What City Is Most Ready for Gay Athlete?

From what he's seen, John Amaechi suggests Toronto. From the Toronto Star:

Amaechi said yesterday he would dine and drink in this city's gay village before and after games against the Raptors, his homosexuality an open but guarded secret with other patrons in the bistros. He had once hoped to play for the Raptors, working out with the team in the summer of 1998 before the NBA lockout that September ended that chance.

"I was a regular up there," said the Englishman, who last week became the first NBA player to acknowledge he is gay. "I'd go to bars and people would talk to me about the game I'd played, so it wasn't as if they didn't know." ...

The 36-year-old said such acceptance in a city which, over the weekend, had police recruiting gays, lesbians and the transgendered and a provincial cabinet minister reveal his summer wedding plans to his long-time boyfriend, could support an openly gay pro in his prime.

It hasn't yet happened in real life, but as further evidence of Toronto's gay-friendly atmosphere, it's worth remembering that the NHL's Maple Leafs made news a few months back when it was revealed they gave permission for their logo and uniforms to be used in an upcoming gay-themed movie.

In any event, Amaechi also asserted in an interview with the Chicago Tribune that he's certain there are current players who are gay in the NBA. I don't doubt for a second that he's right, but I have a hunch we'll see an NBA team draft an openly gay player before we see a current NBA player come out of the closet.

At least to this straight guy, it seems like it'd be easier to come out of the closet in high school or on a liberal college campus than in front of hundreds of reporters with cameras and microphones. And when it comes to picking players, any GM will tell you that talent trumps everything.

(HT: TrueHoop)