Amaechi story is so boring

So how did you feel when you read former Jazz player John Amaechi's announcement that he is gay?

Me too.

In a word: Boooorrrrring.

If he is looking for publicity for his book and a big payday by outing himself — and he is — he's going to have to do better than that.

It takes a lot to move our Shock-O-Meter these days. We lived through the Dennis Rodman era.

If Amaechi wants attention, he's going to have to do it the old-fashioned way: by wearing a feather boa and a wedding dress, getting himself tattooed from head to toe and collecting so many piercings that his body whistles when the wind blows.

And that's just the starter's kit. Then he's got to get some chartreuse hair dye and act like a lunatic.

We've seen it all. In the last Olympics we met Johnny Weir, the "princessy" (his word, not mine) figure skater. We watched him dress like Liberace and Elton John and explain his poor Olympic performance by saying, "I didn't feel my aura. I was black inside."

If Amaechi wants attention, he needs to talk like that. He's got work to do.

Amaechi is gay? I'm trying not to yawn.

In the '70s, we learned that a female tennis player named Rene Richards was Dr. Richard Raskind in another life. This was after she had the plumbing changed.

Now that will get you attention.

Hollywood made a movie about gay cowboys last year.

We recently had a movie turn up at the Sundance Film Festival about "relations" between, egads!!!, man and beast.

Hooray for Hollywood.

Being gay hardly even raises an eyebrow anymore. Families used to gather around the TV to watch Andy of Mayberry. Now they watch "Will and Grace" and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."

Amaechi came "out" last week in time to publicize his book, which is called "Man in the Middle." He's hoping that the shock value of having a former NBA player come "out" will sell books.

It barely made a ripple in the news. We've been down this road too many times already.