Man in the Middle
The most hyped book of the year so far has undoubtedly been John Amaechi's book. What's behind the headlines?
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The book has been marketed almost exclusively on the fact that he's gay. Whilst the book does focus on his sexuality and some of the difficulties he encountered because of that, it's certainly not just about that. In fact, I think the publishers have missed a trick by marketing on that issue - there's much more to him than just 'that gay athlete'.
So what do we get? Well, a fairly indepth account of his unbringing. Moving to the UK at an early stage to escape an abusive father, a childhood that saw a shy, oversized boy both in height - he stood at nearly 6ft at the age of 10-years-old - and weight, struggle to adapt to the demands of adolesence. He tells of a particularly poignant story of his embarrassment in having to participate in a swimming class despite being acutely self-conscious of his appearance and the feelings of inadequacy that generated. For any who think body image during school sport is a phenomena applicable only to teenage girls, think again.
Basketball didn't feature in Amaechi's life until he was 17 and even then it was a chance encounter. He was stopped in a Manchester street by two scouts simply on account of his height - he was now 6ft 8in - and they asked whether he wanted to give basketball a try.
This part of the book was a little disjointed for me. Up till this point, he'd continually said that he didn't like physical activity, felt embarrassed by it and now suddenly wanted to do it. His explanation is only "I don't know why I agreed, especially given my well-known antipathy for physical activity of any sort". However, agree he did and his road to Damascus experience begins. It's not so much that he fell in love with basketball per se, but began to appreciate the acceptance it brought. As he says "I'd found a place where I could be myself".
It's still a long way from learning the game in Manchester to getting scholarships in the States, and even further to the NBA, but now he's in the groove and we see the determined side of him. He develops "the plan" to enable him to accompolish his goal of playing pro-Basketball. Although this bit read a little too much like a seminar on motivation to business leaders (he is now active on the lecture circuit) for my liking, I suppose you could argue that it also revealed his stubborn and organised side.
Of course the path isn't straightforward - he gets cut from his first college, becomes the main man at Penn State, is unassigned in the draft but manages to pick up a 1 year contract with Cleveland Cavaliers, spends 3 seasons in the European Leagues before eventually ending up with Orlando Magic at the ripe old age of 29.
It's during his time in the NBA that the differences with other players become more pronounced. He's now in a system that doesn't really know how to deal with difference and here's a player who's prepared to emerge from behind the don't-rock-the-boat-for-fear-of-jepardising-my-sponsorhip-contracts and speak out about social issues. He'd long been involved in mentoring programmes and charitable works and that didn't always fit easily in the "we've made it lifestyle" of his fellow professionals.
Much more than his sexuality, I think the thing that stands out most is his refusal to conform to accepted norms. "Meech, you are the only person I have ever met who is an expert at not fitting in no matter where you go" is how one of his teammates put it. He's a professional outsider in every sense - Gay, British (although he was actually born in Boston), a poetry writer, and a tea drinker - I'm still not sure which of those counted as the most unusual!
The issue of his sexuality doesn't dominate the book. Some may find that a cause for regret - after all he is using it a means of coming out - but I think it's all the better for it. It reveals a more rounded character and one of the most interesting aspects for me, was how he refused to buy into the notion that Basketball had to be the most important thing in a professional player's life. It was a significant part of his life, but just because he was a pro, he didn't feel that everything else should be subservient. He says simply
The truth is that life begins after Basketball.
There was part of me that didn't want to like this. I'm not really keen on books that use (supposedly) sensational headlines to sell but I have to say I enjoyed it. It's open, interesting and a welcome change from the standard player autobiography. Amaechi comes across as a thoughtful, less obsessed player than many of his contemporaries, but he manages to avoid making it too preachy. It's also gently humorous and he does a nice line in self depreciation:
The NBA locker room was the most flamboyant place I've ever been. the guys flaunted their perfect bodies. They bragged of their sexual exploits. They primped in front of the mirror, applying cologne and hair gel by the bucketful. They tried on each other's $10,000 suits and shoes, admired each other's diamond-studded rings and necklaces. It was an intense kind of camaraderie that felt completely natural to them but was a little too close for my comfort. As I surveyed the room, I couldn't help chuckling to myself: And I'm the gay one.....
Basketball gave Amaechi his means of self expression but he didn't allow it to define him. He used Basketball as a vehicle to achieve in the areas of his life that meant most to him. At a time when we complain continually about the example of those involved in professional sport, we could do a lot worse to follow his lead.
About This Entry
‘Man in the Middle’ was posted by Liam Doyle on Mon, 26th February 2007 at 12:09:25 GMT and filed under basketball, john amaechi, book reviews.
