I had to read this story twice this morning, to make sure I wasn't misreading it, or that it was some kind of awful gag. Retired basketball player Tim Hardaway stated, on a radio sports show that he hates gay people. He was responding to retired basketball player John Amaechi's recent announcement, in anticipation of publication of his autobiography Man In the Middle, that he is gay.
I quote Hardaway, on the "Sports Talk 790 The Ticket":
"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."
I thought I'd misread it. Nobody could say anything that stupid in public.
Now, he's got a right to his opinions, and even to state them, no matter how offensive. I've been a card-carrying member of the ACLU and I'm a big fan of the First Amendement, and can tell you that the right to express opinions is one of the things I'd be willing to fight for.
But for god's sake, Hardaway is African-American (as is Amaechi). How on god's green earth does he not make the connection between racism and homophobia? How would he responded if he'd heard some cracker saying that about black people?
Hardaway added to the stupidity:
"Something has to give. If you have 12 other ballplayers in your locker room that's upset and can't concentrate and always worried about him in the locker room or on the court or whatever, it's going to be hard for your teammates to win and accept him as a teammate."
In otherwords, he's worried that a gay player might be scoping out his little fanny. As my friend Jim says of people, "Don't flatter yourself."
The NBA is frantically running for damage control and has distanced themselves from his moronic statements. Hathaway has also tried to spin it, saying "Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that. That was my mistake."
Wow, that was so heartfelt and sincere.
Notice that he said he shouldn't have said it. I'm sure he's still a homophobic asswipe.
Maybe he, Mel Gison and Michael Richards can form a support group.
10 comments:
Unbelievable. Next we'll be hearing he's in rehab for it. Good God in this day and age. It's just so damn sad.
p.s. It would be interesting to know what he thought of the whole Michael Richards episode! Bet he didn't think that was too cool!
Chicago's very own, too.
The past year has seen some real asshole du jour moments, for sure. Doesn't anyone learn anything? Astonishing. When I remember to pay the dues, I'm a card-carrying ACLU member, too -- especially since Geo. Bush, Sr. made that stupid remark about Dukakis. I bought books about Stonewall, etc., for the library -- "gay rights" are just starting sink in, I think. But teens and teachers are still fearful of coming out at the secondary level. I can see why.
Really unbelievable. It is alright for me to say I hate stupid people though right?
Wow.
Just wow.
What year is it again?
You mentioned that there should be an obvious connection between racism and homophobia. I completely agree but it is so much the opposite. I think the African-americna community tends to be more homophobic. I'm not at all sure why. Maybe because it tends to be a very religious community? I don't know how it is seen in other minority communities. It may be interesting.
I love how homophobes always assume nobody can resist them. Don't flatter yourself is right! What a jackass. Oy.
I heard this too. My favorite part is the apology the next day. Then, just like Isiah Washington, they will probably ship him off to gay boot-camp, he'll meet with the PFLAG folks, and still be able to get a job as an announcer in a "B" city a few years down the road.
He has a house in Beverly. I heard someone on the radio saying they were going to egg it.
I like calling homophobic men 'assholes' or 'dicks' - I bet that makes them feel even more uncomfortable.
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