The NBA banished Tim Hardaway from All-Star weekend in Las Vegas because of his anti-gay remarks.
Hardaway, who played in five All-Star games during the 1990s, was already in Las Vegas and scheduled to make a series of public appearances this week on behalf of the league. But after Hardaway said, "I hate gay people" during a radio interview, commissioner David Stern stepped in.
"It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours," Stern said in a statement Thursday.
Hardaway's comments - for which he later apologized - came a week after John Amaechi became the first former NBA player to say he was gay.
"I don't need Tim's comments to realize there's a problem," Amaechi told the Associated Press in a phone interview. "People said that I should just shut up and go away - now they have to rethink that."
On a Miami radio show Wednesday, Hardaway was asked how he would interact with a gay teammate.
"First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team," the former Miami Heat star said. "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 is right. I don't think he should be in the locker room while we are in the locker room."
When show host Dan Le Batard told Hardaway those comments were "flatly homophobic" and "bigotry," the player continued.
"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people," he said. "I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."
Hardaway also said if he did find out that a teammate was gay, he would ask for the player to be removed from the team.
"Something has to give," Hardaway said. "If you have 12 other ballplayers in your locker room that's upset and can't concentrate and always worried about him in the locker room or on the court or whatever, it's going to be hard for your teammates to win and accept him as a teammate."
Later that night, Hardaway apologized during a telephone interview with WSVN-TV 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."
Two major gay and lesbian groups denounced Hardaway's remarks.
"Hardaway's comments are vile, repulsive, and indicative of the climate of ignorance, hostility and prejudice that continues to pervade sports culture," said Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "And by apologizing not for his bigotry, but rather for giving voice to it, he's reminding us that this ugly display is only the tip of a very large iceberg."
Said Matt Foreman, president of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force: "Hardaway is a hero to thousands of young people. And that's what makes his comments so troubling. Sadly, his words simply put the pervasive homophobia in the NBA on the table."
Amaechi, who detailed his life in his recent autobiography "Man in the Middle," hoped his coming out would be a catalyst for intelligent discourse.
"His words pollute the atmosphere," Amaechi said. "It creates an atmosphere that allows young gays and lesbians to be harassed in school, creates an atmosphere where in 33 states you can lose your job, and where anti-gay and lesbian issues are used for political gain. It's an atmosphere that hurts all of us, not just gay people."
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meadowbreeze (anonymous) says…
No comments? Does anyone know KU's stand on this? Has Mangino or Self ever made a statement that a gay player would be welcomed with open arms? Has Chancellor Hemenway? I didn't see any football or basketball players in the audience when Esera Tuaolo spoke at KU last week.
It would be easy to throw stones at the NBA, but the situation isn't necessarily better here in Lawrence. Need I ask about lhs, fhs, Veritas, Seabury?
If policies were put in place, would folks support it or *wink* *wink* harass anyway? Kids are not stupid and know when they aren't welcome.
jonas (anonymous) says…
"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."
Bullsh#$. You shouldn't FEEL what you said, as it's cold, and totally lacking in human compassion and empathy. Since you are clearly a person filled with negative emotions, we should not expect you to say anything differently. At least you were honest the first time.
meadowbreeze (anonymous) says…
Jonas has a point about honesty. It's those that stab in the back that hurt the most. The friends and family that say 'we love you' then decide they don't.
tim_hardaway (anonymous) says…
will u people quit crying and accept the fact that the man has the right to say whatever he wants. Thats what's great about America we have the right to say whatever. So all you little complainers out there go home!!! and cuddle up and drink your liberal green tea, and read your henry david thourough while you remain unemployed and pick up your welfare check that i pay for.
jonas (anonymous) says…
You notice, that is pretty much what we said. The only person complaining about people's comments is you, so maybe you should consider taking your own advice.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
Maybe separate shower facilities for homophobes, at their expense, would be more appropriate.
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
So, how long before Hardaway goes to rehab?
tim_hardaway (anonymous) says…
this subject is dumb!! nobody cares about gay people in the nba...i
altheasus (Althea Schnacke) says…
I didn't know that tea had political preferences. "Liberal green tea"?
Kam_Fong_as_Chin_Ho (anonymous) says…
Does anyone know KU's stand on this? Has Mangino or Self ever made a statement that a gay player would be welcomed with open arms? Has Chancellor Hemenway?
=============
Why on earth would they say such a thing?? A player should be welcomed based on his athletic ability, not on his private sexual life.
jonas (anonymous) says…
Posted by Dambudzo (anonymous) on February 16, 2007 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"I don't want to stand naked in a shower with a women"
You're wierd.
Godot (anonymous) says…
why not start a GBLBL?
andrew55 (anonymous) says…
I don't think anyone should back down for stating how they fell about any subject.....unless money is involved...Mel Gibson...et al. This guy knew he was going to open himself up to a lot of negative press by "coming out." He didn't have to hold a press conference or seminar to reveal his preferences...his teammates already knew it.
andrew55 (anonymous) says…
Tim used the wrong venue to voice the opinion he has a right to. I don't think anyone should back down for stating how they fell about any subject.....unless money is involved...Mel Gibson...et al. This guy knew he was going to open himself up to a lot of negative press by "coming out." He didn't have to hold a press conference or seminar to reveal his preferences...his teammates already knew it.
meadowbreeze (anonymous) says…
The players and students of KU are KU's 'children'. The university has a relationship known as 'in locus parentis' {sp?} The university has an obligation to provide a safe environment or they WILL be SUED! Now ... one can say that they don't have to 'love' their children. But once upon a time a university did just that. It was a loving relationship. Sexual orientation shouldn't matter, but it does and it is neither fair, just nor loving to allow one of your children to beat up on another.
takeastand (anonymous) says…
This reminds me of jason whitlock Reporter for The Star making comments about Drew Bledsoe being gay.
I bet Whitlock and Hardaway would be the first to comment if anybody said they hated Africian Americans.
I don't suppose they would say Africian American though.
Love thy neighbor as you love thy self.