'I hate gay people,' former Heat star Tim Hardaway declares

[meegbear]

A week after retired center John Amaechi became the first active or former NBA player to publicly acknowledge he was gay, one of the most popular players in Heat franchise history offered a blunt view on homosexuality Wednesday during a radio interview.

Former Heat guard Tim Hardaway, who had been making public appearances for the NBA, said on Miami-based 790 The Ticket he would not have tolerated a gay player on his team and would have asked to have been traded in such a situation or would have asked to have the gay teammate be traded.

"Well, you know, I hate gay people," Hardaway said near the close of an interview that mostly focused on his tenure with the Heat and the team's current state. "I let it be known, I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people.

"Yeah, I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world for that or in the United States for that. So, yeah, I don't like it."

After the NBA learned of Hardaway's comments, a league spokesman said Hardaway had been removed from further league-related appearances.

"It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement to the Sun-Sentinel.

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[callous taoboy]

1. He and one of my colleagues

have hatred of gay people in common. My colleague holds prayer meetings every Wednesday morning at 7:30 before school.

[CoffeeCat]

7. Aren't people like that completely infuriating?

I know I shouldn't waste my time, being upset about people like this.
However, it's hard not to be disgusted. They use religion to justify
bigotry and hatred. Most of these people are so entrenched in "religion"
but they are spiritually bankrupt. However, in their own minds--they
are superior and those who dare to disagree with their bizarre hypocrisy
are positioned as "lesser-thans".

I guess it's a way for hate-filled, superficial jerks to feel validated.

It's almost like a mental disorder.

[callous taoboy]

16. This guy steroetypes himself all the time:

Fer instance, making fun of people who use "big words" during staff meetings.

[Occulus]

17. I'm sorry, but we very well should be 'wasting our time' on these people

They go out of their way to target the very weakest and ruin their lives. I know this from all too personal experience. I guarantee you if this schmuck had the power to cause grief for a gay person, he'd use it.

People like him are just plain evil.

[Siyahamba]

18. I like the term CINO

Christian In Name Only.

[samq79]

2. Wow...someone should have taught him...

something other than basketball...like that hatred of that type is unacceptable.

[Missy M]

3. Wow, that guy has a real problem....

I wonder what it is. It's good he is no longer playing. He'll probably run for office on the Republican ticket and be backed by Jerry Falwell.

[pecwae]

4. He offered an extremely lame apology.

Can't recall the exact words, but it sounded ridiculously insincere.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. It was the standard, "I'm sorry you were offended" crap n/t

[Dhalgren]

6. The real problem is that there is a huge portion of the population

who feel exactly the way Mr. Hardaway feels. This is why homosexuals must have total and complete equality in absolutely everything. To be hated in this way AND to have institutionalized inequality is a murderous combination. No citizen should be in this situation. There can be no compromises on this in my view...

[CoffeeCat]

8. I completely agree with you...

Equal rights is protection against bigots. Homosexuals must
have equal rights in "absolutely everything" (as you said),
because of people like this basketball player. He's salivating
for an opportunity to deny you freedoms and fair treatment which unjust.
Equality denies the bigots unfair expression of their hatred.

My father was a business owner and a bigot. He was complaining
about being forced to hire some minorities--to avoid lawsuits.
One day, he was droning on about how privileged minorities are,
"If I don't get a job, I can't sue. They can. These laws coddle
minorities." I told my father that "these laws weren't for minorities,
they're for people like you who are prejudice."

I was grounded for a week for that one.

There may be a "huge portion of the population" that shares Mr. Hardaway's
views, but this heterosexual, soccer mom from the suburbs doesn't.

[Dhalgren]

13. You are an intelligent woman.

Bigotry, I have come to realize, is a product of stupidity. It isn't the lack of education, or the social background of your upbringing, or some "native", "gut" reaction - it is sheer, unadulterated stupidity. A great example is my own brother. He is relatively clever and articulate, a very talented guitarists, and very funny, and decidedly non-Christian, but he is both a racist and a homophobe. after years of talking to him about this, I have come to the conclusion that his bigotry stems from his being stupid. He is just not bright enough to "see" what bigotry is. This is why we have to have complete legal equality for all citizens, period. Because there is nothing to be done about stupidity....

[insidious]

9. What a Hypocrite

There are bigots who hate him just because he's black. I wonder how he feels about THOSE bigots? I guess since racial bigotry is not in vogue like homophobia these days and Timmy Boy is with the "IN" crowd he can spew all the venom he wants and he's cool. Since he wants to be so blatantly honest, i'll state the obvious that he is basically a glorified ghetto rat with a speech impediment. I guess shitty/unremarkable ex-ballplayers need all the attention they can get. What a dick.

[Dawgs]

10. Unfortunately, much like racism against black people, hatred like this...

won't end until people in my generation(mid-thirties) and older die off. Yes, there will always be people that hate, but it won't be nearly as much until people like this are gone.

[bigscott]

15. I hate to tell you but...

this won't die off with your generation or any other generation. this sort of hatred is propagated from one generation to the next - there always have been and always will be people that hate like this. the only good thing is that it "seems" that there are more and more people willing to tell this idiot that he IS an idiot.

Believe me, I would not want to be in the locker room with him either - he aint my type!!

[Hawaii Hiker]

11. Tim Hardaway sounds like your typical Christian conservative

who are as hateful as they come....

Tim Hardaway is a piece of crap...

[northernsoul]

12. I heard the interview

on Twin Cities sports radio this morning. Even the meat-heads on our local sports talk station were calling Hardaway a bigoted moron. I consider to be a small sign of progress that when a sports star makes blatantly homophobis comments like that, he is called to the mat by the sports-fan community.

[Tyo]

14. I'm glad he said it

If that's the way he feels I’m glad he’s up front and open about it. I wish everyone who felt that way about us was as honest. I like knowing where people stand. I'd rather be "hated" to my face than hated behind my back.

[hyde]

19. I think I agree with you Tyo

I much prefer knowing where he stands than to continue being one of his fans. What a douche bag. I can't believe he said that shit. Ugh. Just reading that garbage makes me feel like I need to take a shower.