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.”
THAT IS THE POINT.
It is pavlovian. Somefool will go for the discount by saying they are a homo. It is teaching the public that such recreational sex will be rewarded.
It's a gay Atlanta publication's story on an AP story. The AP story was about gays in sports, generally. The gay press and the AJC have taken Smoltz and Perez's quotes out of the story.
Most adults don't have to fear queers. Unfortunately, most children do.
On the other hand, the gay rights movement will not be happy until it is against the law to criticise any aspect of homosexuality. This has already happened in some countries, I believe. This, and the imposition of gay marriage by judicial fiat, are wrong.
Well. there Have been some rumors.........
Such fears are completely unfounded. That scenario could never, ever occur.
You see, homosexuals in the USA don't have a dominant cultural tendency toward wanton promiscuity, and they generally act in a responsible manner because it's so important for them to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. How can they be so controlled? Because unlike heterosexual men, they are able to control their sexual urges when they are faced with a roomful of nudity of the gender they desire. Doesn't everybody know that?
Rest assured, Eddie and Smoltzie -- if there are any gay men on the Braves, they respect that you wouldn't want them looking at your toned, athletic bodies (not to mention your genitals) and they would never think of you fellows the way you or your straight teammates might think in a locker room full of naked, nubile cheerleaders.
To be fair, the 2001 incident is the only one I'm aware of, and it was a case of a group buying a block of tickets (which you can do as a church group, civic club, or anything). The Braves just failed to say "Group Tickets for sale - except to Gays". The Braves didn't solicit the business.
Only a baboon would see this comment as comparing homosexuality to bestiality.
A disingenuous, ignorant baboon who is always spoiling for a fight at any perceived verbal slight.
Smoltz also is trying to help establish a parochial school to knock out the stupidity of government schools. He's used his millions wisely to invest in Georgians' future.
It's a good thing John Smoltz is a top player; otherwise he'd be getting the Rocker treatment.
Homosexual Agenda Ping - Just saw this and haven't read it really. But why is it when famous people criticize or speak the truth about homosexuality their lives are then ruined? What the he** happened to free speech? Even though there aren't any "hatespeech" laws in the US (yet), there is an unspoken "hatespeech" code.
***Note my tagline! That's what I get for exercising my right to free speech! And I'm not even rude about it... ;-)
Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
“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.”
This is such crap. So now homosexual behavior is sancrosanct, and those who practice it are beyond reproach? A good role model is one who kowtows to the homosexual agenda, and a bad role model is one who stands up for traditional morality.
It's a world gone mad.
Wear that one with pride, a badge of honor indeed ;-)
"“Unfortunately major league sports haven’t come around to mainstream thinking,” Pierce said, adding that the players’ comments were induced by “testosterone"
At least they still have some.
You said:
"I believe there is such a thing as moral, responsible, non-perveted homosexual sex between two consenting non-acting-out adults."
This is only true if there is no sex act involved. Sex between two men or two women is by is very physical nature unnatural, unhealthy, and immoral. If you are not sure of this, read up about same sex acts and how they cause disease and physical ailments.
What to speak of screwing up the chi and prana.
As soon as he wrote that, I just knew it was my new tagline! I'm honored, indeed.
;-)
Good to "see" you!
I'd like to custom-order a stray asteroid or two: one for S.F., and another for Atlanta.
I am a bit jealous...
Aww, you've got some badges of honor, I think!
And all you need to do is search td out and tangle with him - that is, unless he's been suspended. There've been some vicious debates between him and some truth warriors the last few days.
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.