Sports world reacts to John Amaechi's coming out...

Former NBA player John Amaechi comes out in a soon-to-be-released autobiography "Man in the Middle," which chronicles his life in the NBA. He will come out publicly Sunday on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" show and has given his first gay press interview to The Advocate.

Here is some of the reaction from sports figures:
Martina Navratilova, perhaps the most famous openly gay athlete in the world, praised Amaechi's decision and said it's imperative for athletes to come out because of what she called an epidemic of suicides among young lesbians and gays. "'It's hugely important for the kids so they don't feel alone in the world. We're role models,'' she said. ''He will definitely help a lot of kids growing up to feel better about themselves.''

Orlando's Grant Hill, who said he didn't know Amaechi when he was with the Magic, also applauded the decision to go public. ''The fact that John has done this, maybe it will give others the comfort or confidence to come out as well, whether they are playing or retiring.''

NBA commissioner David Stern said a player's sexuality wasn't important. ''We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is always 'Have you got game?' That's it, end of inquiry,'' he said.

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.''

''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. ''As long as he came to play basketball like a man and conducted himself like a good person, I'd be fine with it.''

Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who coached Amaechi in Orlando: ''We're all insensitive at times. There's no taboo subject in the locker room,'' said where he said he had one of his strongest locker rooms. ''I think if he would have come out they would have got on him jokingly. ... And I actually think that when guys do come out, when that day happens, it will make it easier.''

Amaechi also writes that while playing in Utah, coach Jerry Sloan used antigay innuendo to describe him. Sloan said Wednesday that although his relationship with Amaechi was ''shaky'' because of the player's attitude, he didn't know Amaechi was gay. Sloan had no comment about Amaechi's contention that Sloan used antigay innuendo when referring to him. Amaechi said he found out about it in e-mails from friends in the Jazz front office.
Asked if knowing Amaechi was gay would have mattered, Sloan said: ''Oh yeah, it would have probably mattered. I don't know exactly, but I always have peoples' feelings at heart. People do what they want to do. I don't have a problem with that.''