The Links: John Amaechi, Dikembe vs. Isiah
News and notes from around the NBA…
Someone commented on yesterday’s Links post and asked why I hadn’t made any statement about John Amaechi yet. Specifically, reader Tom Jackson (probably not NFL Primetime’s Tom Jackson) wrote…
Strangely silent from SLAM on the John Amaechi front. What’s up with that, Lang? A 6′10″ British guy who began flaunting his homosexuality on Jerry Sloan’s watch in SALT LAKE CITY? Where’s the rapier wit?! This is the best story since Handlogoten, maybe better.
I didn’t comment on it because, to me, there’s really nothing worth joking about there. A guy announced that he’s not straight. OK? Everyone good with that?
So why can’t we just move on? Because ESPN wants to make more money off John Amaechi’s sexual orientation.
As Ryan noted, we’d heard this book was coming out a while ago. Fine. Accept the news and move on, right? Not so fast. After every other news site talked about this earlier in the week, ESPN (which is publishing Amaechi’s book) had to wait until yesterday to put the news on the front page of ESPN.com, presumably because they had to align their various networks and companies in order to maximize their publicity for the story.
Last night during that great US/Mexico soccer game on ESPN2, they kept running across the crawl on the bottom of the screen something like: “Former NBA player John Amaechi announces he is gay, making him the first NBA player, active or retired, to announce he is gay.” I’m totally paraphrasing there, but the thing I’m verbatim on is the closer…
“…making him the first NBA player, active or retired, to announce he is gay…”
How ridiculous is that? Sheryl Swoopes already came out, ESPN, so we know basketball players can be gay, too. You don’t have to promote that Amaechi is the first NBA player to publicly admit he’s gay. Isn’t that a little bit like saying: “Lang Whitaker is the first person from his apartment building, currently or formerly, to work at SLAM magazine.” Does it really matter?
We know he played in the NBA, and I’m sure he had a tough experience, but at this point I don’t really care that he was a passable NBA player. In fact, if I was a Jazz fan, I’d probably ticked off that he signed a big contract with the Jazz and then stunk it up for the next two seasons.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m glad that Amaechi is able to be himself. I’m glad that he’s able to be honest with everyone.
But do I care that John Amaechi is gay? Not particularly. And I have a feeling that many of you are had a similar reaction. We’re not living in the 1950s anymore. Many of us have gay family members, gay friends, have known gay people. So to hear that a former NBA player is gay isn’t really a shocker. We hear the news,we process the news, we move on.
Unless, of course, you’re ESPN.
In which case you milk it for every penny it’s worth.
Moving on…
Damn right I watched that US/Mexico match instead of UNC/Duke. I flipped over at halftime and saw back-to-back offensive fouls, so I gave up. I’d rather watch the US thump Mexico again anyway, which is precisely what happened. The US really needs a great striker to emerge, but I’m feeling good about our chances in 2010.
Got a new laptop late yesterday. This one. It’s pretty dope. One good thing is that it’s pretty small, which will make traveling much easier. One bad thing? It’s pretty small, and the type is even smaller. I’m getting old. Maybe I need to go to CVS and get some of them generic magnifying half-glasses or something.
Oh, and I told our friends at Nike that we’d help spread the word on this, although most of you New York sneakerheads are probably well aware by now: The Air Force 1 Original Six Pack and selected pieces from the Air Force 25 Coast-to-Coast pack will be available at 255 Elizabeth St. in NYC starting Saturday at 12:00pm.
Start camping out now!
Enough. Let’s hit The Links…
QUOTES OF THE DAY
“He has lost all my respect. He insulted me. The first day, he pulled me aside and said, ‘I want you to go away on vacation.’ When we play the Knicks, I cannot look him in the face. F•ck Isiah.” — Dikembe Mutombo, on Isiah Thomas.
“I don’t feel sorry for them. I don’t feel sorry for anybody. Nobody felt sorry for us when I was out.” — Shaq, on the Celtics’ 16-game losing streak.
THE LINKS…
• Guess which NBA player has a chance to break the record for most 4-point plays in a season? Answer is listed here.
• Haven’t had a chance to read this yet, but SI has a loooong feature on the Knicks and Cablevision boss Jim Dolan. It includes that amazing Mutombo quote above. And Frank “Italian Ice” Isola has his own take on the state of the Garden here. The most amazing thing? Marc Berman can’t stop gushing about Stephon Marbury, who’s playing exactly the same as was a year ago.
