tugmoose Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 From ESPN.com: Amaechi becomes first NBA player to come out John Amaechi, who played at Penn State and for five seasons in the NBA, will announce he is gay in an upcoming book. The book, published by ESPN Books (owned by the Walt Disney Company, parent company of ESPN), is entitled "Man in the Middle." It is due to be released later this month. Amaechi, born in Massachusetts but raised in England, would be the first NBA player to come out publicly. Few other men's professional major sport athletes have announced they are gay. Among them are football player Esera Tuaolo, baseball player Billy Bean and baseball umpire Dave Pallone. Amaechi, a 6-10 center, played for Cleveland, Orlando and Utah during five NBA seasons. He averaged 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds before retiring from the league in 2003. He is currently known in Britain as a television personality and for helping fund the Amaechi Basketball Center in Manchester. He played collegiately at Penn State after transferring from Vanderbilt. Amaechi will also be the subject of ESPN's "Outside the Lines" on Sunday (9:30 a.m. ET). The book will also be excerpted next week on ESPN.com and in the next issue of ESPN The Magazine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Um, care to explain that thread title? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Boy this brings new meaning to the term "Gay guy who plays in the NBA!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Um, care to explain that thread title? you don't get the joke? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Um, care to explain that thread title? THAT'S GAY-CIST!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 you don't get the joke?Oh, I "get" it. I just don't much care for it. To quote an Ohio journalist, "I Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Oh, I "get" it. I just don't much care for it. To quote an Ohio journalist, "I Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 To me there is a difference between a gay joke and homophobia. Because, see, if Michael Jackson had sex with Katie Couric there would be jokes made about it to about the same degree that jokes would be made if he was to have sex with Peyton Manning. Now, the fact that somebody is gay is notable news at this point in history is another story completely. It creates a sensationalized aura around the entire issue (Gay men!? Basketball!!??) which in turn breeds your precious homophobia. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Poking fun of gay people does not mean you're homophobic, especially if you bust balls of all creeds. colors, orientation, etc. Poking fun IN gay people does mean that you're probably gay yourself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Poking fun IN gay people does mean that you're probably gay yourself.Unless it's just a quick Phil Collins after you come home from the bar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 your precious homophobia coincidentally, that is the title of the new decemberists single. hot hits! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 I just thought the thread title could have been better chosen. That's all. It could be argued that I make my share of gay jokes (especially when it comes to that dreamboat ction) -- I merely thought that the title of this thread was an inappropriate way to introduce the subject. Is it impossible to comment on a news story like this without poking fun at it? Are men still so insecure with the thought of homosexuality that they can't discuss it seriously? Wait, what am I saying ... this is VC. That's just what we do here. And come to think of it, I guess I wouldn't have it any other way. Still ... I think there's a very fine line between gay jokes and homophobia, if there's even a line at all. Meh. I probably shouldn't have said anything at all ... one lesson I've learned over the years that it's best not to take offense on behalf of other people -- a lesson I forget from time to time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 I know it's homophobic of me to call a gay guy fudgepacker, but how about shitdick? I made that word up, and am very proud of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 If anyone ever calls me homophobic, I can always pull the "I Have 3 gay uncles" line and there's really no comeback. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Why do you hate your uncles? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 See, I only have one, so I'm screwed. I co-write musicals with a gay guy, though, so that should count for something. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncle wilco Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Still ... I think there's a very fine line between gay jokes and homophobia, if there's even a line at all. it seems that being gay means that any humor relating to the gay lifestyle is considered offensive. any comments meant in jest are taken as offensive especially when the jokester is of the "straight" variety. it's a bit like a white comedian making "black" jokes at the apollo. they aren't well received. some people are soooo uptight. basically, if you are afraid that a joke is gonna offend some thin-skinned person you are better off keeping your mouth shut because you might get a label put on you. because we all know that some people like handing out labels to those of differing opinions...or humor to make themselves feel better. those offended by the snickers superbowl commercial for example must have a hard time coping with life in general. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Still ... I think there's a very fine line between gay jokes and homophobia, if there's even a line at all. How does that figure into the 'Ask a Gay Guy' segment Mario Cantone did on the Chappelle show or the gay-flavored jokes/innuendo from the guys on Queer Eye? If you're not gay and you make a gay joke...it's homophobia. When you bust on somebody, it's usually focused on one of their more defining charachter traits (good or bad, depending on your view)...if you celebrate the diversity your sexual orientation provides you or buy into the fact it defines you as a person, then you shouldn't be any less open to someone using it bust your balls (platonicaly speaking, of course). Like Daniel said, what is there to have a 'serious discussion' about? In this day and age, a pro basketball player coming out is only slightly newsworthy in the fact he went public w/ it...not the fact he's gay itself or that Daniel himself is gay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 those offended by the snickers superbowl commercial for example must have a hard time coping with life in general.I didn't see the ad, but from what I read about it, I kind of would have been offended by it. I'm also offended by those Burger King ads where they sing that man song. Maybe offended isn't the right word, but I'm sick of the way the dumbing down of our complicated sexes has become the marketing ploy de jour. And I do realize I have no right to complain, as women have been dealing with this stuff for eternity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JUDE Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 ...if you celebrate the diversity damn, I was hoping that would be a link to some hot lesbian youporn video. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 [quote name='JUDE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
napoleon Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 what i think is ridiculous is that no one can be gay without the media making a field day out of it. when that guy from nsync came out it was all i heard about for week. it was even on THE LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL. the fact hes gay is nothing special. you don't hear news reports about how people are straight. tell me something important. talk more about global warming. inform people of that. don't inform them how someones gay. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JUDE Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 what i think is ridiculous is that no one can be gay without the media making a field day out of it. when that guy from nsync came out it was all i heard about for week. it was even on THE LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL. the fact hes gay is nothing special. you don't hear news reports about how people are straight. tell me something important. talk more about global warming. inform people of that. don't inform them how someones gay.Take it easy, I don't think you're famous enough that the media will make a big deal of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 [quote name='JUDE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anodyne Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 I know it's homophobic of me to call a gay guy fudgepacker, but how about shitdick? I made that word up, and am very proud of it. i think jim lehey coined the term "shitdick" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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