Tim Hardaway: “I Hate Gay People”

Former NBA player Tim Hardaway uttered those very words while being interviewed on a radio show this week. He went on to add, “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.”

WOW!

No active NBA player has ever come-out, and until recently neither had a retired player. That was until John Amaechi, who played for the Cleveland Cavs, Orlando Magic, & Utah Jazz, came-out 3 weeks ago. It set off a flurry of questions and discussion about homophobia in the NBA specifically, and in sports more generally. In the last couple of weeks, nearly every major NBA star has been asked about how he would relate to a gay teammate.

As soon as Amaechi revealed he was gay, I knew that someone would get in trouble for saying something inflammatory. Before Mr. Hardaway opened his mouth, there had been a couple of minor missteps, but nothing that could be characterized as homophobic or hateful.

For example, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said, “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. 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.”

Considering the source, this statement seems even less inflammatory. Cuban is known for causing controversy. In this case, he appears clairvoyant. (Although, anyone with half a brain could have seen this shit-storm on the horizon) He went on to say, “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.”

Ooops-sie Tim.

Unsurprisingly, the NBA and Commissioner David Stern have cut Tim Hardaway out of the weekend festivities. So instead of doing promotional work for the NBA in Vegas for the All-Star game, Tim Hardaway was told to go home. An instant hit to the pocket book. I can't imgaine Tim Hardaway has a lot of endorsement revenue coming in at this point, but any that he did have will soon be gone. And he should start tipping better, or he should expect to have more valets send him to gay clubs.

"I hate gay people" will follow Tim Hardaway just like Fuzzy Zoeller's racist stereotyping at the 1997 Masters follows him.

“That little boy (Tiger Woods) is driving well and he's putting well. He's doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it?"

Then Zoeller smiled, snapped his fingers, and walked away. Then he turned and added, "or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve."

Tim Hardaway and Fuzzy Zoeller both have had very fine careers in their respective sports. But their various accomplishments will forever be overshadowed by their insensitive and ignorant quotes. The comments will follow them forever.

Zoeller has done a good job rehabbing his image. But no matter how nice Fuzzy is, he will never shake the stigma of what he said. And neither will Tim Hardaway.

And that is the price you pay for thoughtless speech.