• A reporter or something in Toronto is asking Sam Mitchell for forgiveness. I think that’s what’s happening. I’m really confused by this whole article, actually.
• Brrrrrrrrrrr! The Birdman makes an appearance in Denver.
• And Dirk says he is trying to become the Geico caveman.
• Jason Kapono is no Tyrus Thomas.
• Speaking of Ty Thomas, after he was dead honest and admitted that he was only participating the dunk contest for the money, Sam Smith decided to evicerate him in a column. What’s strange is the part where Smith says Thomas was a jerk to “NBA officials” during the days around the NBA Draft. First of all, I’d never met Tyrus Thomas until the NBA Draftees came to New York for the Draft. And I ended up sitting at his table at the Draft media day the entire time, because he was funny and interesting. Talked to him for a while. Liked him enough to come back and install him as the favorite for the Rookie Diary. (We went with Kyle Lowry because we wanted to do a player on a team in the South. Didn’t know he’d be hurt all year. Our first Rookie Dairy curse.) Sam Smith obviously has spent a lot more time around Ty Thomas than I have, but I liked him.
• And is there any question about who the leading candidate for Slam Dunk Champ should be?
• The fans in Indiana aren’t happy with the JailPacers. Even Bob Kravitz has woken up.
• Mike Dunleavy isn’t happy with Corey Maggette.
• Mark Cuban is still hating on Donald Trump.
• In Sacto, they think Eric Musselman might be too intense. They just figured this out?
• Gilbert Arenas has a new nickname for DeShawn Stevenson: “Second.
60 Responses to “The Links: John Amaechi, Dikembe vs. Isiah”
Feb.8 at 4:17 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Fair point about how dude didn’t earn his money in SLC (a first in NBA and Jazz history, apparently), but WOW, Phil Luhm just wrote one of the worst columns I’ve ever read. Or should I take him at face value since he bashes Amaechi (who he’ll likely never see again in his life) while having to work every day with Sloan, who he pretty much totally absolves of any responsibility for being (”allegedly”) a homophobe?
Feb.8 at 4:18 pm
CAPO says:
first
Feb.8 at 4:18 pm
CAPO says:
first
Feb.8 at 4:33 pm
Sparker says:
gerald green wears his head band funny…
Feb.8 at 4:36 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Esera Tuaolo really missed out by not writing a book. He ended up doing a Real Sports special and playing the ukelele (or some ancient Samoan instrument whose heritage I am ignorantly disrespecting) on a Chili’s commercial.
Feb.8 at 4:39 pm
Drer says:
No Capo, you’re are “Second”, just like Deshawn Stevenson.
Feb.8 at 4:40 pm
Daniel Lee says:
I don’t know if I’m just really late seeing this, but has anyone else noticed that nba.com has put up the top 10 career dunks for MJ, Kobe and Vince, and honourable mentions for each. There are some serious ommisions (Freddie W? not like the Slam Vincemix), but it’s still good stuff. Seeing MJ’s best again is really mindblowing actually, I think he was better than even Vince.
Feb.8 at 4:43 pm
Justin Adler says:
Gerald Green’s dunk on Toronto when they were up 12 with 8 seconds to go was one of my favorite moments of the 2006 season. Total class. I love this game.
Feb.8 at 5:07 pm
Chris C says:
ah geralds young, im a raps fan and i didnt care. i was more mad they lost you know?
Feb.8 at 5:13 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
“Second” is good, but where did “Tough Juice” come from?
Feb.8 at 5:16 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
I hope Gerald wins so his “The Shocker” nickname might finally catch on.
Feb.8 at 5:16 pm
Hoops says:
Hey Lang, would you have any issue playing with or against a gay man?
Feb.8 at 5:38 pm
J-Bird says:
Yea, Gerald Greens logo could be the silhouette of his hand
Feb.8 at 5:40 pm
Patrick says:
wouldn’t it depend on if the gay man could play? call me if wade or melo comes out, but don’t waste headlines on a guy whose shining moment was maybe being one of the more improved players in the league for a year.
Feb.8 at 5:43 pm
Hoops says:
Well I think youll find he could play because he was in the NBA. But that’s not the point of the question.
Feb.8 at 5:50 pm
Tommy Patron says:
Sam Smith is a total jaggoff. I am extremely embarrassed that he is the most well known NBA writer in Chicago. I think the thing he is most known for is talking about implausible trade “rumors”. I don’t think this guy even talks to anyone, just sits in a room and interviews himself. This is a real city, and we have no real big-time NBA guy. Ridiculous, literally.
