Hardaway: "I hate gay people"

[83-Steelers-43]

Retired NBA star Hardaway says he hates 'gay people'
ESPN.com news services


Former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway said on a radio show Wednesday afternoon that he would not want a gay player on his team.

"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known," Hardaway said. "I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

Hardaway was a guest of Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard on the Miami radio show Sports Talk 790 and was asked how he would deal with a gay teammate. When asked if he would accept an active player's coming out, such as that of retired NBA center John Amaechi, Hardaway replied: "First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team.

"And second of all, if he was on my team, I would, you know, really distance myself from him because, uh, I don't think that's right. And you know I don't think he should be in the locker room while we're in the locker room. I wouldn't even be a part of that," he said. John Amaechi on Mike & Mike
John Amaechi will stop by "Mike & Mike In The Morning" at 7:20 a.m. ET on Thursday and respond to Tim Hardaway's comments.

NBA Commissioner David Stern, upon learning of the remarks Wednesday, removed Hardaway from subsequent league-related appearances. "It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours," Stern said in a statement to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Hardaway has been taking part in NBA festivities ahead of Sunday's All-Star game in Las Vegas and attended an NBA Cares outreach event at a city YMCA with Knicks forward Jerome Williams on Tuesday.

Amaechi, meanwhile, was quoted in Le Batard's column in Thursday's Miami Herald saying that he was grateful for Hardaway's words.

"Finally, someone who is honest. It is ridiculous, absurb, petty, bigoted and shows a lack of empathy that is gargantuan and unfathomable. But it is honest. And it illustrates the problem better than any of the fuzzy language other people have used so far."

Hardaway, later saying he regretted the remarks, apologized for the remarks during a telephone interview with Fox affiliate WSVN in Miami.

"Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that," he said. "That was my mistake."

Hardaway played for five NBA teams from 1990-2003 and was a five-time All-Star. He finished with averages of 17.7 points and 8.2 assists.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2766213

[tony hipchest]

i guess his new name is Tim "keep that" Hardonaway.

[83-Steelers-43]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

i guess his new name is Tim "keep that" Hardonaway.

Marv Albert "YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!"

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

i guess his new name is Tim "keep that" Hardonaway.

That is sooo wrong...(and soooo funny)

[83-Steelers-43]

Keep in mind, this is the same idiot that made this comment........

"I deserve a lot more respect than I'm getting," Hardaway said. "I took less money to stay there. (Riley) said he'd take care of me, and it hasn't happened yet. I want to be there, but I've got to look out for Tim Hardaway and Tim Hardaway's family."

I love when athletes refer to themselves in the third person.

[alittlejazzbird]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

i guess his new name is Tim "keep that" Hardonaway.

OK, now that was funny!!!!!!!

Seriously, though, it's sad to be reminded periodically of how little we've actually accomplished in terms of tolerance in our society. I believe that Mr. Hardaway's sentiments are echoed, though not necessarily spoken aloud, by a great many other professional athletes. And that's unfortunate.

People are products of their environment, as Mike Greenberg said this morning on ESPN Radio. He grew up in Greenwich Village, saw same-sex couples holding hands all the time, and grew up thinking "so what?" I'm a (heterosexual, not that it matters) professional musician, and a good portion of my friends and colleagues are gay (including some people who would absolutely shock you to your core if you knew). I've been around a huge diversity of people all my life, and I for one embrace all the differences among us - they're what make us all unique and interesting. Tim Hardaway clearly grew up in an narrow-minded atmosphere of bigotry and hatred, and his comments come from his history just as much as they do from ignorance and fear.

Here's the thing: any prejudice or phobia is born of fear. Whether it's toward someone whose skin color, national origin, sexual orientation, weight, gender, or political or religious beliefs differ from a person's own, or if they avoid snakes, small spaces, or going out of the house, it all stems from fear.

A wise person once told me that average, reasonably well-adjusted people in society simply go about the business of living their daily lives, unconcerned with how other people choose to live theirs even if they don't agree with those choices. Intolerant people who are actively hating homosexuals (or any other "different" group), and who react with anger or violence, are very much afraid of something. As this person said to me, "the homophobic men who are verbally or physically bashing gays are almost always closeted gays themselves." Remember Chris Cooper's stunning performance in "American Beauty?" That's who I think of at times like this.

Please understand, I am not in any way implying anything about Mr. Hardaway. All I am saying is that in my personal opinion, instead of issuing what's probably the lamest and least heartfelt apology I've heard this side of Terrell Owens, Mr. Hardaway should try to figure out what he's really afraid of, so that he doesn't keep actively perpetuating his ridiculous, outdated macho athlete stereotype. Maybe then he could be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

[83-Steelers-43]

Originally Posted by alittlejazzbird

OK, now that was funny!!!!!!!

Seriously, though, it's sad to be reminded periodically of how little we've actually accomplished in terms of tolerance in our society. I believe that Mr. Hardaway's sentiments are echoed, though not necessarily spoken aloud, by a great many other professional athletes. And that's unfortunate.

People are products of their environment, as Mike Greenberg said this morning on ESPN Radio. He grew up in Greenwich Village, saw same-sex couples holding hands all the time, and grew up thinking "so what?" I'm a (heterosexual, not that it matters) professional musician, and a good portion of my friends and colleagues are gay (including some people who would absolutely shock you to your core if you knew). I've been around a huge diversity of people all my life, and I for one embrace all the differences among us - they're what make us all unique and interesting. Tim Hardaway clearly grew up in an narrow-minded atmosphere of bigotry and hatred, and his comments come from his history just as much as they do from ignorance and fear.

