Since announcing that he is gay, former NBA player John Amaechi has caused a huge uproar in the sports world and has received violent criticism. At Guilford though, those involved in sports and gay rights activism are reacting calmly. “If I had a teammate that was gay? What’s the big deal?” said leading ODAC scorer, Ben Strong.

“I wouldn’t care. I’d be cool with it,” Strong said. A junior and center for the men’s team, Strong said that he imagined many of his teammates would feel the same.

Openly gay first-year student and PRIDE secretary John Lyons was positive about the news.

“When people think of athletes coming out they think of the stereotypes of women in softball and men in figure skating. So, it’s really cool that he has come out,” Lyons said.

But Lyons was disheartened by the backlash that has followed Amaechi’s coming out, namely the publicized reactionary comments of former Miami Heat star Tim Hardaway.

“You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States,” Hardaway said on a Miami radio show. “I wouldn’t want him on my team.”

According to The Associated Press, Amaechi later responded to Hardaway’s attitude by saying, “It creates an atmosphere that allows young gays and lesbians to be harassed in school . where in 33 states you can lose your job, and where anti-gay and lesbian issues are used for political gain.”

“It’s an atmosphere that hurts all of us, not just gay people,” Amaechi said.

Guilford’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning resource coordinator Kenneth Hull said, “Hardaway’s response shows evidence as to why Amaechi didn’t come out sooner.”

In reference to Hardaway’s comments, Strong said, “Those are things that nobody should be saying.”

Matt Foreman, president of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, responded on their Web site, thetaskforce.org.

Foreman said, “Hardaway is a hero to thousands of young people. And that’s what makes his comments so troubling . Sadly, his words simply put the pervasive homophobia in the NBA on the table,” added Foreman.

Hardaway’s opinion has not been the only one expressed. Donny Marshall, also a former NBA player, spoke of Amaechi on ESPN.

“I respect John. I commend him for coming out,” said Marshall.

“A real man isn’t afraid of saying who he is. It’s not what you are, but who you are that defines you.” Marshall said. “I think that as long as you do your job on the floor, it doesn’t matter what you do off the court.”

Strong offered a similar sentiment.

“I think it’s cool. I’m glad that Amaechi has the confidence to come out,” said Strong.

Hull said, “I look forward to the day when it’s possible for pro athletes to come out during their career.”

Lyons offered some advice about how to foster a supportive environment locally, breaking the divide between heterosexual and gay students and athletes.

“You can’t invite all of the men in a room to go play basketball and exclude the gay guy,” said Lyons. “Just because a man is gay doesn’t mean he doesn’t like sports. That age of stereotypes is fading for the gay community.”

Amaechi announced that he is gay with the release of his book on Valentine’s Day. “Man in the Middle” documents Amaechi’s life and the challenges he faced as a closeted professional athlete.

Amaechi played center for five seasons in the NBA with Orlando, Utah, and Cleveland and is the first NBA player to openly identify himself as gay. He is one of only several other professional athletes to do so.

“It’s really cool that he has come out, but I think it’s going to take a lot more people talking about sexuality and coming together to make an active change,” Lyons said.