Feb.8 at 5:51 pm
drudown says:
Daniel Lee, I just saw this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zIULG3IbiE) for the first time and I might have to argue your point about MJ. And Lang, I saw the scrolling Amaechi news on ESPN also and thought the same exact thing.
Feb.8 at 5:58 pm
Tim says:
why WOULD it bother you to play against a gay man?
Feb.8 at 6:06 pm
Hoops says:
I agree Tim. It would not bother me. But I am wondering where Lang sits on the issue.
Feb.8 at 6:08 pm
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
It’s beyond me how this next quote from the Sam Mitchell story didn’t make Quotes of the Day: “Or, what about a little scrapbooking? Load up the glue gun, I’ve got some zany thought bubble stickers for a photo of me and the Christies, Doug and Jackie.” Then again, that’d be pretty hard to contextualize. As you said, Lang, confusing, rather confusing…
Feb.8 at 6:10 pm
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
Yeah, and Deke is a friggin genius. As always.
Feb.8 at 6:10 pm
Aaron says:
I have the MacBook too Lang. You’ll enjoy it more and more as you get used to it. I was a PC guy before and the switch to Mac took some time. You should be able to magnify your text.
Feb.8 at 6:10 pm
Max Airington says:
“We spend so much time together, honestly, that we’re kind of like a family,” James said. “We take showers with each other after practice. You’re on the bus talking about a lot of things. If you’re sitting there and you’re conversing with us but you’re not sincere about it … you’re kind of hiding it. “As teammates, you have to be trustworthy, and if you’re gay and you’re not admitting it that you are, you’re not trustworthy.” Bron is really trying to find out if he’s teflon…
Feb.8 at 6:41 pm
Hoops says:
Yeah it’s kind of hard to get a read on what he really means here. Is he saying that if you’re gay you can’t be trusted, or if you don’t come out you can’t be trusted? The last thing he says is about not coming out, but the first couple of lines could be taken either way.
Feb.8 at 6:48 pm
Max Airington says:
Ray Allen’s comments: “I knew guys who played with him in Utah who used to speculate that he was,” Allen said. “But it didn’t affect me, so I didn’t pay attention to it.” Allen said he does not doubt whether somebody currently in the league is gay. “Based on the pure numbers, you figure there has to be,” Allen said. “I am just hoping it is clear in my locker room. What can you do? As long as guys are taking care of their business and doing what they need to do basketball-wise, it doesn’t affect me.” Asked why he would not want a gay teammate, Allen responded: “You don’t want to know that there is somebody in your locker room and you are not aware of it. And maybe you had to be careful being where you put yourself in a situation where you might get hit on by a teammate. “We are so close and we basically know so much about each other, I won’t say it is deception because each person has their personal life. “But it is just one of those things you don’t want to have to find out from somebody else and feel like you have been deceived by family because this is a family right here.”
Feb.8 at 6:53 pm
Max Airington says:
Isn’t it a bit presumptuous to think that just cause your teammate is gay, that he would want you? I really was trying to keep my mouth shut on this, but I just love hearing NBA players hide their homophobia with these pseudo family values. Stern should be proud, they’re becoming more corporate and Republican friendly everyday.
Feb.8 at 6:59 pm
Javier says:
It is indeed utterly ignorant to think a gay man with taste would want Iverson, who most of the guys in the NBA. Most gay guys are pretty picky about the dudes they get with, and some of the guys in the NBA aren’t exactly beauty material. Iverson should be ashamed of such primitively ignorant comments.
Feb.8 at 7:28 pm
William says:
MAYBE the players feel violated if someone who appreciates men’s body can freely take advantage of the situations. Imagine, how would women feels if they have to share locker with male and take shower together with male?
That’s why they react too strong w.r.t. homosexuality.
Feb.8 at 7:46 pm
Hoops says:
Well, I’m going to come off as a bit up myself here but…..I’m a good looking guy and get woman checking me out and approaching me all the time. Lots of these woman I consider not very good looking. Even ugly. But I don’t have a problem with them looking at me or coming to talk to me. I can always politely refuse if i’m not interested. I certainly don’t take offence and even take it as a complement. Ray Allen wishes people still thought he was attractive with his baldass chrome dome weird shaped head. Still nothing from Lang?
