Tim Hardaway: 'I Hate Gay People' (Former Basketball Superstar)

http://cbs4.com ^ | Feb 14, 2007

[Free ThinkerNY]

Tim Hardaway: 'I Hate Gay People'

cbs4.com

Feb 14, 2007

(CBS4) MIAMI Former Miami Heat superstar Tim Hardaway told a local sports radio show that he “hates gay people.”

Hardaway made the comments while he was being interviewed by Dan Le Batard on 790 the Ticket Wednesday afternoon.

The five time All Star was asked how he would deal with a gay teammate.

“First of all I wouldn’t want him on my team,” said Hardaway. “ “Second of all, if he was on my team I would really distance myself from him because I don’t think that’s right and I don’t think he should be in the locker room when we’re in the locker room.”

Le Batard took Hardaway to task, pointing out that his comments were “flatly homophobic” and bigoted, but that only seemed to stir up the former point guard.

“Well, you know, I hate gay people,” Hardaway said in response to Le Batard. “I let it be known I don’t like gay people. I don’t like to be around gay people. I’m homophobic. It shouldn’t be in the world, in the United States, I don’t like it.”

Hardaway’s comments come on the heels of a groundbreaking revelation made by former player John Amaechi, who became the first professional basketball player to openly identify himself as gay.

Amaechi became only the sixth male atlhlete from one of the four major American sports (NBA,MLB,NFL,NHL) to admit he is gay.

Former NFL running back David Kopay , offensive lineman Roy Simmons and defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo just recently came out.

Glenn Burke, an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics in the 1970s, and Billy Bean, a utility player in the 1980s and 1990s, have also come out.

No player has ever publicly admitted to being gay while currently playing for one of the four major American sports.

[Skip Ripley]

Yep...and dozens of NBA players had to pnder the question "Was he boxing me out that nioght or hitting on me"?

[Eagles6]

I guess, by your screen name, that you live in an area where there are a lot more gays than most places, actually any other place. I, fortunately, live in an area where a person's aberration is not shoved in your face and approbation not demanded. I don't know enough gays to do surveys on issues or to take cross sections.

I feel lucky.

Does this make me a bad person? /sarc

[Mr.Unique]

I hope he's prepared for the John Rocker-ing he's gonna receive from all those enlightened sports reporters now.....

I don't think he needs to worry.

[musicman]

"No player has ever publicly admitted to being gay while currently playing for one of the four major American sports."

[Sue Perkick]

LOL. We all know the answer to that one.

[EDINVA]

Reggie WHite didn't get away with his comments too easily

[Osage Orange]

Have you ever undressed in front of a homosexual?

You might have a change of opinion.......

[prov1813man]

Part of the formula. Somewhere after WW2 it became impossible to get any job in "journalism" without a college degree.

Lot's of people, narrow filter (re-education camp), common outcome.

Simple, effective, planned and documented.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Hmm. Maybe if Reggie or Tim said they were Muslim and this offended their beliefs they would be given a pass.

[Revolting cat!]

Well, this sounds like the beginning of a fabulous story, Nancy.

[Duke Nukum]

I thought that one basket ball player from the 1990's was the first open gay? This totally shatters my illusions about a sport that totally bores me.

[EDINVA]

now yer talking!

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"I hate gay people"

And yet this guy likes to run around all hot and sweaty with other men in shorts?

[incredulous joe]

Good for Tim Hardaway. I was looking over school closings with my 8 year old son this evening. He spends a very small bit of time on the web; perusing the Lego site or educational areas. We almost never tune in to the web together, but I had a feeling school would be 86'd tomorrow and wanted to share the celebration that would ensue "in real time".

High fives all around - no school!

My son noticed the sports links, which featured short videos and he wanted to see the stories. I said sure let's check 'em out. Right there, between the Italian soccer riots and an injured Orioles pitcher is a profile about the "first gay basketball player", John Amaechi. My son is just at the age where he can easily read this stuff. He didn't ask me about it and he didn't care to link to the story, but I was just so annoyed to have this story "in my space".

With that in mind, it's time for a bit that is a few years old, but pretty much expresses how I feel about constantly having the rainbow brigade on my radio, in my headlines and in my face. I call it "The Gay Rant".

This rant was originally published in a massive e-mailing to my own family and I hope that no one is disturbed or insulted by it, but frankly I don't care! Ye meek of heart turn back now:

I'm sick and tired, tired and sick of turning on my AM every AM and listening to this issue. I'm sick of "Queer Eye", Queer Nation, "Gay" Pride, and PFLAGG. I'm tired of bisexuals, trisexuals, trans-gendered and metrosexuals, too. I'm sick of hearing about "Gay" Proms and Glory Holes. I'm tired of Ellen and Rosie! I'm sick of Rosie's "wife". I've had it with Indigo Girls, Melissa Etherige, kd lang and frankly, I'm feed-up with Phranc, too. I'm sick of turkey basters! I'm so over Homosexual Anglican Bishops and "gay" Catholic Priests. I'm sick of homosexual activism and "gay" advocacy within our public school system. I loathe triangles, rainbows, lavender sashes and every other subversive symbol that the "gay" culture wants to put out there to advance it's cause.

I'm sick of the fact that resources used in medical research are skewed toward a virus which can be relatively easily contained by responsible behavior. I'm so freaking tired of hearing this issue thrown in my face every single day of my life. I'm a tolerant and open-minded person and don't really care what consenting adults do with each other behind closed doors, just please don't set up your bedroom in your front yard and expect me to say "Hey, that's great!"

I know that I have homosexuals within my own family and I love them in spite of their lifestyle choice. I also respect them for not hitting me over the head with it. If I had cousins that felt they wanted to bring a "friend" to our family reunion I wouldn't even have an issue with that. Just don't introduce me to such a person as your spouse if you are of the same gender.

It is my personal belief that homosexual men are as they are through some type of genetic malfunction. I do believe these men are predisposed to such a condition. I also think that the percentages of homosexuals are greatly inflated - from 3 to 4% to 10 to 15% by people who are sympathetic to their situation.I believe lesbians choose their lifestyle because they either dislike, hate, or wish to be men. I could be wrong on these last two points, but really I just don't care if I am. I'm sick and tired!

Rack 'em. I AM OUT!
Incredulous Joe

[Intolerant in NJ]

Le Batard took Hardaway to task, pointing out that his comments were “flatly homophobic"..."homophobic" is the description gays apply to those who don't like them - makes gays feel powerful to have others "afraid" of them - but what most of those who dislike them really feel is disgust, not fear - that should be made clear to anyone who starts playing the "homophobe" card......

[Wilhelm Tell]

All Hardaway has to do is announce that he has converted to a radical sect of Islam (pick one) and it is his sincere religious belief that homosexuals should be executed. Strangely, this will somehow cause the politically correct leftists to embrace him as a hero.

[killermosquito]

I'm told that "Garamond" is the gay font!

[Free ThinkerNY]

LOL!

[Peach]

He'll have to enter rehab immediately. Isn't that where people go these days after they've made a remark that isn't PC?

[incredulous joe]

I always thought there was something a little "swishy" about that typeface, especially the itals. Personally, I would have guessed Bodoni Bold.

But, hey,...I'm a Caslon man, myself.