shorts.

[wade moore]

From wiki -

Mark Eaton grew up in Southern California. Despite his height, as a youth he was more interested in playing water polo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_polo) than basketball. After graduating from Westminster High School, Eaton attended the Arizona Automotive Institute and graduated as a service technician. He worked as an auto mechanic for about three years, and was eventually discovered by Tom Lubin while repairing cars. Lubin was an assistant basketball coach at Cypress Junior College, and his encouragement led Eaton to enroll at Cypress and try out for the basketball team. Eaton developed into a solid junior college player. He averaged 14.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in two seasons at Cypress, and led the school to the California State Title as a sophomore.

I just don't think this sounds like some kicked off of his JuCo team.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Penny can still play! I do not see why the Griz do not give him a roster spot, just for drawing fans to the game.
You do realize that the NBA is not a wheelchair basketball league, right?

[Ksyrup]

From wiki -



I just don't think this sounds like some kicked off of his JuCo team.

Just because he tried out doesn't mean he made it the first time. Work with me here!

[albionmoonlight]

If Penny's knees had forced him to retire completely rather than hang around for years as a third-tier player with an albatross contract, we would think of his as one of the all time "what could have been" players instead of as a punchline.

He was doing things at the beginning of his career that no one had seen.

[rkmsuf]

He was doing things at the beginning of his career that no one had seen.

Ah ha!

[Butter]

You wish Mark Eaton was gay.


Somebody's been reading the Mark Eaton fanfic.

[digamma]

Alaa Abdulnabi...ok the jet setting star is a stretch.

[Ksyrup]

Ramon Ramos was in a terrible accident as a player and came from Puerto Rico to the US (Seton Hall), so there could be some wiggle room in there about playing with another college team. However, this comment, if true/up-to-date in his Wiki entry, woudl seem to rule him out:

"Ramos has difficulty walking and doing every day things, and he requires constant supervision by his parents."

[Maple Leafs]

I think I've got it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amaechi

- The son of a Nigerian father, he was raised in Stockport, England by his English mother.
- Former NBA player, now in England, that makes him jet-setting
- Played for Vanderbilt, then transferred to Penn State - cut?
- Passing reference to a life-threatening injury on this page: http://www.animus-consulting.com/consulting/index.htm
- That page also describes him as "not athletic enough" as a teenager

[Ksyrup]

Dola.

I just want to point out that Ramon Ramos could have had an abusive coach in Puerto Rico or it could have been...

PJ CARELISMO!

Latrell Sprewell was set up us the bomb!

[JimmyWint]

Nick Van Exel....
Lost his Mother Recently......Plus this from Wiki....

Has a scar on his right eyebrow from a traffic accident when he was a teenager...Could have been Life Threatening...


From his Bio...With the name Nickey you have to wonder....

Full name is Nickey Maxwell Van Exel
Enjoys video games, listening to music, playing tennis and golf and going to the movies
Honored with the Chopper Travaglini Award for his generosity in the Denver community
Wears number 31 in honor of Pearl Washington (his favorite college player growing up)
Involved with the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church
Won the Victor Award for Comeback Player of the Year following the 1997-98 season
His heroes as a youngster were Reggie Theus and Marques Johnson
Majored in sociology at Cincinnati
Leading scorer in the state of Wisconsin as a senior at Kenosha St. Joseph's High (29.8 ppg)
As a senior won the Wisconsin state high school slam dunk contest
Favorite pro teams are the Cubs, Avalanche and Packers
Collects baseball cards, hats and books
His favorite movie of all-time is Friday

[Ksyrup]

I think I've got it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amaechi

- The son of a Nigerian father, he was raised in Stockport, England by his English mother.
- Former NBA player, now in England, that makes him jet-setting
- Played for Vanderbilt, then transferred to Penn State - cut?
- Passing reference to a life-threatening injury on this page: http://www.animus-consulting.com/consulting/index.htm

Nice! Even a reference to the exact "life-threatening injury" phrase without further explanation, suggesting it isn't what you would think.

