John Amaechi has become a household name since coming out, but he's hardly the first. Former (American) footballer Esera Tuaolo and baseballer Billy Bean also used their post-game lives to spread the good, gay word. Now the boys have come together for a very special Radar-endorsed sit down with Jack E. Jett.

Here's a snippet:

JJ: John, I read somewhere that you and Tim Hardaway are going to be doing something on TV together?
JA:: There's an enduring rumor out there that we're going to do Oprah together.

JJ: My hope was that it was going to include a no-holds-barred wrestling match.
JA: In terms of basketball, he can beat me soundly, but in terms of wrestling, I think I've got him.
ET: Believe me, dude, you'll have some backing.

Read the entire conversation here.

Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel's astonishingly long-lived late-night show, former Star Trek star and known homosexual George Takei offered a homo hand to homo hater, Tim Hardaway. Though he didn't specify where he'd be placing his pawn, we have a feeling it won't be a simple shake. More like a stroke, actually...

Well, it's the moment we've all been waiting for (no, not Mark Foley release from rehab): Ted Haggard's embarking on his official, Evangelically-blessed "sexual counseling".

The disgraced pastor's trying to force the homo-demon from the pure, meth-laden playground that is his soul in hopes of regaining proper place in heaven.

Unfortunately for Haggard, there are no guarantees (nor, we imagine, is there money back).

As Focus on the Family VP H.B. London says:
"I see success approximately 50 percent of the time...Guys just wear out and they can no longer subject themselves to the process."
Or, they can't take pain of so-called religious repression any longer. Sheesh.

And, do you think Focus on the Family President, James Dobson's too busy to provide a quote?

Lately, we've heard from almost all queer ex-NFL players who have been brave enough to come out of the locker room - not really much of a big deal since there are only three. Dave Kopay turned up over the holidays, followed by Roy Simmons who is making the publicity rounds promoting his new book. That only leaves ex-Atlanta Falcon Esera Tuaolo. Well he's surfaced and, natch, has his very own book to publicize. Tuaolo talks about his own closeted Super Bowl experience.

One of Tuaolo's toughest moments came right after the 1999 Super Bowl in which the Denver Broncos defeated his team, the Atlanta Falcons. The team bus returned to their hotel and all the players' wives and families were out waiting for them. Tuaolo's life-partner, Mitchell Wherley, was there, but they did not dare approach each other in public.

"It hurt," said Tuaolo. "Seeing the smiles of the other families, how the players held their wives and being able to be free to be themselves. Here we were in the closet, running in the shadows. Coming off that bus, and seeing all the wives and families come up and hug the players, because that was what we needed. We had just lost a game we should have won. The Super Bowl - something that important, you can't get that back."

Very sad, yes. But now we'll be playing close attention during the Super Bowl this weekend, looking to see if we can spot the one player with the perfectly coifed hair and immaculate dress who isn't instantly bombarded by a wife or a girlfriend.

Gay in the NFL [Pride Source]