Ex-NBA basketball player announces he's gay  

I read that this player is actually English, so he probably can perform on the pitch as well as the court!

Maybe someday there will be a big NBA star from Ireland, and your country will be overcome with hoops fever!

I just don't see why he felt it was so important to tell the world about it in a book.

What is the purpose? Will it make other athletes come out of the closet?

I just don't understand the motive.

Just my opinion.

Lloyd

I don't know, I guess he's telling his story and hiding his sexuality is a big part of it. I can't see many other gay athletes coming out; it seems like teammates would not be so accepting.

An Irish NBA star...well, stranger things have happened!

John Amaechi is English... that's pretty strange to see in the NBA!

The NBA is more diverse than many of you think. There a players from all over the world. Tony Parker is from France. We have Yao Ming, the big fellow from China.

The European players have made a huge impact on the league.

And now South American players are in the mix.

Don't be surprised to see a basketball player from any part of the world.

Lloyd

Yes it is very diverse, and that's why I find it kind of strange that you rarely see players from England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Like you say, there are players from practically everywhere else--Spain, Lithuania, Ukraine, Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Serbia, Canada, Zaire, France, Greece, Italy, Germany... and those are just the countries I can think of off the top of my head!

Sports is a pretty macho world, and though there have always been gays in sports it's been a 'don't ask, don't tell' situation--people were expected to keep their sexual orientation under wraps if they weren't straight.

One former NBA player (Tim Hardaway) said before the All-Star game that he hated gays and wouldn't want one on his team. There are probably quite a few players who feel that way, so I can understand why most gay athletes don't want to come out.

He just published his autobiography that talks about all aspects of his life and growing up, etc., and since he talks about being gay and an athlete in the book he figured it would be best to say something about it beforehand.

I guess he's hoping his story will help other gay athletes feel less alone, though judging by Tim Hardaway's comments, I can see why gay athletes would want to stay in the closet.

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Amaechi was a decent player, and he never got into fights with players or fans, got into a brawl in a nightclub, or smashed TV equipment, like some current players have.