Here's the thing: any prejudice or phobia is born of fear. Whether it's toward someone whose skin color, national origin, sexual orientation, weight, gender, or political or religious beliefs differ from a person's own, or if they avoid snakes, small spaces, or going out of the house, it all stems from fear.

A wise person once told me that average, reasonably well-adjusted people in society simply go about the business of living their daily lives, unconcerned with how other people choose to live theirs even if they don't agree with those choices. Intolerant people who are actively hating homosexuals (or any other "different" group), and who react with anger or violence, are very much afraid of something. As this person said to me, "the homophobic men who are verbally or physically bashing gays are almost always closeted gays themselves." Remember Chris Cooper's stunning performance in "American Beauty?" That's who I think of at times like this.

Please understand, I am not in any way implying anything about Mr. Hardaway. All I am saying is that in my personal opinion, instead of issuing what's probably the lamest and least heartfelt apology I've heard this side of Terrell Owens, Mr. Hardaway should try to figure out what he's really afraid of, so that he doesn't keep actively perpetuating his ridiculous, outdated macho athlete stereotype. Maybe then he could be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

Well stated and I agree completely. Personally, I really don't care what a person's sexual preference happens to be. It's none of my business and at the same time, I really don't care to hear/know what a person's sexual preference happens to be. Which brings me to my next question.

Alittlejazzbird, I would like to hear your opinion. Do you think it's a must for every person who is in the spotlight and who also happens to be gay announce that they are in fact homosexual?

Example: Dan Marino is married with kids. Should he stand up in front of the media camera's and announce he's straight? Much like with Amaechi, I would say to Dan Marino "congratulations, here's a cookie, more power to you".

[tony hipchest]

best opening lines to a pro atheletes press conference ever:

"first of all, im not gay."

-mike piazza

jim rome kills me with his takes on piazza having to hold this conference and come out of the closet to say hes NOT gay.

[alittlejazzbird]

Originally Posted by 83-Steelers-43

Alittlejazzbird, I would like to hear your opinion. Do you think it's a must for every person who is in the spotlight and who also happens to be gay announce that they are in fact homosexual?

No, not at all. And your Dan Marino example is a point well taken. In my perfect world, it would be a complete non-issue whether a person is gay or straight, and no one would care in the slightest.

I think in some ways, though, that people who have a public forum can be instruments of change simply because they can reach vast numbers of people. Remember how revolutionary it was when Ellen DeGeneres came out? Because she took that first step, a TV show like Will & Grace, which never would have aired 15 years ago, became a successful series. So in that respect, if Mr. Amaechi's comments start a dialogue that can open minds and hearts to the possibility of positive change, then I'm all for it.

See, the thing about homosexuals, just like heterosexuals, is that their sexual life is only a part of who they are. Dan Marino was a fabulous football player who just happens to be straight. Mr. Amaechi was a well-regarded basketball player who just happens to be gay. Mr. Hardaway's fears probably stem from his concern that a gay teammate might have tried to hit on him, and then what? I've been hit on a time or two by gay women (including musicians with whom I have an ongoing professional relationship), and have always answered the same way, "I'm very flattered, but no thanks, I'm straight." The end. No one has ever gotten aggressive, or threatening, or made my work life intolerable. It becomes a non-issue. Whether you're a man or a woman, straight people receive unwelcome advances from other straight people all the time, right? So you deal with it and move on. Bad behavior crosses gender and sexual orientation lines.

Sorry if that's a little long-winded, 83-Steelers-43, it's just that it's an issue I really care about because it affects so many people who are close to me.

[83-Steelers-43]

Originally Posted by alittlejazzbird

No, not at all. And your Dan Marino example is a point well taken. In my perfect world, it would be a complete non-issue whether a person is gay or straight, and no one would care in the slightest.

I think in some ways, though, that people who have a public forum can be instruments of change simply because they can reach vast numbers of people. Remember how revolutionary it was when Ellen DeGeneres came out? Because she took that first step, a TV show like Will & Grace, which never would have aired 15 years ago, became a successful series. So in that respect, if Mr. Amaechi's comments start a dialogue that can open minds and hearts to the possibility of positive change, then I'm all for it.

See, the thing about homosexuals, just like heterosexuals, is that their sexual life is only a part of who they are. Dan Marino was a fabulous football player who just happens to be straight. Mr. Amaechi was a well-regarded basketball player who just happens to be gay. Mr. Hardaway's fears probably stem from his concern that a gay teammate might have tried to hit on him, and then what? I've been hit on a time or two by gay women (including musicians with whom I have an ongoing professional relationship), and have always answered the same way, "I'm very flattered, but no thanks, I'm straight." The end. No one has ever gotten aggressive, or threatening, or made my work life intolerable. It becomes a non-issue. Whether you're a man or a woman, straight people receive unwelcome advances from other straight people all the time, right? So you deal with it and move on. Bad behavior crosses gender and sexual orientation lines.

Sorry if that's a little long-winded, 83-Steelers-43, it's just that it's an issue I really care about because it affects so many people who are close to me.

I see and understand. Not long-winded at all. Very informative and makes sense for the most part. As a straight person and who doesn't care what a person's sexual preference happens to be, although I admit I do find it overbearing at times when people make it a point to announce that they are gay, very much like how I would feel if everybody who happened to be straight felt the need to announce it. I'm not sure if that makes me a bad person or not but that's just how I feel. Thanks for the response and the interesting insight/conversation.