Ex-NBA player John Amaechi is calling out West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins over the anti-gay comments he made earlier this week … telling TMZ Sports everyone involved in the conversation is straight-up “disgusting.”
As we previously reported, Huggins used homophobic slurs during a Cincinnati radio appearance on Monday … referring to Xavier fans as “Catholic f**s” while speaking with Bill Cunningham on 700 WLW.
Amaechi — who came out as gay in 2007 — got wind of what the coaching legend said … and he believes, unfortunately, Huggins isn’t the only one in a sports leadership role who would use such a term.
“I don’t know the man — but he sounds like a dinosaur,” Amaechi tells TMZ Sports. “College (and indeed pro) sports are littered with them.”
But Amaechi isn’t just disappointed in Huggins — he continued to speak out against the show’s hosts … saying they “are also disgusting and to blame for egging this conversation on and calling him ‘the best’ after he said those words.”
“It’s hardly surprising that some people still think it’s OK to say these words,” he added. “As to whether he should be an educator (as a coach or otherwise), I would remind people that the vociferously anti-trans and anti-gay usually sit in a constellation where many other minority groups (including Black and Brown people) are also held in contempt.”
Amaechi — who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz over the course of 5 seasons in the Association — has become a voice for the LGBTQ+ community since coming out … and has also built a new career as a psychologist.
He was recently honored for his work at an event … where he gave a powerful monologue that actually ties in with Huggins’ controversy.
“I won an award the other day from the Sports Industry, and in my acceptance speech, I talked about sports being an empty vessel that people fill with who they are — if you imagine what this man fills his sport with, it’s hard to imagine that the human outcomes will be positive, even if sporting success occurs,” Amaechi says.
Huggins has since apologized for his comments … saying there is no excuse for his actions. WVU is currently reviewing the situation.
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