Feb.8 at 7:51 pm
William says:
How about your co worker checking you out when you’re showering ?
How about it Lang, Ryan, Sam ? What if one of you is gay and want to take shower together with you? would you feel comfortable with that ?
Feb.8 at 7:52 pm
J R says:
only reason this is still being talked about is cause espn is publishing the book. it would have been talked about for maybe a day or so, then it would have died off. who really cares about this that much? i like women. and i play basketball. i bet none of you care about that.
and lebrons comments can really go either way. it depends on how he was sayin them.
Feb.8 at 8:00 pm
Noah Doucette says:
i thought we were just gonna drop the whole subject and move on with our lives.
Feb.8 at 8:06 pm
Maha10k says:
Where does Allen Iverson come into this Javier? I agree with Max, the whole ‘don’t hit on me’ comment is silly. Why would anyone risk causing a problem within a ‘family’ setting like that? Barkley said he played with two or three gay players and it didn’t matter. With all the quotes coming out today, it just shows some players are mature and could handle it and some players try to mask their fears with dumb quotes. Same as any other situation. I knew gay dudes in the Army and it didn’t matter.
Feb.8 at 9:14 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
To those of you who asked if I would have an issue playing with or against a gay person, the answer is no. I’ve played with and against straight people and gay people. If you’re good at basketball, I don’t care if you’re gay, straight, whatever. Now can we all move on?
Feb.8 at 9:39 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Lang - dats what i’m sayin! … A more important issue is what REALLY happened between Kobe and Ryan Jones that night in the Slamdome? C’mon, RJ, speak your mind!
Feb.8 at 9:45 pm
Tom Jackson says:
Initially I just would like to say that after having idolizing Lang Whitaker and being a faithful linkstigator since before they were called linkstogators, seeing my name come first in a Links’ edition, for whatever reason, gives me my 15 minutes. Stupid, maybe, but I’ll probably show this to everyone I know, even if Lang does disagree with me. This is great! Secondly, though, come on Lang, this is not your friend from high school coming out, this isn’t even, say, an NFL punter from Boston College coming out. This is not only a 6′10″ BRITISH black guy, he did it in SALT LAKE CITY. Come on! Jerry F*cking Sloan! It isn’t that he’s gay, I don’t care about that. It’s all in the details, man. That’s just me though, maybe the whole black British Jerry Sloan(did I mention freaking UTAH?) angle doesn’t entertain anyone else.
Feb.8 at 9:50 pm
Tom Jackson says:
Don’t be pc just for the sake of being pc, acting blind to the DETAILS of this just so that we can all take another opportunity to say, “not that there’s anything wrong with that.” I’m not homophobic and I don’t care about the gay part, it’s the rest of it that’s funny. Saying, “oh what’s the big deal, let’s move on,” is so Jim Rome. If this is Steve Kerr or Hubert Davis, this is “oh, that’s interesting that he came out, good for him.” There’s more to it then that, though. That’s all I’m saying.
Feb.8 at 9:55 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Reggie, I think Jake already told that story.
Feb.8 at 10:01 pm
Tom Jackson says:
In a related story, Reggie, please tell us about your relationship with Chris Kaman?
Feb.8 at 10:03 pm
FLUXLAND says:
Lang, welcome back! Any thoughts on “your boy” Sam 1play Mitchell winning the COM award? (the Raps also made NBA history by having the ROM and POM at the same time)
Feb.8 at 10:22 pm
Drolfe says:
Hoops says:
Well, I’m going to come off as a bit up myself here but…..I’m a good looking guy and get woman checking me out and approaching me all the time. Lots of these woman I consider not very good looking. Even ugly. But I don’t have a problem with them looking at me or coming to talk to me.
Dude, stop it. Are you serious?
Feb.8 at 10:26 pm
Drolfe says:
The funniest sh*t was they way they presented in on Sportcenter. Totally serious monotone, like its a sad story. The type of style usually reserved for reporting a death. It was bizarre.
Feb.8 at 10:27 pm
The Truth says:
Playing Australian Rules Football in Australia (naturally) you often have 20 odd guys in the shower, would it be an issue if someone was gay no, would it be an issue if they had a physical reaction, of course, such is the nature of guys. But its the ultimate straight person call, that all gays must want you, us straighties think we are irresistable to the opposite sex so why not to gay guys, and as well all know the fact is 99% of females arent interested in us, so you would have to have a lot of gay teammates to find one that was interested at that rate
Feb.9 at 12:01 am
Hoops says:
Yeah Drolfe.
