Amaechi Says There's Been a 'Lot of Tension' at the Olympics, Because, Um, You Know

Some pretty stout not-actually-allegations stemming from John Amaechi recently, via the Rocky Mountain News, via Marcel at SLAM, whereby he accuses Kobe Bryant and a bunch of other somewhat anonymous USA basketball types of homophobia. Or, if you want to take it further than that, some sort of sexist-profiling.

"It's been tense to say the least,'' Amaechi said when I ran into him in a lunch line about what it's been like being seeing some Team USA players and coaches.

Amaechi said players have turned away from him, and there remains a "lot of tension." He mentioned seeing Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

"I ran into Kobe, and he was surprised to see me,'' Amaechi said. "It didn't go well."

[...]"I had passed some of the coaches in the MPC (Main Press Center) the day before, catching only the trailing end a statement of the coach who saw me, '... isn't that Amaechi? What the hell is he doing (here),'" Amaechi writes in his blog. "I was a little irritated. I couldn't help but wonder if that was the way they would have reacted to another former NBA player they recognized passing shoulder to shoulder a world away. Even an average one."

Hmmm. Personally, I'm a bit skeptical of Amaechi's publicity manuvers given the heavy handed ESPN noise surrounding the release of his book. And I'm also a little skeptical of his abilities at person to person perception if he has yet to figure out why there might be tension between he and other members of the NBA.


I wouldn't doubt that part of it has to do with his exposing the inner workings of an NBA locker room -- that's a violation of certain mores all sexuality aside -- but I would think that more than anything it has to do with his role as a media member at Beijing.

As soon as he starts up a blog about human rights and awareness, he is no longer a professional basketball player, or a former professional basketball player. He is playing the role of investigative journalist, if the creed at the top of his blog is to believed.

And while awareness is very important and an awesome thing -- whatever subject we're trying to be aware of, knowledge is just good -- the USA Basketball team has one thing on it's mind: winning the gold. And sometimes -- frequently, in fact -- athletes who are that focused don't show much interest in reporters who are looking to stir up the pot.