[Nimajneb]

The coming-out of retired NBA player John Amaechi once again brings this subject into the news... the response of pro sports fans and players to homosexuality and strong pressure to remain in the closet, as exhibited by the tendency for ballplayers to announce their orientation after retirement. Player response to Amaechi's revelation leaves little doubt as to why one might choose to keep one's orientation hidden. From the SI story linked above:

"For real? He's gay for real?'' said Philadelphia center Steven Hunter. "Nowadays it's proven that people can live double lives. I watch a lot of TV, so I see a lot of sick perverted stuff about married men running around with gay guys and all types of foolishness.''

Even so, Hunter said he would be fine with an openly gay teammate.

"As long as he don't make any advances toward me I'm fine with it,'' he said.

Or...

Injured Philadelphia Sixers forward Shavlik Randolph acknowledged it's a new situation.

"As long as you don't bring your gayness on me I'm fine,'' Randolph said. "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.''

"Bring your gayness on me"?? Are we middle-schoolers? But then these responses are fairly tame relative to what one might have expected even 10 years ago. The least "understanding" words, perhaps, have been those of LeBron James:

“We spend so much time together, we're like family,” James said. “You take showers together, you're on the bus, you talk about things. With teammates, you have to be trustworthy. If you're gay and you're not admitting that you are, you're not trustworthy. It's the locker room code; it's a trust factor.”

... a comment that leads me to wonder what rousing tales of his heterosexuality James has been sharing in the shower.

Former Major League Baseball players Glenn Burke and Billy Bean also came out of the closet post-retirement. Bean has been particularly outspoken since his announcement in '99, and has praised Amaechi's admission:

"I had heard rumors all week that an NBA player was coming out, and I was excited at the prospect that it was a current player. I had hoped it was a current player, so we could move the process along... That's not to diminish what John is doing and the generous decision he's made. He will have an impact on young athletes, especially basketball players. But honestly, it's a reminder that no [male athlete in a team sport] has made that decision while still an active player.''

Is baseball, or any male professional sport, ready for an active ballplayer admitting his homosexuality? How would players or teams respond, and perhaps even more to the point- how would you all respond to the matter?

For my own part, the issue is somewhat the reverse of the classical problem- I would have a hard time supporting a team or players who did not accept a gay teammate.