Man in the Middle

by John Amaechi

Manin the Middle chronicles one man's extraordianry journey from awkard, overweight child to a jet setting NBA star. Along the way he encounters endless obstacles to achieving his hoop dreams, all the while protecting a vital secret that could end his career- He is gay.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Biography, LGBT, Basketball, Biography Memoir, Memoir

304 pages, Hardcover

First published February 20, 2007

Reviews

[Brittani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book makes him sound like a typical jock, something he is completely against. He came to my school and gave a lecture. He is much more intelligent in person. It is a good book, but does no justice to the great person he is

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Amaechi was one of my favorite Big Ten players ever. He was a wide body who always worked hard and, with his English accent, gave great post game interviews. I had no idea of his sexuality, which is the hook of this memoir, but it is handled with proper English reserve and the rest of his story is pretty interesting though told in a somewhat plodding prose style.

[Maya Droui · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books was an intimate memoir of John Amechi's hard work and path to success in the NBA. It takes you inside the basketball elite sports environment. It is a book about resilience and identity in elite sports. What it takes to truly make it and the fight for athletes to stay at the top.
His journey with his identity and life as a professional basketball player is a core part of the story. Amaechi’s honesty about his doubts regarding his abilities, yet the relentless work he put in, makes him feel human but also determined. It all stemmed from the plan he created with his mother at 17 years old and stayed committed to, whether he ultimately made it to the top or not. That persistence is what makes the book both inspiring and deeply engaging.

[AmareBaptiste6 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man in the Middle was an interesting memoir about the history of Amaechi’s lifestyle as a homosexual athlete and the thoughts about basketball towards, mainly himself, as his love for the game is not visible, but his will to provide representation of gays in the sports world. I would recommend this great novel to young teenagers looking for an interesting books about the history of the game and how much it meant towards the NBA benchwarmer.

[Favian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly disappointed at the lack of proofreading involved, especially since ESPN is the publisher. There were players whose names were spelled incorrectly (e.g. Brad Daugherty) and the some of the years indicated were also inaccurate, causing confusion in terms of the timeline of events. John Amaechi was able to use his NBA career post-retirement as a platform for his advocacies.

[Weathergrrrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 star read. A thoroughly enjoyable read with great insight into the world of professional sports.

[FunkMaster General · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the Meech, even when he is getting stumped on Le Batard.

Here, a moving reflection on life in & out of sports--as well as in & out of the closet.

[Judy P. Sprout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently watched an inspirational (truly) hour+ with John Amaechi as part of work's Pride month shenanigans. Decided to pick up the book. It's short!

Why rated so highly? Because he's a fat gay low-bullshit atheist nerd who likes Star Trek and doesn't think basketball is the most important thing evar. And having heard him speak, the book is definitely in his voice. Good job, Ghostwriter! (Apologizes to Mr. Amaechi if you wrote it yourself. Good job, Mr. Amaechi!)

Review now enhanced with real quotes from Amaechi's presentation. Not found in the book! This is pure bonus material!

* I'm soooooo glad I studied a PhD so I could be a gay basketball player.

* I don't like using any phrase that Sarah Palin has ever used. It's like repeating the rantings of a toddler... People with anachronistic views should not be allowed to prosper... The meteor is coming (pause) for them.

* Four times today I've been asked how big my feet are. I think it's an incredibly weird thing to be asked by strangers about the size of one's body parts.

* I have to take solace that people are stupid and not bad. That's not good, but it helps me get by.

[Melanee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok light read. Amaechi has some good insight into the world of sports and the NBA. He also has some intelligent points about politics, the war and class issues in the US. Lots of patting himself on the back. Came out after he was in the NBA. Maybe could have made a bigger difference if he came out while he was still playing. Amaechi shares his road to the NBA as an awkward, overweight, English kid and then into the basketball powerhouse he became. Ok, not really but the dude made it to the big show so he was at least fundamentally good. Interesting insight also from a black, gay man in the hyper-masculine world of sports. Lots of typos in this book. I felt like I was reading a proof.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so John Amaechi is gay, and he plays basketball. But in view of everything that goes on in this book, those two factors seem pretty insignificant. It's a great story about getting where you want to be without losing your integrity, and without major interruption from all the bullshit that lesser people might have in store for you. It also paints a more hopeful picture than you might think about some players in the NBA- here you have a 6'10" ex-fat-kid-earl-grey-drinking-erasure-listening-exercise hating-Brit who managed to find some genuinely wonderful people who appreciated him on and off the court even if they knew his whole story.
It reads like candy but satisfies like a meal.

[KWAIN-AKA-MAJIX · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book, I followed John Amaechi some what through his NBA career. The book gave a interesting look into the personal life of the man behind the basketball. This is a person who I feel through his characture, personality and commitment, deserves all the good that life has to offer. I was impressed with his focus and determination to stay the course he set for himself, inspite of the obsticles and personal sacrifices he would have to indore in order to reach his goals. After reading his book, I'm a bigger fan of the man.

K's out..peace

[Caitlyn K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently reading, and just picked this up after meeting Amaechi during a Coming Out Day event, though I was vaguely acquainted with his story prior to meeting him.

There's a place on every bookshelf for a good biography, and this book isn't only relevant to sports players and gay people (though I highly recommend Amaechi's story to any GLBT person, because he is becoming a real figurehead for the GLBT rights movement, and has an inspiring story to share).

[Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty good. He is an interesting person and reading about his life in England as a child and how he got into basketball was enjoyable. He didn't spend a lot of time in the NBA to really dish, but of course it was fun to read about the Jazz and some of the other teams he played with. Overall, it was a really quick, enjoyable read for anyone that's interested in what it must be like to be a gay professional athlete.

[Dale Stonehouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

The part I liked best was when he saw all the non-gay NBA players preening themselves in the locker room after games and wondered about the stereotype that gays are more concerned with how they look than "normal" people. His perspective and sense of humor about being gay in the macho world of pro sports, and not insignificantly, his view as a non-US native, were informative.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about the struggles of making it in the NBA. The parts about European basketball (which were most of the book) bored me. I also thought that Amaechi being gay in the NBA would have been more of the focus of the book but it wasn't. It was basically the story of anyone trying to make it big in the NBA except Amaechi didn't really have a love life. Big deal.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic book written by a fantantic man. This book is much more than a basketball book. I would say only about 10% is actually about basketball. Amaechi is poignant, candid and witty. His life story is amazing and inspiring.

[Gavin Otteson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was truly surprised by the interesting life story of Amaechi and how well those stories were told the the reader in "Man in the Middle." Though poorly edited, the book and it's subject become quite endearing.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

His book is honest, frank and brave given the climate in which he had to work. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in living your own life and being true yourself, above all else.
A very good read.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book last year and from what I can remember it was a very inspiring book. John is like many, I have not doubt, in the the national spot light unconditionally required to hide his sexuality. Great book.

[Ryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging story, and exceedingly well written. I read it cover to cover. I'm left feeling as though I made a new friend.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

not very well written but a courageous story, and very interesting to hear about the NBA from this perspective.

[Chi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an ESPN book revealing the life of a gay NBA player. The funniest part of the book was when Jerry Sloan called Karl Malone and John Stockton, "cu%ts."

[Daniel Williams]

The book is a good book. I'm learning things about myself that John Amachei is saying how he dealt with being gay.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that will be missed by most, but should be read by more. Great look in on the NBA from the eyes of a gay English center playing in Utah.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great life story. He is truly a great role model.

[Dotty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amaechi’s story of growing up in single parent home, finding basketball, setting a goal, achieving the goal, coming to terms with his sexuality