John Amaechi

[Erik4Cy]

Don't think anyone has talked about this yet and was kinda surprised. For those who don't know Amaechi was an NBA player who has now after his career in the league came out and said he was gay and this is a huge news story. Just wondering what some peoples thoughts were on this (within reason)...

Honestly I think its sad this is even an issue, the only thing I don't understand is why every gay athlete never says they are gay until their careers are over...is there something out there keeping them in the closet while they play? I am not gay, but I can sympathize with gay athletes - I think its terrible they have to live scared to admit WHO THEY ARE.

 

[ISUFan22]

Honestly I think its sad this is even an issue,

Agreed.

It's also sad that some are ignorant enough to say "as long as he doesn't put his gayness on me, I'm ok with it"...after he's already been a teammate with the guy for a while.

 

[Rolling Clones]

Why is this story even newsworthy? Who cares?

 

[ekim121]

Yea, I didn't even give it any thought, as it really doesn't matter to me. Gay, not gay, whatever, it's cool. This is not to say that I'm unwilling to make value judgements, just that in this case I don't think it matters whatsoever. If you get your kicks with dudes or chicks it really matters not.

 

[Knownothing]

Who cares. It's not like Alex Rodriguez came out of the closet. That will be story when that happens

 

[zdorr40]

Let's just put a great big rainbow sticker on this thread and let it go.

 

[jparker22]

It has to be a product of our sports. Look at the thread about the new S&C coach for football. We all want to imagine our athletes as the toughest and most manly of men. I won't say that if you come out as gay you can't be manly, but most of society would not see you as such.

I have to admit that I had the stereotype of what a gay man was that was only solidified in my little sphere from small town Iowa, and the few gay guys that I knew there. The media helped my stereotype with Will & Grace, Queer eye, etc. My stereotype wasn't really changed until I sat at a party with a 35+ yr old guy, drinking some beer, having some chew, and talking about hunting. He was wearing a flannel button up, sweat pants and work boots. Definately did not fit my stereotype. His boyfriend came over and kissed him and I then realized that this was my friends gay neighbor. Changed my perception forever, no stereotypes left thanks to this experience.
I hope that some day a guy in one of the leagues can do what they want in private or public and it is not an issue, but I don't see it changing anytime soon.

 

[zdorr40]

As long as the media is pushing an agenda, we'll all being hearing about this stuff constantly.

 

[ISUFan22]

As long as the media is pushing an agenda, we'll all being hearing about this stuff constantly.

Really? So gay athletes are only viewed as different by the media - not their peers or the public?

This isn't just a media bonanza - it's a real issue where these guys are shunned by teammates and friends, hazed, harassed, etc.

 

[EggMcClone]

It's a somewhat significant deal just because there haven't been any openly gay athletes yet but it wouldn't surprise if there is one within the next few years.

It's not like there aren't any playing now and some of the comments from current players made it sound like they're more open than it's seemed in the past. Charles Barkley was saying that he never bought that it would be a huge lockerroom problem because most of the guys know or suspect it if they have a gay teammate already. My guess is the biggest hassles would be all of the media coverage and heckling or whatever from the fans and some guys just aren't willing to put up with that.

 

[zdorr40]

Really? So gay athletes are only viewed as different by the media - not their peers or the public?

This isn't just a media bonanza - it's a real issue where these guys are shunned by teammates and friends, hazed, harassed, etc.

Obviously this guy is looking for some attention or to sell some more of his books. Otherwise he wouldn't have come out publicly through the media, he would have just told his friends and family.

You can't sit here and say it's not that big of a deal in one post and then turn right around say it's a big issue.

 

[Erik4Cy]

Really? So gay athletes are only viewed as different by the media - not their peers or the public?

This isn't just a media bonanza - it's a real issue where these guys are shunned by teammates and friends, hazed, harassed, etc.

amen...i am not gonna lie you sound like my dad...and it's not even necessarily bcuz I tend to lean liberal and he tends to lean conservative, bcuz i don't see this as a real political issue (its a social one). But my father always like to say "oh, that's just the liberal media...etc. wanting you to believe something."

I think homosexuals are going to have a hard time assimilating into "normal" society...i use normal in quotations bcuz it is the most undefinable word. African-Americans, women, and other minorites had social movements and still have them ongoing, I think ideally you wish everyone would just stop judging people by what they are or look like, judge their character like the great MLK Jr. said.

I hate to say that i am for gay rights, bcuz it makes it sound like it should be debated and I CANNOT believe something such as a person's rights should ever be debated/denied...I mean "gay rights"...they should be no different from "human rights" bcuz gays are humans and vice versa, gays are not something lesser, they are humans. And I cannot believe what this country is doing to keep them from their human rights. Can't even get married? it's ridiculous.

Gays and lesbians should have every right to get married and be just as miserable as heterosexual married couples, lol.

 

[ISUFan22]

Obviously this guy is looking for some attention or to sell some more of his books. Otherwise he wouldn't have come out publicly through the media, he would have just told his friends and family.