[wade moore]

I think I've got it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Amaechi

- The son of a Nigerian father, he was raised in Stockport, England by his English mother.
- Former NBA player, now in England, that makes him jet-setting
- Played for Vanderbilt, then transferred to Penn State - cut?
- Passing reference to a life-threatening injury on this page: http://www.animus-consulting.com/consulting/index.htm
- That page also describes him as "not athletic enough" as a teenager

Seems like at least a very good guess. How did you come upon him as a guess?

[Maple Leafs]

Seems like at least a very good guess. How did you come upon him as a guess?
I googled "NBA" and "life-threatening injury", and he eventually showed up four or five pages in.

Also, I fucked him back in 2002.

[wade moore]

I googled "NBA" and "life-threatening injury", and he eventually showed up four or five pages in.

Also, I fucked him back in 2002.

Ah, me too but I didn't find him...


Oh, me too on the first part, not the second ;).

[Butter]

Amaechi's English... if it were him, I tend to think this would be big news in Britain, but not so much here.

[Maple Leafs]

Apparently he was once suspended by Utah for a "confrontation" with Jerry Sloan. Abusive?

[gottimd]

I googled Wade Moore and Mapleleafs and Man love with former NBA Player and got his name.

[Maple Leafs]

I googled Wade Moore and Mapleleafs and Man love with former NBA Player and got his name.
You found my blog!

[VPI97]

Five bucks says that it's the NBA player who was supposedly involved with Jermaine "We don't have to take our clothes off" Stewart in the 80's.

[Klinglerware]

http://sport.scotsman.com/athletics.cfm?id=907912002

"If you look at our league, minorities aren’t very well represented," noted Briton John Amaechi, of Utah Jazz, who received threats after espousing supposedly-non-traditional values on his personal website. "There’s hardly any Hispanic players, no Asian-Americans, so that there’s no openly gay players is no real surprise.

"It would be like an alien dropping down from space. There’d be fear, then panic: they just wouldn’t know how to handle it."

[wade moore]

Wow, I think Maple Leafs may have really hit this one...

[rkmsuf]

Wow, I think Maple Leafs may have really hit this one...

Literally. Several times.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I actually thought of John Amaechi when I saw Alaa Abdelnaby's name. I'm not sure why, but Amaechi crossed my mind, too. Eerie.

[LloydLungs]

See, two pages in and all the suspense is ruined already. Threads like this make this forum unreadable.

[miami_fan]

A reporter is reading FOFC right now and will be breaking the exclusive on tonight's six o'clock news.

[MikeVic]

A reporter is reading FOFC right now and will be breaking the exclusive on tonight's six o'clock news.

Cam Edwards...

[VPI97]

Amaechi's mother died of cancer when he was in college at Penn State....it fits with the book description.

[vtbub]

You do realize that the NBA is not a wheelchair basketball league, right?


Yes it is, and I would have made it too if they hadn't found Barry Manilow on my iPod.

*sniff*

[bbor]

M.L=Net detective

[rkmsuf]

A reporter is reading FOFC right now and will be breaking the exclusive on tonight's six o'clock news.

"Now at 6, our top story. FOFC member Maple Leafs has revealed that he had sex with former NBA player John Amechie several times during 2002."

[Pumpy Tudors]

Yes it is, and I would have made it too if they hadn't found Barry Manilow on my iPod.

*sniff*
I'm sorry, but I laughed really, really hard at this.

[Maple Leafs]

Cam Edwards...
No, that was my first thought too, but he never played in the NBA.

[Ksyrup]

Apparently he was once suspended by Utah for a "confrontation" with Jerry Sloan. Abusive?

I guess my comment about Sloan in my post about Eaton was spot-on!

[gottimd]

No, that was my first thought too, but he never played in the NBA.

Not under that name, he played under an alias perhaps?

[rkmsuf]

what better gay john amechie or gay mark eaton?

thanks

[albionmoonlight]

Hmmm..

Maybe someone should send this analysis to Bill Simmons or some other popular sportswriter. Tell him that he can use it in exchange for giving FOF an awesome review and ordering all of his readers to buy a copy.

