The responses to John Amaechi's revelation that he is gay have run the gamut, especially within the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) community, where Amaechi played for five seasons. But none has been more biting, more spiteful and more hate-filled than the views of Tim Hardaway, a former NBA player who played his high school basketball in Chicago.
During a live radio interview on Miami's 790 The Ticket, host Dan Le Batard asked Hardaway about Amaechi.
'First of all, I wouldn't want [ a gay teammate ] on my team,' Hardaway said. 'And second of all, if he was on my team, you know, I would really distance myself from him because, uh, I don't think that is right. I don't think that he should be in the locker room while we are in the locker room, and it's just a whole lot of other things and I wouldn't even be a part of that. But stuff like that is going on and there's a lot of other people I hear that are like that and still in the closet and don't want to come out of the closet, but you know I just leave that alone.'
Later in the interview, LeBatard said, 'You know what you are saying there is flatly homophobic? It's bigotry?'
Hardaway responded, 'Well, 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 am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States. So yeah, I don't like it.'
Hardaway's comments have generated worldwide buzz previously unforeseen within the sporting community. Moreover, the statements are being debated everywhere from the newsroom to the boardroom.
Hardaway, 40, a former NBA All-Star who played at Chicago's Carver High School and then at the University of Texas-El Paso ( UTEP ) , was the 14th pick overall in the 1989 NBA draft. He played for the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers during the years 1989-2003. He also was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team in Sydney. Amaechi played in the NBA during 1996-2003.
NBA Commissioner David Stern quickly reacted to Hardaway's comments, banning him from any appearances associated with the NBA and, according to the Associated Press, 'banishing' him from the All-Star events that took place this past weekend in Las Vegas.
'We removed him from representing us because we didn't think his comments were consistent with having anything to do with us,' Stern said Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
The NBA is hardly the only group to distance itself, or blast Hardaway, for his anti-gay comments. Hardaway is presently the head coach of the Continental Basketball Association's Miami Majesty [ formerly the Florida Pit Bulls ] . He previously coached the CBA's Indiana Alleycats, a team owned by Trinity Sports and Entertainment Group.
'First and foremost, there is not a single person in our organization who supports or shares Mr. Hardaway's views,' said Demetrius Ford, Trinity CEO. 'I speak for the entire organization when I say we are truly sorry for the harm caused to anyone by Mr. Hardaway's words. Effective immediately, Mr. Hardaway is removed from the position of Trinity Sports' chief basketball operations advisor, as well as all other duties associated with the company, its affiliates and subsidiaries.'
Trinity majority owner and NFL star Jay Fiedler added, 'I was very surprised to learn of Tim's insensitive remarks. The opinions, views and remarks expressed by Mr. Hardaway in no way reflect my views or those of anyone else in our organization, and we want to make that clear to our corporate partners, the CBA and all the fans of the Indiana Alleycats.'
After his 'I hate gay people' interview, Hardaway told a TV station in Miami: 'I regret it, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that, that was my mistake.'
Hardaway's agent then issued a statement on behalf of his client.
'As an African-American, I know all too well the negative thoughts and feelings hatred and bigotry cause. ... I regret and apologize for the statements that I made that have certainly caused the same kinds of feelings and reactions. ... I especially apologize to my fans, friends and family in Miami and Chicago. I am committed to examining my feelings and will recognize, appreciate and respect the differences among people in our society. I regret any embarrassment I have caused the league on the eve of one of their greatest annual events.'
'This is an issue overall that has fascinated America. It's not an NBA issue,' Stern said. 'It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours.'
Hardaway told WSVN-Channel 7 in Miami that he shouldn't have said that he hates gay people or anything like that. 'I should have just said I don't condone [ gay people ] being in the locker room.'
However, in an interview with CBS sports reporter Jim Berry of Miami, Hardaway told what he thought of a gay family member and the bigotry his comments have drawn.
'Do you think some people would view that was as bigoted as someone white saying I hate Black people?' Berry asked.
'Probably so. I don't condone it. And if people have a problem with that, I'm sorry. I'm saying that I can't stand being around that person knowing that they sleep with somebody of the same sex.'
Berry: 'So if you had a family member who was gay, you're saying that you hate them?'
Hardaway: 'Yes. Yes. Yeah. I wouldn't talk to them.'
Berry: 'Tell me why.'
Hardaway: 'I just told you. 'Cause I don't condone it.'
The LGBT community, naturally, has blasted Hardaway. The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) , for instance, quickly praised the NBA for 'sending a very clear and decisive message that homophobia does not belong on, or off, the basketball court,' said HRC President Joe Solmonese. 'Mr. Hardaway was sorely mistaken if his intent was to spew homophobic, hate-filled remarks without any consequences. We are thankful for the NBA's swift action and believe these remarks are being seen for the un-American, un-sportsmanlike conduct they are.' Solmonese added that Hardaway's apology 'seems rather transparent and self-centered.'
Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, issued a statement personally thanking Stern and the NBA for their response.
'These actions send a strong message that 'hate' directed at any member of our society is not acceptable,' she said. 'Our sports heroes have a responsibility to send positive messages to our younger generation to teach them that hate is unacceptable.'
Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, was one of the many who publicly supported Amaechi.
'From a marketing perspective, if you're a player who happens to be gay and you want to be incredibly rich, then you should come out, because it would be the best thing that ever happened to you from a marketing and an endorsement perspective,' Cuban told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 'You would be an absolute hero to more Americans than you can ever possibly be as an athlete, and that'll put money in your pocket. On the flip side, if you're the idiot who condemns somebody because they're gay, then you're going to be ostracized, you're going to be picketed and you're going to ruin whatever marketing endorsements you have.'
North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, who is gay, invited Hardaway to spend a day with him … and Hardaway accepted.
'We're just trying to show him that there are living, breathing people that just happen to be gay,' said Burns, who lives with his partner of 23 years Rob Flint and an adopted daughter.
The plan is for Hardaway to join Burns and his family for a routine weekday at the mayor's office and home—doing things like dropping off Burns' child at school, meeting with constituents and dinner with the family.
'I don't expect [ Hardaway ] to be waving a peace flag anytime soon, even after this,' Burns said. 'But maybe he'll be less likely to say something bad about people if he knows them and understands a little more.'
Chicago Games, Inc., the host organization for the 2006 Gay Games this past July, issued a statement through spokesman Kevin Boyer calling Hardaway's comments, 'disgusting and repulsive.'
'In one exchange, he has illustrated how the professional sports culture continues to breed ignorance and bigotry about sexual orientation,' Boyer said. 'There are likely hundreds of gay men and lesbians playing professional sports in America. Bigotry exhibited by people like Hardaway keeps these athletes in the closet, exacting a toll on their personal lives, and likely on performance.
'More importantly, however, Hardaway's comments will be read by children and young adults who need to be taught tolerance. Already, his hateful comments have emboldened others to make similar comments.'
QUOTING:
Here's a look at a couple comments from pros:
Chris Chelios, NHL player ( formerly of the Chicago Blackhawks ) talking to the Detroit Free Press:
'I don't consider it an issue at all. As far as I'm concerned, it's a non-issue. I don't care if a guy comes out and says he's not gay or he comes and says he's gay. Who cares? I don't know who made that an issue.'