Which part do you think is a joke?
Feb.9 at 1:41 am
Drolfe says:
None of it, obviously.
Feb.9 at 3:30 am
Kevin Wilson says:
Ha, he’s gonna win a dunk contest…
Feb.9 at 6:31 am
Tom Jackson says:
Wait, wait, wait… READER Tom Jackson? Being an avid follower of the Links for about 6 years now should award me Linkstigator status. Wow, I’m hurt Lang.
Feb.9 at 8:37 am
Drolfe says:
Dont you have to, like, do stuff, to be a Linkstigator?
Feb.9 at 11:03 am
Steve says:
Here’s my problem with the Amaechi thing. I think it would be interesting if a current player came out — either to the media, to his teammates but not outside of that, etc. It would move the issue and society forward, in my view. What I don’t like here is Amaechi discloses this in his book, i.e., for money. And ESPN, and ESPN Books (who knew there was an ESPN Books? Stewart Scott can read?) is “breaking” this story FOR MONEY. So this isn’t about bravery or being true to oneself or journalism, it’s about the almight $.
Feb.9 at 11:15 am
coach says:
hey , the wnba is not the nba . swopes announcing she’s gay has the same effect as ellen or rosie coming out of the closet . surprise then huhum .
an nba’er announcing he’s gay was a backboard smashing shocker !
Feb.9 at 11:18 am
Harlem_World says:
Big up to my man Daniel Lee who prompted me to check out the nba top 10 of MJ, Kobe, Vince and Nique - all without doubt the reason why the NBA IS the NBA. I got to say MJ over Kelly Tripuka is absolutely dominant. Vince is the best in open court breakaway game dunks. Even Kobe has some niceness dunking over Ben Wallace (never forget that Wallace…remember how you came into the league son). But for me, the top 2 dunks? NIQUE OVER LARRY BIRD ON THE BREAKAWAY!!! OUCCCCH! And with respect to Vince in the Olympics, I have to go with Mike over Ewing because of the significance, and that Ewing is one of the best centers EVER…AND it was at the Garden…AND he spun out of a triple team…AND he got the foul…AND if you look at it he is above the rebound square…AND…
Feb.9 at 11:48 am
Ron Harper says:
Who wants sex Mutombo??
Feb.9 at 11:48 am
Ron Harper says:
Tell me who wants to sex Mutombo????
Feb.9 at 12:56 pm
Chris C says:
hey lang that article abotu sam mitchell you linked . . . i got it in the paper here, and it hasa pic of the author. shes a moron sports personality on the most tabloid tv station out here (city tv). she has no basketball knowledge, justa passing mention after all the hockey. im not sure she has any knowledge of that either, shes just someone that some older guys find hot i guess. i hope sam tells her to shove this article up her ass. she definetly hasnt been a raptors supporter really ever. this is a bandwagon jump.
Feb.9 at 4:00 pm
zk says:
what’s that? you want video of the quirk-stevenson shooting contest?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Bn6O42a5vl8
Feb.9 at 4:36 pm
Zak G says:
Lang, I too watched that soccer game instead of UNC/DUKE. To tell you the truth though, I like the chances of the U.S. in 2010, but I don’t think we’re a contender. Dempsey is great, but I just don’t think we can get up on that world stage just yet……..unless an American Maradona emerges within 2 years or so.
Feb.9 at 6:15 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
I hear you, Zak. I love Dempsey, too, and I missed Onyewu on Thursday. Also loved having my main man Timmy Howard in goal. Not sure about Bob Bradley…
Feb.9 at 10:47 pm
OmegaShogun says:
I dont know if yall discussed this but they finally decided to retire Adrian Dantley’s number with the Utah Jazz. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5191195
Feb.10 at 11:59 am
Danny W. UK says:
I’ve known Amaechi was gay for about 10 years, didn’t realise it wasn’t known in the States, and I certainly didn’t realise it was a big deal.
Certainly when he played in the UK all his team mates were well aware.
No big deal
Feb.12 at 12:20 pm
Ludovic L says:
Hey Lang, I agree with Coach: in a NBA world, fact that player can be gay is an earthquake!
Being gay in major men sports in USA (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB) or in Europe (soccer, basketball and rugby) is still a taboo!
I even think it’s the last places where being gay is a big deal