John Amaechi, the first NBA player to ever reveal himself homosexual, shared some interesting thoughts about Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant’s recent use of a gay slur.
Tuesday night, in a game against the San Antonio Spurs, Kobe was caught on camera uttering the words “f**king fa**ot” – aimed at NBA referee Bennie Adams.
USA Today’s J. Michael Falgoust, spoke with Amaechi, who now works as a psycholgist, about the incident and here is peek at what he had to say:
But at the same time, what I would want is to encourage Kobe to use the power he has to really make an apology that means something. Tell black men, men in general in America, that resorting to that sort of language is the lowest of the low and is unacceptable. And it doesn’t make you any more of a man. That’s really the answer. Saying you didn’t mean it is not the answer.
You can read the entire interview HERE.
I agree with Amaechi in his assertion that Kobe has an opportunity to turn this matter into something positive. Ultimately, its Kobe’s decision. Yesterday, after GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign came down with the hammer, he was fined $100,000 by David Stern, and seemingly admonished his own actions.
It would be nice to see sports, as a culture, embrace a broader spectrum of sexuality. But, we are a society of illusion, and those illusions breed heavy expectations of our stars, and sadly it trickles down to the common (wo)man.
In sport, we seek heroes. We expect strength, invincibility, and a conquering spirit from them. We celebrate bravado. So, the mere thought that someone we admire and worship, and even vilify, is actually as human, frail, and imperfect as we are is often difficult to manage.
Kobe made a mistake. But, what type of mistake was it? Was it wrong because he offended the gay community? Or, was it wrong because he is held to a higher standard as one of the NBA’s premier stars and he embarrased the League?
You be the judge.
