So John Amaechi, former Utah Jazz player (among other teams), is coming out of the closet.

Funny, I didn’t think he was ever really in the closet. When Amaechi was in Salt Lake (2001-2003, I think), a lot of people around the team and in the local media knew. I heard back then that the guy he was dating was invited to the “Jazz wives’” functions during away games, etc., just like Kay Malone et al. I thought that was pretty cool, especially for a Larry H. Miller enterprise.

There was another gay player on the Jazz a few years before Amaechi (no surprise, statistically–there’s probably one now I just don’t know about), but he was–and, apparently, still is–significantly closeted. It’s a shame.

And no, I’m not in the business of outing athletes. Even retired ones that should grow a set and do it themselves.