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NBA Rebukes Tim Hardaway for Anti-Gay Rant (cancels all assignments for All Star Game)
Miami Herald ^ | Posted on Thu, Feb. 15 2007 | Barry Jackson

Posted on 02/15/2007 2:27:25 PM PST by meg88

The NBA today removed Tim Hardaway from its All-Star weekend activities, a day after he said, ''I hate gay people'' in a radio interview with a Miami Herald sports columnist.

''It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours,'' NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement issued by the league.

Hardaway issued an apology several hours after making the comments on The Dan LeBatard Show on 790 The Ticket. ''Yes, I regret it,'' he told WSVN-Channel 7. ``I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that.''

Members of gay organizations reacted swiftly to Hardaway's comments.

''Obviously, I'm disappointed in Tim Hardaway being that Tim Hardaway was one of my favorite basketball players,'' said Donnell Morris, managing director of Black Gay Pride of South Florida. ``It creates a hostile environment for any player contemplating coming out of the closet.''

He added: ``For Tim to be a person from Miami where there has always been a diverse community, he should have been more sensitive to his environment. . . . I've always looked up to Tim as a leader. For him to take a stance that way really hurts me.''

Steve Adkins, president of the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, said Hardaway's apology makes no difference. 'It is a very simple process to say `no' or 'I'd rather not comment' than to go on the record and make malicious and bigoted statements,'' Adkins said.

``. . . Let's just say I'm very disappointed that if someone in this day and age has these kinds of feelings, they're not intelligent enough to keep them to themselves. Beyond that, there is no place in our society for that kind of hatred and bigotry. End of story.''

(Excerpt) Read more at miami.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gays; hatespeech; pc; timhardaway
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To: indylindy

Because criticizing people for what they say is you exercising your free speech. It doesn't deny them a thing.


61 posted on 02/15/2007 3:51:32 PM PST by gcruse (http://garycruse.blogspot.com/)
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To: dfwgator
but the brothers still have a big problem with gays.

Let's here it for the BROTHERS!

62 posted on 02/15/2007 3:52:34 PM PST by feedback doctor (Mark Sanford - 2008)
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To: LiteKeeper

"R.I.P."

1st amend only applies to governmental suppression. You have the right to say what ever you want but you may have consequences.


63 posted on 02/15/2007 3:53:52 PM PST by lawdude (2006: The elections we will live to die for!)
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To: John W

This afternoon Sean Hannity said that David Stern will Veto the Minimum Wage Bill however, Stern is all for the Troop Surge.


64 posted on 02/15/2007 3:54:19 PM PST by trumandogz (Rudy G 2008: The "G" Stands For Gun Grabbing & Gay Lovin.)
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To: meg88

I love the NBA players reaction to this so far. One player said "If that's how he feels, well...fine...but he should keep it to himself". Another said "Well to each his own, but you don't have to announce it on the radio". The ESPN communist thought police are up in arms over the lack of outrage or condemnation over Hardaway's comments. Even David Stern merely said the NBA "disagreed". No repudiation. Great news so far.


65 posted on 02/15/2007 3:54:20 PM PST by montag813
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To: pipecorp
"If you require ky, vaseline, or crisco, you aren't a man"

Crisco??? You still cook with that. It's poison man.
66 posted on 02/15/2007 3:55:50 PM PST by MPJackal ("If you are not with us, you are against us.")
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To: gcruse
Because criticizing people for what they say is you exercising your free speech. It doesn't deny them a thing.

Well, I agree with that,. I also say he should not be punished for expressing his opinion, even if it disagrees with someone or some organization's opinion. At least this guy is honest. Has he ever been accused, in spite of his opinion, of doing anything to harm gay people?

67 posted on 02/15/2007 3:57:42 PM PST by dforest (Liberals love crisis, create crisis and then dwell on them.)
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To: indylindy

" I also say he should not be punished for expressing his opinion"

Trent Lott doubtless shares your opinion. Heh.


68 posted on 02/15/2007 4:02:03 PM PST by gcruse (http://garycruse.blogspot.com/)
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To: meg88

I don't associate with gay people.