And, if Ameche sues him for $10,000,000 for libel, then we can just say "don't worry about the FOF Review."

I'm sure Jim won't mind having his game's reputation linked to selling information about gay NBA players.

[Warhammer]

If Penny's knees had forced him to retire completely rather than hang around for years as a third-tier player with an albatross contract, we would think of his as one of the all time "what could have been" players instead of as a punchline.

He was doing things at the beginning of his career that no one had seen.

And to think, I blew off friends of mine who wound up playing a pick up game of basketball with him to go on a date. Gah!

[Crapshoot]

No, that was my first thought too, but he never played in the NBA.

ML is En Fuego!

[korme]

I clicked the Wiki link ML provided. Then I clicked on John Amaechi's website. There's a video on there, that opens- "John Amaechi. The UK's first and only superstar."

SUPERSTAR? He wasn't even a star. He never even logged more than 22 mpg! Ugh.

[rkmsuf]

I clicked the Wiki link ML provided. Then I clicked on John Amaechi's website. There's a video on there, that opens- "John Amaechi. The UK's first and only superstar."

SUPERSTAR? He wasn't even a star. He never even logged more than 22 mpg! Ugh.

and he was born in Boston, MA!

[Ksyrup]

You know, this probably sounds bad, but when I opened the link to the story and saw his picture, I thought, "Hmmm...handsome, thin, and appears to dress well. It's him."

[korme]

Furthermore, he teaches camps and shit in Manchester. I think he's got too much going on involving hoops for him to come out and say he's gay.

[bbor]

The guy from Cocoon was in the NBA.....and he's gay????

[rkmsuf]

You know, this probably sounds bad, but when I opened the link to the story and saw his picture, I thought, "Hmmm...handsome, thin, and appears to dress well. It's him."

maybe sloan yell at both. who the power bottom...him or Eaton?

ok bye

[bbor]

You know, this probably sounds bad, but when I opened the link to the story and saw his picture, I thought, "Hmmm...handsome, thin, and appears to dress well. It's him."

You forgot neat.

[miami_fan]

You know, this probably sounds bad, but when I opened the link to the story and saw his picture, I thought, "Hmmm...handsome, thin, and appears to dress well. It's him."

I see the NBA dress code in a completely new light now!:)

[rkmsuf]

Random thought:

I've never seen Paul Pierce with a woman or heard Paul Pierce talk about a woman.

I have none of these concerns with Tom Brady.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Random thought:

Paul Pierce kinda looks like a woman. I mean, he looks like an ugly woman, in the same way that Dee from "What's Happening?" did, but he looks like a woman.

[rkmsuf]

Random thought:

Paul Pierce kinda looks like a woman. I mean, he looks like an ugly woman, in the same way that Dee from "What's Happening?" did, but he looks like a woman.

I kinda agree. I'm not sure what that means.

[Ksyrup]

If you google "john amaechi gay" you'll see that we aren't the first to come to this conclusion.

[gottimd]

Random Illiteration:

Paul Pierce Prefers Penis

Its a Media Frenzy!

[CU Tiger]

And to think, I blew off friends of mine

WHOA...this gay thing is spreading quickly....maybe he should go back in the closet?

[miami_fan]

Can I put in a vote for Christian Laettner?

[Comey]

I thought Amaechi being gay was something already known...though I have no idea why I think that, other than I remember him coming out a few years ago, or something.

Maybe it was just a rumor...but, in being close to PSU...you know, I know I heard this from a reliable source, but I can't figure out where.

If I do, I'll repost. Otherwise, you just get this stream of consciousness.

-John

[Easy Mac]

I too assumed it was Amaechi... don't know why, I think its the British thing.

[Fidatelo]

What's going to happen once being gay in sports is no longer taboo, like how being black in sports was back in the day? What barriers are left? I'm already getting bored of the "women playing with men" thing.

I feel like, as a society, we need to come up with a new form of exclusion in order to keep things interesting 20 years from now. Think of the children!

[dawgfan]

Smokers vs. non-smokers.

