WBRS Sports Blog

More often than not we should listen to self-made billionaire Mark Cuban. What part of self-made don't you understand? He is also largely responsible for taking the Dallas Mavericks to the elite of the NBA, the same franchise who were at one point the laughing stalk of the sports world.

About a month ago, shortly after John Amaechi came out of the closet, Cuban told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that a gay athlete would benefit greatly from a financial aspect if he were to reveal his true sexual identity...

"From a marketing perspective, if you're a player who happens to be gay and you want to be incredibly rich, then you should come out, because it would be the best thing that ever happened to you from a marketing and an endorsement perspective. You would be an absolute hero to more Americans than you can ever possibly be as an athlete, and that'll put money in your pocket."

Well it seems today Mark Cuban's words are suddenly validated.

Former NBA player John Amaechi became the first openly gay male athlete to sign an endorsement deal with a mainstream company.

HeadBlade Inc., creators of a popular head-shaving razor, announced Monday it had signed Amaechi to a multiyear deal. Financial terms were undisclosed.

"I think it's fantastic that HeadBlade has approached me to endorse the brand," said Amaechi in a statement.

"John Amaechi is the newest face of the brand because he embodies many of the qualities representative of a HeadBlader," HeadBlade chief executive Todd Greene said. "He is a man comfortable in his own skin and he's not afraid to go against the grain."

I am pretty sure if Amaechi had not come out than the former NBAer, who retired in 2004, would remain in obscurity. However because of his recent actions he now has one endorsement deal and I expect more to follow. Good for John, and as for Mark Cuban he was right on the money on this one.