And leaves it for everyone else to do what he or she will: React.

Well. What went through your mind?

Here's what went through mine: No big deal.

It's interesting that the subject of homosexuality is treated in the sports world the way it is - with misunderstanding that sometimes edges toward paranoia. Amaechi, in an excerpt from his upcoming book, Man In the Middle, writes: "Homosexuality is an obsession among ballplayers, trailing only wealth and women. They just didn't like [gays] - or so they insisted over and over and over again. It soon became clear they didn't understand [gays] enough to truly loathe them."

Not that all athletes and coaches - Amaechi's "they" - think monolithically like that. But, in the macho arena of high school, college, and pro sports, the fact is many do. Whether Jerry Sloan is one of them, I do not know.

The veracity of Amaechi's assertion, among other criticisms, that Sloan used "some anti-gay innuendo to describe me" during the former Jazz player's time here wouldn't shock me. Sloan says now he didn't know Amaechi was gay, a widely held notion in and around the club after he came to the Jazz in 2001.

But the socialization apparent in sports, from the earliest stages of little leagues through to the highest pro levels, contains heavy doses of competitive machismo. Manly is good, anything perceived as effeminate is bad. The worst thing a coach can call a player, when that player is dogging it or screwing things up, is a vulgar slang representation of female genitalia. And, yet, that's frequently what men in the locker room so approvingly and relentlessly pursue, as though they are trappers collecting pelts.

Men being attracted to other men? Among some, particularly those who are brought up in the aforementioned environment, that's wholly unacceptable, even if it is real.

It's notable that Amaechi, in his book, indicates that some of his Jazz teammates couldn't have cared less about his sexual orientation. Although since that orientation came to light, outsiders wonder about straw concerns such as a gay man showering with straight teammates.

What a ridiculous thing to worry about. As though a gay basketball player would hit on teammates in the postgame shower stall.

It should matter to no one, especially fans, that Amaechi, or any other player, is gay. What he does in his bedroom is his business - even if he makes it public, and even for those whose religious or moral beliefs run contrary to that lifestyle. You don't have to believe that lifestyle is all proper and righteous to support one's right to be that way.

Being gay is not my thing, but it is Amaechi's.

Some wonder why he's offering up such personal information, and believe, if he does, then, he's fair game.

Fair game for what, backlash and bigotry?

I have no problem with laughing a little about or taking a lighter approach to the subject of sex - be it straight or gay - the way a lot of us immature guys do, in the locker room and elsewhere.

But Amaechi's a man who's likely been whispered about behind his back for years in a truly hostile environment. Now, safely retired, he feels more at ease, and maybe in a position to make a few bucks, being open and honest, seeking understanding, and, as he writes it, "obliterat[ing] the closet door in a big way."

On the other hand, what he does - or did - on the court is plainly everybody's business. In that regard, Amaechi stole from the Jazz, and disappointed fans, taking big cash and producing small contributions. Some of that was Amaechi's fault, some of it was the Jazz's - for using poor judgment in signing him to a $12 million contract.

But that is a totally separate matter, although it would be intriguing to see how a majority of fans would react if a true star player, not a scrub, announced to the world that he was gay - while he was still playing. Would that make a difference in how he was perceived and/or accepted, and the amounts of money he might make?

Who knows?

As for the stand-alone issue of sexual orientation, the preferences of a man - a former NBA player - between his bed sheets, I just don't care.

The question is: Why should anyone?

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* GORDON MONSON can be reached at gmonson@sltrib.com. To write a letter about this or any sports topic, send an e-mail to sportseditor@sltrib.com.