You can't sit here and say it's not that big of a deal in one post and then turn right around say it's a big issue.

Never did I say it wasn't a big deal. I agreed with someone else's statement of "it's sad this is even an issue". Two entirely different things.

The gay issue is similar to the racial bigotry this country went through and still endures today. Notice I said similar and not like it - I don't pretend to think the gay issue is on the same level as racial views.

Yet they have some of the same attributes. And it took some great men and women in our history to stand up for what they believe in. At the time, they were perceived as "just wanting attention", disobedient, etc. Today, they're historical figures.

Do I think Amaechi and people that speak out about gay rights and treatment will be viewed at the same level as MKL, Rosa Parks, Malcom X, etc? Heck no - two entirely different issues and movements.

But to label a man that is outting himself, raising awareness and such - as an attention seeker - is a bit premature.

 

[bawbie]

Obviously this guy is looking for some attention or to sell some more of his books. Otherwise he wouldn't have come out publicly through the media, he would have just told his friends and family.

You can't sit here and say it's not that big of a deal in one post and then turn right around say it's a big issue.

So you know when and where and how he came out to his family and friends?

I have no idea, but I'd bet they didn't learn about it from a book.

 

[ISUKyro]

I think its sad this is even an issue,

Not to be rude but if you think it's sad that it's an issue why would you wan to make a thread about it? Doesn't that continue to make it an issue?
Just my two cents.

 

[cycloneworld]

This is a significant issue. There is a story here. This is the first gay NBA basketball player to publicly come out. The media loves "firsts" and people are going to be talking about it. In a country who attempts to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, this is a big deal.

And of course he doing this to sell books.

 

[clones_jer]

Never would've guessed John Amaechi, Reggie Miller yes, but not John.

As I remember he had like a psychology doctorate or something like that and wsa quoted as saying he was playing basketball as the logical financial move, but he really had no love for th sport ... anybody got the time to look up the real quote for me?

 

[zdorr40]

But to label a man that is outting himself, raising awareness and such - as an attention seeker - is a bit premature.

Possibly. You've gotta admit, though. Why did he come out to the media at the same time he's selling a book? Obviously he's looking to bump sales a little bit.

I'm glad we're not trying to equate sexaul preference with race. You are correct, they're not the same. Of course, I'm going to take it a step further and call a spade a spade. Homosexual behavior is a choice. Notice I didn't say the feelings or the tendency is. I firmly believe John Amaechi is being deceived. I feel bad for him. I don't hate him, nor do I hate any group of people. Except Hawkeye fans. Anyhow, this is a debilitating lifestyle. The statistics are all over the place. Life expectancies for gay men are in the 40s. Depression rates are through the roof, as are suicide rates. This is horrible.

Call me whatever names you like (and I'm talking to this whole board, not just you, 22) but the Lord created us to do many things, but this isn't one of them.

...And now I'm counting down to the closure of this thread...

 

[Erik4Cy]

Not to be rude but if you think it's sad that it's an issue why would you wan to make a thread about it? Doesn't that continue to make it an issue?
Just my two cents.

the thing about "issues" are that most at some point get resolved, and then they are no longer "issues."

I understand what you said, but I made that comment, bcuz I wish that this "issue" of gays coming out and gay rights in general were not there and we wouldn't need to talk about it. But they are.

I think it is sad that we don't have the same rights for gays as heterosexuals, i think its sad gay people get murdered simply for the fact they are gay, i think it sad gay people cannot marry one another the way a straight person can marry a straight person, i think its sad some people in this country are still filled with bigotry, and i think its sad so few people are doing so few about issues surrounding gays/lesbians for fear of being lumped into a group that society categorizes as "different" and not a norm.

I hope that really clears up why this "issue" makes me sad.

 

[ISUFan22]

The statistics are all over the place. Life expectancies for gay men are in the 40s. Depression rates are through the roof, as are suicide rates. This is horrible.

And I wonder why they're so depressed. Parents, siblings, friends disowning them for being gay. Teammates harassing them. People they don't even know treating them poorly - even physically harming them.

Yeah, if crap like that happened to me - I'd be depressed too.

Call me whatever names you like (and I'm talking to this whole board, not just you, 22) but the Lord created us to do many things, but this isn't one of them.

I'm sure I could go look up what people from the south said back in our history about black men and women - and find an almost exact quote as the one that you just typed.

Silly me for relating this to racial persecution again - but the two do smell similar.

I like women. I also like Modelo, supreme pizza, ISU, football, steak, occasional gambling, etc. I could go on and on. All of these things are personal preferences. I don't push any of them on others - therefore people don't treat me poorly because of these choices ('cept the occasional Iowa fan).

So what gives people the right to treat gay people differently because of their personal choices? Constantly remind gay men it's not manly? Harass lesbian women for not liking what men have to offer?

The vast majority of harassment that both gay men and lesbian women receive is from one gender - male. I wonder why that is.

Could it be that male ego coming out when a woman prefers her own gender over us masculine men? Or the fear of our male comrades coming out and admitting they're gay?

I think so.