69 posted on 02/15/2007 4:03:13 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0 (A Muslim soldier can never be loyal to a non-Muslim commander.)
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To: meg88
Donnell Morris, managing director of Black Gay Pride of South Florida.

The Herald quoting a prominent activist group. Like all liberal/socialist/democRAT activist groups, all you need is a phone number, fax, and a web site. The msm will use your quotes/opinions as gospel.

Sheesh.

5.56mm

70 posted on 02/15/2007 4:05:08 PM PST by M Kehoe
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To: indylindy
If he had not have been asked this question, would he have expressed it? For being honest, how is that criminal, or at the very least subject to ridicule?

Who, besides you, said it was criminal? Aside from that straw man argument, the issue was the "freedom of speech"...and what the First Amendment says is "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech". The NBA is not Congress. Therefore there is no violation of that part of the First Amendment.

Tim Hardaway made a statement derogatory to a certain group of people. The organization that he represented, and was to represent this weekend, felt that was out of place and decided to not use him in the promotional events for the weekend. Neither party's First Amendment rights were violated, because Congress wasn't involved.

As to the consequences of his speech, or what they should or shouldn't be, people are free to discuss. But to say that his freedom of speech has been taken away, as it is defined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, just because some disagree and an organization decided not to use him as their representative, is incorrect. Words have consequences.

71 posted on 02/15/2007 4:05:14 PM PST by Christian4Bush (Too bad these leftist advocates for abortion didn't practice what they preach on themselves.)
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To: meg88

Its a mistake to badmouth sportswriters.


72 posted on 02/15/2007 4:07:16 PM PST by marron
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To: AmishDude
have 2 weeks worth of popcorn for this story.

How sanctimonious will the sports media be? Stay tuned


2 weeks, its only been 2-3 days and I'm already sick of it. Yes, the sports media will tilt the sanctimonious meter. The smug self righteousness will be in full bloom among the media talking heads.
73 posted on 02/15/2007 4:17:53 PM PST by kb2614 (Hell hath no fury than a bureaucrat scorned)
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To: trumandogz

Nice non-response to my point. Well constructed use of a form of propaganda though.


74 posted on 02/15/2007 4:26:47 PM PST by John W
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To: meg88
I lost interest in pro Thug-Ball years ago. I'm thinking this issue won't go over well with most NBA fans.
75 posted on 02/15/2007 4:26:52 PM PST by Pox (If it's a Coward you are searching for, you need look no further than the Democrats.)
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To: meg88

Personally, I am a raging NBAphobe.


76 posted on 02/15/2007 4:29:35 PM PST by 2nd Bn, 11th Mar (The "P" in Democrat stands for patriotism.)
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To: gcruse

I am sure he does. I don't blame him even though he is a little whiner. Never said a price wouldn't have to be paid in some way. All those little people in Congress are just little self protective "hoes". Who can expect common sense in the house of "hoes". Heh


77 posted on 02/15/2007 4:36:11 PM PST by dforest (Liberals love crisis, create crisis and then dwell on them.)
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To: meg88

Tim Hardaway is still playing? That's the real story. I figure he would have retired by now.


78 posted on 02/15/2007 4:36:40 PM PST by lmr (The answers to life don't involve complex solutions.)
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To: montag813

Do you ever watch the 'Sports Reporters' (I think) on ESPN on Sunday mornings? They are the dumbest bunch of leftist politically correct idiots on the planet. And, don't ask me why I've ever watched it. Have you ever watched a car wreck?


79 posted on 02/15/2007 4:37:39 PM PST by fruitintheroom
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To: meg88
I had to listen to all the idiots in my Western Civ class today explain to us how < hippy voice > "gay people don't choose to be gay, man...not anymore than hetro's choose to be straight, you just love who you're born to love, man"< /hippy voice >

They never seem to have an answer when I ask them if that means pedophiles can't choose who they love either.

80 posted on 02/15/2007 4:41:37 PM PST by txroadkill
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