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. Whats 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 Smoltzs comments nothing new.
Unfortunately major league sports havent 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 Smoltzs 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 Equalitys 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 dont 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 dont represent the views of the organization, Hainje said.
They were speaking from their personal point of view, he said.
Rocker redux?
Smoltz and Perez arent 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 youre [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 Womens 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 Smoltzs 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 wouldnt have a problem having a gay teammate unless it compromised the team.
In his comments to the AP, Perez also said he wouldnt mind having a gay teammate, so long as he knew the players 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 Im getting disrobed. It would be hard to play with someone all year and then find out theyre gay.
Perezs 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.
Smoltzs image tarnished?
It isnt 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 Smoltzs comments incredibly offensive. But the Braves shouldnt punish the pitcher for expressing his views on a political issue, he said.
As stupid as I think [the comments] may be, hes entitled to say it, Buzinski said.
It may be gay fans who punish Smoltz, according to Gary Sisney, owner of Woofs, a gay sports bar in Atlanta.
Everyone is entitled to their own viewpoint, but it just doesnt 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, its a turnoff.
Hainje said he doesnt 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 wasnt the organization speaking, he said.
But Smoltzs 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.
"I don't care if someone is gay or not."
It's precisely this attitude that destroys our country. We don't care enough about the individuals to want the best for them.
We should be emphasizing their tragedy, how sad it is that 'they' aren't really being loved. Real love does what is best for the other and doesn't use the other. How do we know what's best? It had to be told to us from the outside, by Someone Who knows.
Braves' fan bump for later
To be totally fair, this is not an AP story.
If he had made this statement in Sweden, he would be sentenced to 30 days in jail!
Smoltz is awesome and there's a good chance he'll be in the Baseball HOF.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.