The Brian Lehrer Show

Gay in the NBA

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

John Amaechi has just become the first former pro basketball player to announce publicly that he's gay. You've been hearing the backlash in the news. Now hear him explain why he waited until he retired to write Man in the Middle. Also, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and facing America's history of lynching.

Listen to the whole show

Speaker in the (WNYC) House

Christine Quinn, speaker, New York City Council, talks about her State of the City address, middle school reform, and tax credits for renters.

Basketball's Closet

John Amaechi, former NBA player and author, Man in the Middle (ESPN Books, 2007), talks about being gay in the NBA and the reaction to his book--and why he once turned down a $17 million contract in favor of a $600,000 one.

Man in the Middle is available for purchase at Amazon.com

Restoring Justice

In her new book, The Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-First Century (Beacon Press, 2007) civil rights lawyer and law professor Sherrilyn Ifill, asks if the U.S. should look to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation process to address the history of lynching.

The Courthouse Lawn is available for purchase at Amazon.com

Event
Sherrilyn Ifill will read from The Courthouse Lawn at
Hue-Man Bookstore
2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Saturday, Feb 24th at 4 p.m.