Full disclosure: I was actually a fan of the man known as "Meech" back in his "pre-gay" days, when he was "merely" a center for the Orlando Magic (albeit a tea-drinking, poetry-writing center - none of which are gay per se, just highly unusual for NBA big men). I had no knowledge of his sexual orientation until this book was announced. I just knew of him as an articulate, funny, hard-working and self-effacing gentleman - an unlikely success story in the world of professional athletics, to be sure. The British version of Rudy, perhaps...
So I fully acknowledge that just because I really liked this book doesn't necessarily mean you will. After all, I am the most ready-made of target audiences, already holding the author in high esteem. But please allow me, in this review, to introduce you to Mr. John Amaechi and give you a sampling of his words. And hopefully once familiar with this wonderful fellow you will be encouraged to see for yourself just what he has to impart.
First off, let me say that with most sports books that are co-written with another author, you would be right to be cynical about words like "gregariousness" and "miscreants" (and phrases like "a bonanza of flesh") appearing in the prose. You'd be forgiven for finding it highly unlikely a pro athlete would write like that. But anyone who has heard John's spoken eloquence (or read his website poetry) knows that these would not be surprising word choices for him.
And one of the best things about this book is the joy in the language - John has always been a bit of a "word nerd" of sorts, so this offering comes loaded with a colorful vernacular and some nifty turns of phrase (I think "barmy armies" is my favorite - used to describe the truly fanatical basketball fans in Europe. That would make a great band name, come to think of it - somebody get on that!). I honestly wish I knew why John even needed a co-author in this case (grammar police? Motivator?).
That said, the book itself could have used a better editor - it's a little bogged down with typos (every 20 pages or so) and technical errors (the same sentence is repeated on p.6, for example). But John's words and stories are so effervescent and uplifting, that they ultimately rise above most of the technical difficulties.
So who is John Amaechi? Well, he's so much more than "the gay NBA player" and he has a lot more to say. I understand that his being the first pro basketball player to come out of the closet is "the hook" of this book, and maybe why many are interested in it. And I'm not downplaying the importance of a gay professional athlete coming out in this day and age. But for those who read this knowing only of Ameachi as "the gay player," they are in for a surprise - there are so many other interesting and evocative things about the man that are here to be found.
And while we're on the subject, a word (actually, two paragraphs) of caution: For those of you who are only interested in the "homosexual aspect" of his story, I think you will be disappointed, as talk of his experience as a gay man accounts for only about one tenth of this book: though hinted at, it doesn't even begin in earnest until about 40% of the way through (p.110 of 290, if you're scoring at home - or even if you're alone. (I stole that line from Sportscenter, by the way)). And it's not discussed again until p.140, where interesting assertions about the intermingling of gay and sport cultures are made: "It's not so much that there's a repressed homosexuality at play...only that there's a tremendous fear that the behavior might be labeled as such...that gay men in the locker room would somehow violate this sacred space by sexualizing it."
Amaechi spent most of his early days very unaware of his orientation, and he put the issue aside through most of his career (his sister referred to him as "asexual"). So while John has some noteworthy and sometimes even vital insights regarding life as a gay pro athlete, if you're looking for solely that aspect, I think this book will fall short of your expectation.
The good news is, he has so much more to offer: I read with fascination things I never knew about his mother's extraordinary life, John's growing up under the threat of kidnap, and his remarkable transformation from an awkward, out-of-shape, self-described "whale" who hated (and still hates) physical exertion to someone who "for a shining season in Orlando...had been a fantastic NBA player." His first impressions of America are particularly amusing, and his "foreign" take (in the best kind of "distance adds perspective" way) on everything from racism to guns to parenting makes for an absorbing read.
More than that, what really shines through is the integrity and humanity of this gentle giant. In many ways, this book also works on the level of a self-help or inspirational guide, with Amaechi leading with both his words and deeds. Early in life, he constructed something he calls "The Plan," and while "The Eleven Rungs" it's comprised of aren't especially groundbreaking or original, they do help greatly in understanding the what lies at the core of this unique man and what makes him successful.
"...it's about truly understanding yourself," he writes on p.50, "My goal...was also a moral one: I had to conduct myself in a way that was consistent with the ideals I'd been brought up with. Identifying them and applying them would be as important as, say, improving my rebounding. How many times do hear about young NBA players who, having earned millions and achieved stardom have nothing left to give? In the unlikely event that I achieved my goal [of becoming an NBA player], it would only be the beginning, not the end."
Though "Man In The Middle" is far from being a masterpiece (it is, as Amaechi himself might say, "a trifle"), I still found it a highly enjoyable way to spend some more time with the funny and insightful man I've always been a fan of, and the added layer of his struggle with his sexuality is only that - an added layer.