espn206's Blog

When LeBron James makes statements that closeted gay teammates are not trustworthy, he's showing his naïveté. First, who is he to judge anyone by questioning their integrity. Is he not someone who got around Ohio High School Athletic Association rules when his mother, who lived in public housing at the time, somehow received a loan to purchase a Hummer for LeBron while he was still in high school?! Secondly, what does LeBron know about the workplace? When you consider the situation, John Amaechi was an employee of the NBA. LeBron feels gay players should come out to their teammates (his extended family) and be honest about their sexuality. Um, sorry, LeBron, but you're asking an actual employee of the NBA to likely violate privacy issues that protect most other employees, but not gays, which points to a very important reason why homosexuals deserve certain protections under the law. Furthermore, once a player comes out, imagine the sexual harrassment that will follow and must be endured. Why would anyone come out to a team?! The NBA and this country just doesn't seem ready to accept it, and this is probably why John Amaechi decided to do so from England, where homosexuality is more readily accepted as an alternative lifestyle. What LeBron needs to do is use this opportunity to make a statement against hate in this country. He's got the money and the spotlight, so he should do something with it instead of judging others. Lastly, how does he know he's never shared a locker room with a homosexual, whether in the NBA or in high school? He doesn't!

To criticize LeBron James because you think he's homophobic or a bigot is ignorance in itself. He's not saying he would never play with a gay teammate. All he said was that it's a trust issue. It's about honesty. As a professional athlete, you spend just as much time, if not more, with your teammates than you do with your own family. I'm sure LeBron could care less. There are bigger fish to fry when you look at the subject from the big picture. But to criticize LeBron for what he said is wrong.

I can speak personally that LeBron is only thinking of himself. He is VERY ignorant. And it has nothing to do with his homophobic or bigot attitude!! He is both and BIG at that!!!!!

rmarkle,again you are just are too judgemental and bias. Are you gay? I must ask this question because you fly off the handle as soon as the word gay comes up. A question for you. How would you feel if you knew that someone gay was in the shower with your heterosexual son especially if the homosexual had not come out of the closet? You are the one who is ignorant.

I enjoy meanful discussion not one sided ignorance. I am not attacking you personally, I just think you need to broaden the horizon of your mind.

Why should anyone have to disclose their sexuality?! Next, players will need to declare their faith to a specific religion, etc. It's just not necessary. The only reason anyone would feel it is necessary to come out of the closet is because they are insecure about their own sexuality. Just because someone is gay doesn't mean they want to sleep with everyone of the same sex. You may as well suggest that every heterosexual wants to sleep with everyone of the opposite sex.

The statements I see about dropping the soap, and how someone should feel if their son is in the shower with a homosexual are pure ignorance! If you believe homosexuals don't exist on high school sports teams and that those athletes don't shower together, you're seriously naïve. Gay people are everywhere, and LeBron has probably been in the showers with a gay person at some point; but what does that have to do with anything. You assume a gay person necessarily wants to be with any guy sexually, which is pure stupidity.

Think about this: Many (if not most) gay people don't even come out to their own families because of the immature and, sometimes, violent reactions they will have to face, such as those blogs I've read in support of LeBron. When he questions someones integrity, he ought to look in the mirror. Those who attack are usually those with skeletons in their closets. Think about that!

Who cares about being gay,everyone should be happy.Let sports go on without all the crap about gays, if they can play yhe game so be it!!!

i agree with imrandy. there are probably MANY more gay people in sports, the media, and public life who do not feel safe disclosing their sexuality because they do not want to be persecuted by society.
i don't blame John Amaechi for keeping his sexuality private. so many people complain that homosexuals "parade around sharing their sexualuty" but when they finally do share something so intimate and personal, they are judged harshly. who really cares???? just because he is gay, does not necessarily mean that he would act unprofessionally in the locker room or have any sexual interest in other players. it's very naive to assume that a gay person is overly sexual towards EVERYONE of their same sex.

that's a little extreme. i dont think people believe LeBron to be RESPONSIBLE for homophobia in America per say. it just appears that his behavior in this instance and comments were clearly homophobic.

Hey Klockone he'd win by a backslide. Hee Hee Hee. Also, the Cavs are having a promo. Next game anyone that brings a basketball, Lebron will polish thier balls. HA, ha.