[JeeberD]

I thought Amaechi being gay was something already known...though I have no idea why I think that, other than I remember him coming out a few years ago, or something.

Maybe it was just a rumor...but, in being close to PSU...you know, I know I heard this from a reliable source, but I can't figure out where.


I seem to remember something along the lines of this as well. I thought there were rumors about him when he was still playing... *shrug*

[JeeberD]

Dola-

Perhaps this is will be the gay Rudy story...


http://www.rivalfish.com/rivalroom/uploaded_images/060126_rudy_vmed_3p.widec-775047.jpg


:confused:

[Icy]

I can't imagine how bad it could be be to be "the receiving part" in the gay relationship with a basketball player with the size of Manute Bol...

[saldana]

Can I put in a vote for Christian Laettner?

what i cant believe is that it took 130 posts before someone threw this out.

my first though was laettner...followed shortly thereafter by grant hill

[Toddzilla]

Xavier McDaniel?

Bimbo Coles?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Xavier McDaniel?
NOBODY GETS MORE PUSSY THAN THE X-MAN!!!

[jbergey22]

Shawn Kemp. Some people will go to any lengths to not pay child support.

This is my favorite comment of this entire thread,LMAO

[DanGarion]

I always thought baseketball was gay...

[Glengoyne]

Check your sarcasm meter.

Mine is apparently working, because shortly before clicking the Quote button on your "regional" post it occurred to me that you couldn't have been serious. So it kicked in just in time to save me from your trap.

I had already started to compose my post though, so I guess my meter is just stuck a little bit. /tap /tap

[EagleFan]

Nice work ML, I think you nailed it. But come on the last line in the story on the link you provided made it a little easier...

His demeanour and experience allow for inspiring, entertaining and unforgettable man on man interaction.

[Ryan S]

Amaechi's English... if it were him, I tend to think this would be big news in Britain, but not so much here.

I would be surprised if anyone in Britain has ever heard of John Amaechi. (besides diehard NBA fans)

[stevew]

Confirmed...

Former Cleveland Cavalier and Ohio high-school standout John Amaechi will officially declare his sexual orientation on a taped episode of "Outside The Lines" that will air on the 13th of this month. He will release a book the following day chronicling his travails as a closeted NBA player.

Amaechi is best known as being the first undrafted player in league history to start in his first game as a rookie, with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

[Logan]

Wow, this story got really uninteresting very quickly.

[Ksyrup]

The puzzle certainly provided more payoff than the answer.

[MikeVic]

FOFC wins!

[Ksyrup]

ESPN has an article about it - it's now official.

Somehow, I think this was known amongst the ESPN/SI/Sportsline reporters, but no one bothered to leak it or report it as a scoop because it's no one we really care about. I'd be curious if the media's handling of this would have been different if it was someone more recognizable, even if it wasn't a true "star."

[Easy Mac]

From what I understand, ESPN is a partner in the promotion of the book (there's an interview with Bob Ley or something like that), so the more they could delay it so they could promote the show/book/story, the better.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, that's right. I recall the book being an ESPN Book production or something along those lines.

Which surprises me even more that SI didn't let a little air out of the story.

[Easy Mac]

I'm just speculating, but they probably have some sort of cease fire unofficial agreement between the magazines and what not for certain stories. I think there is a certain level of fighting these places are willing to do over scoops on breaking stories, but then there are certain things they're not willing to screw the other over on.

[bulletsponge]

ive never heard of Amechia or however you spell his name. when did he play?

[Vinatieri for Prez]

I thought the guy died shortly after filming of Cocoon 2?

[Ryan S]

As suspected, this story is getting no press at all in the UK.

[AgustusM]

I never heard of him either - when I first heard this I assumed he was some guy from back in the 50's or something.

oh well - yawn, gay people, whatever.

[dawgfan]

ive never heard of Amechia or however you spell his name. when did he play?
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/amaecjo01.html

[miami_fan]

So does this being a non story mean a current player could come out of the closet next? In any sport?

