Chris Tomasson of The Rocky Mountain News reported yesterday that John Amaechi is broadcasting as a basketball analyst for his homeland Britain’s BBC.
In February of last year, Amaechi became the first former NBA player to reveal he is gay.
Amaechi told Tomasson that it has been “tense to say the least” for him to run into members of Team USA in Beijing.
In his blog, Amaechi recounts seeing Kobe Bryant:
“More waiting, this time pacing, I thought I might as well make myself a moving target for the picture snappers! Then a bus pulled up only a few feet in front of me. I thought it was unusual, most busses park further away with athletes and officials alike taking the humid walk to the MPC for their press conferences. I looked into the window and was face to face with Kobe Bryant. Where are the paparazzi when you need them, his face, just for a moment, was precious “…what the F**K?!””
Amaechi goes on to say:
“Don’t get me wrong, at the height of play, my skills on court didn’t hold a candle to any of the players on this reincarnation of the Dream Team, but as an individual, as a person in my own right, I held my own then, and I feel that I more than play my part now. But as I watched, one player turn to face his team mates then a bus length of curtains twitch, I was glad that I could only lip read some of the comments – the body language alone was… unpleasant. Who knew derision, amusement and contempt would meld so formidably and translate so clearly through glass and smog.”
Who knows what was said on Team USA’s bus.
With all of the talk of $40 and $50 million dollar contracts offers from the Euroleague, maybe they discussed the time Amaechi turned down a six-year, $17 million dollar contract from Kobe’s Lakers to sign a one-year, $600,000 dollar deal with the Orlando Magic.
Asked to explain that decision shortly after releasing his tell-all book, Amaechi replied that his decision was a matter of “principle.”
Orlando cut three players with guaranteed contracts to give Amaechi his first start in basketball.
Amaechi felt obliged to return the “favor.”
“I am a man of principle. The year before that offer was made by the Lakers, nobody was interested in me.”
Amaechi went on to say that “there are many people who are asked what their word is worth. When people ask me that, I can say, well, at least $17 million dollars.”
Only two of Team USA’s twelve players was drafted in the second round. Michael Redd was the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA draft. Carlos Boozer was the 34th pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Everyone else but Tayshaun Prince was a lottery pick with a guaranteed contract.
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade — players who have been receptive to the idea of playing in Europe — weren’t done any favors when they entered the league. But they were drafted as franchise cornerstones. I’d like to think that carries a certain measure of responsibility to the organization that selected you and the NBA fan base that creates the revenue that pays you.
When the Euroleague begins to offer superstars things that the NBA cannot, I hope that more than a few of those offers are turned down because of principle.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I mean so what if that guy ameachi thinks like that about kobe and them. Its just his failt that he found himself at the olympics