Suns President stripes has a message: he is gay

The President of Phoenix Suns and CEO Rick Welts, to sever what it sees as the feet about homosexuality in male team sports recently meet with friends, associates and a journalist to reveal that he is homosexual.

Stripes, regarded as the first man in an important position in the sport for men who declared his homosexuality, said that he now wants to mentor other homosexual who seek to pursue a career in the sport, according to the New York Times.

Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty ImagesRick stripes spoke to several friends and Associates, including David Stern, before going public.

"This is one of the last industries where the subject is off limits," welts said the newspaper. "Person is comfortable in engaging in a conversation."

According to the report, stripes spoken separately to the Commissioner of the NBA David Stern, Suns guard Steve Nash, Hall of Famer Bill Russell and founding President of the WNBA Val Ackerman to discuss the message that he wanted to convey in making her sexual orientation public.

The old stripes of 58 years, who began his career as a ball for the Seattle SuperSonics boy spent several years with Stern in the Office of the League. He was the architect of the all-Star weekend and helped raise the profile of the NBA before leaving for the front office of the Suns.

Stern was not confused or even surprised by the conversation, although he assumed until the stripes had wanted to meet to discuss career advice, according to the Times.

"What I said at the time was: I think that there is good chance that the world will be found it nothing remarkable,"Stern said in the Times."."I don't know if I was confused my thoughts with my hopes. ?

Nash held a similar view.

"Any person who is not ready for this must catch up," said Nash. "It is a person who is not ready for this a favour."

Alvin Gentry, who was coach of the Suns 2? seasons after joining the team in 2004 as an assistant coach, complimented stripes, saying that the fact that he is homosexual is beside the point.

"I had a feeling about it," Gentry said Chris Broussard of ESPN The Magazine when asked if he knew stripes was homosexual. "For me, what does it matter?". I know that it is great to his job. It is very organized and it does a brilliant job. For me, [his sexuality] is not relevant.

"I am pleased for Rick because I think it must be a ton of weight off the coast of his shoulders," said Gentry. "I am pleased for him because it puts him in a more relaxed state." I look differently on him or judge any differently? Not within a million years. I have dealt with Rick for the past seven years and it is a great CEO and a great person. ?

The Pacers owner Herb Simon to decide fate of President Larry Bird in the next 10 days

INDIANAPOLIS - President of the Pacers Larry Bird finally given his team return the playoffs this season.

He'll soon know if he will get completed its project of reconstruction.

Bird is in the last year of his contract and owner Herb Simon said Friday that they will meet in the next 10 days to discuss the situation of the bird. They will agree on an extension or the franchise will part ways with one of the greatest heroes of hoops of the State.

"My decision will be based on my decision with Mr. Simon," Bird said. If I like what I hear, I'll probably be back. But if there are certain things that he sees in the performance at work I've done and he is not comfortable with it, it might be time for a new voice. ?

[+] Expand AP Photo/Rick BowmerLarry Bird will meet with the owner of the Pacers Herb Simon over the next 10 days to discuss the situation of the bird.

The head of the Pacers in shoulder season coming off the coast of their first playoffs since 2006 bunk. The team has four entries with three years of experience, and the franchise will have the financial flexibility to add parts. Danny Granger, veteran starter, 28, and none of the remaining starters - Darren Collison, Tyler Hansbrough, Paul George, or Roy Hibbert - is aged more than 25.

Now, the bird wants to see how Simon is prepared to spend to improve this group.

The Hall of Famer was asked to "the great question of mine that is him, 'Now, we have money, we can spend?'". "" We waited three years to reach this point, now what can we do? ". What will you leave us to do? "There are many questions that will arise, and I want to see what direction he wants to go. ?

Simon said that Bird has done its work well.

"He gave us a three-year plan, and I think that he has lived its three-year plan," said Simon. "He said it would be tough to go, but the third year, he believed that we could probably the playoffs, what it does, and that we Cap space to build on the core group which he put in place.".

Things did look so good for birds three months ago.

The Pacers have been 17-27 when the team fired coach Jim O'Brien. Frank Vogel took over as interim coach and the team went 20 - 18, the rest of the regular season. Indiana has challenged the Chicago Bulls before removing the first round of the playoffs 4-1 series.

Vogel would like to see the birds to return.

"It is not 'Larry legend' because of its physical capabilities to play basketball," said Vogel. "It was a great basketball mind and it is he who should make decisions and what he decides is going to be what is best for the Indiana Pacers."

Bird was hired as President of the team in 2003 and the decisions of basketball shared with then CEO Donnie Walsh. The infamous Brawl between Pacers players and Pistons fans took place in 2004, which prompted the team to make trades depleting talent.

The decision to clean up the list and the financial restrictions slowed the progress of the bird.

"We knew going forward for three years, that we were not go money," he said. "If we had a payroll of $ 100 million, it is much easier." If we try to build a team around the project without any money. ?

Bird took full control of the decisions of basketball after the season 2007-08, when Walsh left to become President of New York Knicks. The Pacers have 36-46 in 2008-2009 and 32-50 in 2009-2010.

The team this season went 37-45.

"I am not satisfied with the way in which we have on the whole, but obviously, we are going in the right direction and now we are to where we have lots of Cap space and we simply use the right way.""," Bird said.

Regardless what happens, bird feels that the team has a bright future.

"Our ultimate goal is to return to compete for the Championship of the Eastern Conference and I am very high on a large number of our players," he said. "I believe in the project, we will be lucky enough to get another great player and just continue to build this.