[JeffNights]

You know, now that this is out...When watching the beginning to "SportsCentury" i'll never be able to supress a giggle when the announcer goes "Amaechi powers in".

[Butter]

Good call by.... whoever it was.

[Pumpy Tudors]

So does this being a non story mean a current player could come out of the closet next? In any sport?
In any sport? Sure, I guess you could see it in billiards or bowling or maybe even men's tennis. The "Big Three" (or four, if you include hockey) sports, though? Not anytime soon.

This was John Amaechi. Imagine if this had been a member of the 1992 Dream Team (well, anyone but Laettner). It would be a huge story. You'd have the press asking other Dream Team members if they knew all along. The player's coaches from high school to the pros would be asked if they saw any signs of it. The only reason that this is fairly insignificant is that relatively few people remember John Amaechi.

This isn't going to make it any easier for a current player to come out. It didn't happen in baseball after Billy Bean, and it didn't happen in football after Esera Tuaolo. Heck, it didn't even happen in figure skating after Rudy Galindo.

I guess I'm just trying to say no.

[Logan]

I agree. My favorite morning show (Free Beer and Hot Wings...I'll give them a plug whenever I can) was talking about this today, and also explored whether this could make it easier for a current player to come out. The conclusion was no...in football, basketball and hockey, you'd be putting yourself in a situation where it is very easy to sustain a serious, maybe even life-threatening injury (hehe, ironic given what we heard at the beginning of this story) from just one person who hates gays and wants to take a cheap shot at you. Maybe even "hates gays" is too strong...hell, it could just be one guy saying "he's not manly enough," and there's your helmet to the spine.

The only way it could happen is if it's a major star, with a major personality, in a game where you don't need the support of your teammates to maintain your physical well-being. Sammy Sosa blew the opportunity for all gays in sports.

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/hawks/stories/2007/03/12/0313amaechi.html

Amaechi signs razor endorsement deal

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published on: 03/12/07

LOS ANGELES — Former NBA player John Amaechi became the first openly gay male athlete to sign an endorsement deal with a mainstream company.

HeadBlade Inc., creators of a popular head-shaving razor, announced Monday it had signed Amaechi to a multiyear deal. Financial terms were undisclosed.

"I think it's fantastic that HeadBlade has approached me to endorse the brand," said Amaechi in a statement.

Amaechi became the first NBA player to acknowledge his homosexuality with the release of his memoir, "Man in the Middle" in February. The book is currently on The New York Times Best Seller List.

Concern about endorsement deals is one reason some male athletes stay in the closet during their careers.

"John Amaechi is the newest face of the brand because he embodies many of the qualities representative of a HeadBlader," HeadBlade chief executive Todd Greene said. "He is a man comfortable in his own skin and he's not afraid to go against the grain."

[Ksyrup]

I thought the ESPN Ombudsman appropriately took ESPN to task for their conflict of interest in openly shoving this story down our throats and bankrolling the book.

[Easy Mac]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/hawks/stories/2007/03/12/0313amaechi.html

Amaechi signs razor endorsement deal

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published on: 03/12/07

LOS ANGELES — Former NBA player John Amaechi became the first openly gay male athlete to sign an endorsement deal with a mainstream company.

HeadBlade Inc., creators of a popular head-shaving razor, announced Monday it had signed Amaechi to a multiyear deal. Financial terms were undisclosed.

"I think it's fantastic that HeadBlade has approached me to endorse the brand," said Amaechi in a statement.

Amaechi became the first NBA player to acknowledge his homosexuality with the release of his memoir, "Man in the Middle" in February. The book is currently on The New York Times Best Seller List.

Concern about endorsement deals is one reason some male athletes stay in the closet during their careers.

"John Amaechi is the newest face of the brand because he embodies many of the qualities representative of a HeadBlader," HeadBlade chief executive Todd Greene said. "He is a man comfortable in his own skin and he's not afraid to go against the grain."

Didn't Gervis of Survivor pimp this before?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Didn't Gervis of Survivor pimp this before?

Turns out you're right.
http://www.headblade.com/headbladers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headblade