Reactions To Amaechi Coming Out Mainly Positive

The announcement by former NBA player John Amaechi that he is gay polarized opinion Thursday but reactions were in general positive from both players, trainers and others in the media.

"He's better than a good kid; he's a fantastic kid," Doc Rivers, Amaechi's trainer in Orlando, said Wednesday night after learning the news. "John Amaechi, when I was coaching him, was a great kid. He did as much charity work as anybody in our city, and he's still doing it. That's what I wish we focused on.

"Unfortunately, we're talking about his sexual orientation, which I couldn't care a flying flip about."

Martina Navratilova, the most famous out gay athlete in history, congratulated Amaechi with his decision to come forward:

"It's hugely important for the kids so they don't feel alone in the world. We're role models. We're adults, and we know we're not alone but kids don't know that," she said. "He will definitely help a lot of kids growing up to feel better about themselves."

The response from players were mixed and, in some cases, displayed the bigotry still present in male professional sports.

"As long as you don't bring your gayness on me I'm fine," said Shavlik Randolph, the Philadelphia 76ers forward. "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."

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, branded Amaechi's decision not to declare his homosexuality while playing as untrustworthy.

"With team-mates you have to be trustworthy, and if you're gay and you're not admitting that you are, then you are not trustworthy," James said. "So that's like the number one thing as team-mates, we all trust each other. 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."

The story, revealed first by Times Online, has been covered by all aspects of US media and further details have emerged on the content of Amaechi's autobiography, entitled Man In The Middle and due for release on February 20.

Amaechi will not "out" any other players in his book but he confirms he believes there are other gay players in the league.

"I don't know if there are a lot, but there are some," he said. "But, you know, I don't really want to talk about it because I think that the coming out process for these individuals . . . it is their's and their's alone. And I don't think that they should be pressured or pushed for the good of the gay community or otherwise.

"It's a frightening prospect. It's terrifying. There are people for whom their entire world is based around this idea that people will look at them and, when they look at them, they are NBA superstars, NBA players. And any change to that would be physiologically devastating. Emotionally devastating, financially devastating."

Amaechi also reveals that he discussed the issue of coming out with some of his gay peers during his playing days but he does not reveal any names.