Braves pitcher John Smoltz criticized the battle to legalize gay marriage in a recent interview with the Associated Press. "What's next, marrying an animal?" he reportedly said. (Photo by Duane Burleson/AP)
Posted on 07/09/2004 12:33:55 PM PDT by Leroy S. Mort
Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz and catcher Eddie Perez reportedly made anti-gay comments last week during interviews with the Associated Press, including Smoltz comparing same-sex marriage to legalizing bestiality.
The AP article, published July 3, examined homophobia in professional sports and the prospects of a gay player coming out in baseball, basketball, football or hockey.
But Smoltz spoke specifically about the most dominant social issue in the gay rights movement, marriage equality, sparking one local activist to demand an apology.
“Smoltz, a devout Christian, criticized those who want to legalize gay marriage,” the AP reported. “‘What’s next? Marrying an animal?’ he asked derisively.”
Kris Pierce, who is leading the fight against a proposed state constitutional ban on gay marriage to be decided by Georgia voters in November, called Perez and Smoltz’s comments “nothing new.”
“Unfortunately major league sports haven’t come around to mainstream thinking,” Pierce said, adding that the players’ comments were induced by “testosterone and unfounded fear.”
Pierce, who is heterosexual, said he was personally offended by Smoltz’s remarks and demanded that the Cy Young Award-winning pitcher and perennial Hall of Famer publicly apologize.
“To say that we are akin to animals is a slap in the face to the GLBT community,” said Pierce, Georgia Equality’s campaign manager on the amendment. “I think he owes the GLBT community an apology, and I have no problem saying that I expect one from him.”
But Brad Hainje, media relations director for the Braves, said he has talked to the players about the AP article and both said the quotes attributed to them don’t reflect their views on homosexuality.
“Eddie [Perez] told me that those quotes that were attributed to him were inaccurate,” Hainje said. “[Smoltz also] said the article did not accurately reflect his views on the topic.”
Jack Stokes, director of media relations for AP, said no one from the Braves has contacted the news service requesting a clarification or correction surrounding the players’ comments.
Hainje said he believed Smoltz was working with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on an article that would clarify his position. Smoltz would not give interviews to other media outlets on the issue, Hainje said.
Hainje attempted to arrange an interview between Southern Voice and Perez, but one could not be conducted by press time.
Comments attributed to the two Braves players don’t represent the views of the organization, Hainje said.
“They were speaking from their personal point of view,” he said.
Rocker redux?
Smoltz and Perez aren’t the first Braves players to stir controversy with public comments deriding gay people.
Former Braves relief pitcher John Rocker caused a national stir in 1999 by ridiculing a host of minority groups when describing to a Sports Illustrated reporter why he would not want to play for a New York-based team.
“Imagine having to take the No. 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you’re [riding] through Beirut, next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids,” Rocker said.
Local gay rights activists mounted significant protests. Rocker was ordered by Major League Baseball to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and was briefly suspended by the league before being traded from the Braves in June 2001.
The new comments by Perez and Smoltz indicate that the Braves organization has done little to combat homophobia among its players, according to Donna Lopiano, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation, which helped create the Homophobia in Sports Project.
“I think the male locker room has had a reputation of being homophobic and lacking tolerance in many respects,” Lopiano said. “And few sports organizations have taken on the challenge of making these rooms better.”
Hainje said he was unaware of any sensitivity or diversity training offered by the Braves for players.
In addition to Smoltz’s comments against gay marriage, he predicted that it was only a matter of time before an openly gay player is among the MLB ranks. Despite his religious beliefs, Smoltz was reported to say he wouldn’t have a problem having a gay teammate “unless it compromised the team.”
In his comments to the AP, Perez also said he wouldn’t mind having a gay teammate, so long as he knew the player’s sexual orientation up front.
Braves pitcher John Smoltz criticized the battle to legalize gay marriage in a recent interview with the Associated Press. "What's next, marrying an animal?" he reportedly said. (Photo by Duane Burleson/AP) |
“If I knew a guy was gay, then I could work it out. I could be prepared,” Perez said, according to AP. “I could hide when I’m getting disrobed. It would be hard to play with someone all year and then find out they’re gay.”
Perez’s comments mirror those of countless other professional athletes who fear a gay athlete would take sexual delight in seeing his teammates nude in the locker room, Lopiano said.
Such feelings are caused by “a fear of homosexuality based on myth and a lack of understanding,” she said.
Smoltz’s image tarnished?
