As many may already be aware, former NBA player John Amaechi became the first current or former openly gay NBA player. What I didn't know is that Lebron James is homophobic.
After his announcement, many current and former players and coaches offered support for Amaechi and some even voiced distress over the fact that players apparently do not feel comfortable being open about their sexuality in the NBA. As Charles Barkley noted:
"It shouldn't be a big deal to anybody. I know I've played with gay players and against gay players and it just shouldn't surprise anybody or be any issue."
Around the league, very few players seemed to take issue with Amaechi's sexuality. But then, Lebron James, arguably the biggest superstar in the league, had to jump into the fray.
"With teammates 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 No. 1 thing as teammates — 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."
Why is it a trust issue? Does it matter who John Amaechi is physically attracted to when the game is on the line? Of course not. Did it ever cross James' mind that maybe he helped to create a feeling in the locker room of intolerance? Were there ever side remarks about gays or jokes made about sexuality in any locker room that could make a gay person feel uncomfortable?
Does anyone remember the ESPN show "Playmakers." USA Today columnist Rudy Martzke said it was a good move on ESPN's part to cancel the show because
its storylines of drugs, spousal abuse and homosexuality continued a trend of ESPN moves that needlessly offended part of its core audience.
The show was canceled in large part because the star player on the team, the only one to make the Pro Bowl, turned out to be gay. The NFL didn't want its brand associated with homosexuality.
Or what about Jazz coach, Jerry Sloan, for whom Amaechi formerly played?
Amaechi also writes that while playing in Utah, coach Jerry Sloan used anti-gay innuendo to describe him. Sloan said on Wednesday that although his relationship with Amaechi was "shaky" because of the player's attitude, he didn't know Amaechi was gay. Sloan had no comment about Amaechi's contention that Sloan used anti-gay innuendo when referring to him. Amaechi said he found out about it in e-mails from friends in the Jazz front office.
What effect does this attitude have on the millions of kids (and adults for that matter) who worship Lebron James and other pro stars and watch hours and hours of ESPN? It solidifies the notion that homosexuality does not need to be tolerated or accepted as part of human nature. It may be OK in general, but if you're going to be a pro athlete, don't bother trying out. It ensures that even as progressive legislators continue to be elected, amendments banning gay marriage will continue to pass as well. Pro athletes, as with all celebrities can have a major impact on the political discourse across the nation, and many have run for office and been elected. Lynn Swann made a serious run at the governor's mansion in Pennsylvania and opposed gay marriage. What effect will the appearance of Tony Dungy, the first African-American coach to win the Super Bowl, at an event sponsored by the Indiana Family Institute have on the debate over gay marriage in Indiana?
Clearly, Lebron James is the one with trust issues. Athletes should be held to account when they make hateful comments.
UPDATE: I understand what a lot people are saying about being teammates and that what Lebron said isn't necessarily anti-gay, just that he believes that teammates should know everything about each other. As others suggested in the notes, which I agree with, do straight players have to announce their heterosexuality? What about the players who are not married and don't date? This can can, and often does, lead to people suggesting that the player is gay. Then, several years later (after the player is out the league, for example), the teammates learn that the player is getting married to a woman. Are the teammates disappointed that their teammate didn't tell them he was straight?