NBA player John Amaechi came out of the closet
and unveiled the fact that he is gay to the world. This shocked many,
including fellow NBA player. However, no one really voiced anti-gay
statements until now.
and unveiled the fact that he is gay to the world. This shocked many,
including fellow NBA player. However, no one really voiced anti-gay
statements until now.
Retired Miami Heat player Tim Hardaway has lashed out against Amaechi and other gay players/people recently.
“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,” he said on a recent radio interview on Sports Talk 790 .
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,” he said on a recent radio interview on Sports Talk 790 .
On potential gay men in the NBA today:
”First
of all, I wouldn’t want him on my team,” Hardaway replied. “And
second of all, if he was on my team, I would really distance myself
from him because, uh, I don’t think that is right. I don’t think he
should be in the locker room while we are in the locker room. 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.”
of all, I wouldn’t want him on my team,” Hardaway replied. “And
second of all, if he was on my team, I would really distance myself
from him because, uh, I don’t think that is right. I don’t think he
should be in the locker room while we are in the locker room. 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.”
“And
I think the majority of players would ask for him to be traded or they
would want to be traded. Or buy him out of his contract and just let
him go. Something has to give. If you have 12 other ballplayers in your
locker room that are upset and can’t concentrate and always worried
about him in the locker room or on the court it’s going to be hard for
your teammates to win and accept him as a teammate.”
I think the majority of players would ask for him to be traded or they
would want to be traded. Or buy him out of his contract and just let
him go. Something has to give. If you have 12 other ballplayers in your
locker room that are upset and can’t concentrate and always worried
about him in the locker room or on the court it’s going to be hard for
your teammates to win and accept him as a teammate.”
Update: February 15, 2007 (11:31am pst)
In a telephone interview with Fox affiliate WSVN in Miami, Tim states his apology.
“Yes, I regret it. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said I hate gay
people or anything like that,” he said. “That was my mistake.”