It isn’t surprising that a professional athlete would talk about gay marriage since the entire nation is in the midst of a debate on the issue, but someone of Smoltz’ stature should discuss it in a “constructive manner,” Pierce said.
Jim Buzinski, co-founder of Outsports.com, a Web site for gay sports fans, called Smoltz’s comments “incredibly offensive.” But the Braves shouldn’t punish the pitcher for expressing his views on a political issue, he said.
“As stupid as I think [the comments] may be, he’s entitled to say it,” Buzinski said.
It may be gay fans who punish Smoltz, according to Gary Sisney, owner of Woof’s, a gay sports bar in Atlanta.
“Everyone is entitled to their own viewpoint, but it just doesn’t sit well for him to say those things,” Sisney said. “I really am surprised because those words coming from a high-profile player like Smoltz, it’s a turnoff.”
Hainje said he doesn’t believe the Braves will suffer a backlash from fans angry about the comments.
“I think fans understand that these were players making comments on their own, and that that wasn’t the organization speaking,” he said.
But Smoltz’s positive image throughout the league — he was recently named a “Good Guy” by Sporting News magazine for his philanthropic efforts — may be damaged by his statements, Pierce said.
“It hurts him. We rely on our athletes to be role models,” Pierce said. “Do we want a role model who, for some reason, fears or hates a segment of our society? To me, it shows the ignorance that is out there.”
"Constructive manner"? I thought it was constructive.
Interesting. They can't make too much of this, or it will anger the bestiality advocates like Professor Peter Singer of Princeton.
So John Smoltz has a snappy comeback if they try to go after him. "What, are you guys prejudiced against animal lovers?"
The next thing is legalizing pedophilia like they have in Holland.
Sex with animals is the next thing after that.
But otherwise, he's right on the money.
He is right.
Nah..Smoltz should invite gay Braves' fans to the Ted for a special "bat" day.....( use your imagination..)
Now why does that line strike terror in me?
In fact, Smoltz's "what's next, marrying an animal" comment succinctly summarizes the opposing SCOTUS briefs in the "Lawrence" decision, in which Sandra Dee and Friendds opened the door to legitimizing polygamy, bestiality and paedophilia.
No he won't. The pantywaist media will echo the fringe weirdos to incessant shrieks.
But the PC crowd take that question as comparing homosexual behavior to bestiality; i.e. they are both perverted. And, to be fair, some actually do mean it that way. I do not happen to agree with that harsher view, though I don't call those who espouse it "homophobes". I believe there is such a thing as moral, responsible, non-perveted homosexual sex between two consenting non-acting-out adults.
“Smoltz, a devout Christian, criticized those who want to legalize gay marriage,” the AP reported. “‘What’s next? Marrying an animal?’ he asked derisively.”
Just incredible. Typical agenda-driven headline writer and reporter. He did not compare gay marriage to bestiality. He asked what was next. If we devalue marriage, anything goes. I agree with him.
Animals are instinctually smarter than the human beasts who revel in anti-human behavior!
Unfortunately, the gay community refuses to embrace the mainstream thinking on marriage...
Ha! Take THAT!
Wonder why the journalist felt it necessary to include that qualifier?
Yes, and so?
That this is news is a sad commentary on our national mental health.
Dan
The worst thing any human being can do nowadays is offend homosexuals. The media will never let it die. Every time his name is mentioned, this incident will be recalled.
I love this quote:
Pierce, who is heterosexual, said he was personally offended by Smoltz’s remarks and demanded that the Cy Young Award-winning pitcher and perennial Hall of Famer publicly apologize.
It's just a reflexive response on the part of the loony left. Smoltz is now expected to genuflect, weep, wail, repent, grovel and beg for forgiveness. But, he has committed the ultimate and unforgivable sin: he has offended the homosexuals. He will never be forgiven.
And just how do they know who gets to be charged the lower price?
Spot on!
Rocker offended everyone. Smoltz has said something in the context of an interview that is at most ill considered. Saying that the legalization of gay marriage might lead to the legalization of animal marriage does not compare homosexual sex to bestiality. It is merely a statement that once the traditional definition of marriage has been broken down, it will be hard to limit what is an acceptable definition of marriage. This is not a controversial statement, IMHO.
Add to that the fact that Smoltz is an all around great guy who does not go out of his way to be controversial and is about five orders of magnitude smarter than Rocker, and I think this will be put to be quickly.
BTW, did you know that Smoltz tithes? Can you imagine having a parishioner tithe that sort of salary to your church? It would sure make the annual budget meeting to a whole lot smoother!
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