Tim Hardaway, shown to the right about to get it on with NBA official Bennett Salvatore, has issued an apology for saying he hates gay people. The apology is as brief as it is meaningless. Check it out: "Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people, or anything like that. That was my mistake."So he's sorry not for what he said, but he's sorry he said it. And I don't doubt that that's true, Hardaway probably does regret it after seeing what an uproar it caused. I'm sure he wishes he could have those few minutes of his life back.
One guy who wouldn't want him to take it back, though, is John Amaechi, the gay former NBA'er who inspired Hardaway's bile. Here's what Amaechi said to Den Le Batard, who conducted the interview with Hardaway.
'I'm actually tempted to laugh,'' Amaechi said Wednesday. ``Finally, someone who is honest. It is ridiculous, absurd, petty, bigoted and shows a lack of empathy that is gargantuan and unfathomable. But it is honest. And it illustrates the problem better than any of the fuzzy language other people have used so far.''It seems like Amaehi feels that Hardaway's comments are a little more representative of the norm in the NBA than anything else that's been out there so far. Hardaway says he believes his comments represent a majority of the NBA, and I hope that's not true.
In fact, I don't think it is true, I think NBA players deserve a little more credit than that. The NBA might not be a bastion of progressive thinkers, but it's not a group of hateful people. There might be a lot of guys who are uncomfortable with homosexuality, just as there are a ton of people like that in all of society. But there's a difference between that and outright hatred, and I'd like to think that most NBA players stop short of Hardaway's hostility.
See Also:
Tim Hardaway Loves to Stay at the YMCA
Tim Hardaway Did Not Spend Valentine's Day With a Dude
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)
2-15-2007 @ 8:16AM
Don Mynack said...
3 posts on this? OK, mjd, we get that you are down with the gay. Enough already.
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2-15-2007 @ 9:49AM
Cory Demont said...
Tim Hardaway needs to be booted off, no way he can get by with such a bigoted remark. That would be like a white gay saying he hates blacks. Sorry, someone needs to step in and boot him out.
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2-15-2007 @ 10:50AM
rfg said...
i really think that mr hartaway needs to seek some professional help!!!
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2-15-2007 @ 11:10AM
Tim Hardaway said...
gays should't be allowed in the nba. period.
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2-15-2007 @ 11:30AM
jack said...
my opinion of Hardaways He is great man. and blunt his true feeling about gay. sound like he is not approval on gay life.. i am proud of him. alot other countries called america passive with feelings. gay is okay.. blah blah.. but your bottom of heart. do you want your kids turn gay and gay.. la la la.. you have problem with hardaways.. mean you should see shrink!!
jack
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2-15-2007 @ 11:38AM
Is said...
Tim Hardaway said what many wish they could say. Smart on his behalf? Maybe not! Credit the man for his honesty. Now let's wait and see all the big celeb homosexuals go nuts on him. Yeah I'm calling you out Rosie. Enough with Trump.Take this one on.HAHAHAHAH!
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2-15-2007 @ 12:15PM
coach said...
tim made a mistake in saying i hate gay people. he should have just said , i hate the raptors or something.
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2-15-2007 @ 12:57PM
Sportz Assassin said...
What I think is great about this is how the "barbarian gay man" John Amaechi is so eloquent in his speak while the "civilized" Tim Hardaway talks out of his arse.
Again, what if someone told Tim Hardaway that they hate black people and it shouldn't be "in the world or the United States"??
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2-15-2007 @ 1:02PM
TJ said...
The answer to free speech is more free speech. Here's my more. Hardaway is a moron and a bigot. Amaechi is correct to characterize his lack of empathy as "gargantuan and unfathomable." The bottom line is, Hardaway wouldn't just choose to stay away from gays; he would deprive them of a job. Good thing for him a passing grade in English grammar isn't a requirement for NBA employment.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:24PM
hanna said...
It's his opinion, who cares? get over it, he's gay, he plays basketball, so what. as long as he doesn't fondle me, i'm fine.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:29PM
K.Murray said...
Okay we al have reservations about the whole thing.Why did he need to come out anyway?He does what he wants in the privacy of his own home,so why should you share your life style with everyone.That his business so keep it that way.Why put yourself in the spot lite for 15 minutes of more fame.Live your life and move on.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:32PM
HandThatFeedsNYC said...
He would rather be traded to another team? Kinda like the way blacks were traded as slaves? This career is over and if it is not, the NBA will walk around with this black eye for a long time.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:39PM
Shasha said...
Okay! Enough already. Why do we have to know that someone is gay? Being gay is not the same as being Black. You can hide being gay. You can't hide being Black. Talk about being ignorant! These two things are just not the same, no matter how hard the media tries to make them the same. On Hardaway's comment.....yea it was stupid. So what! There are a lot of stupid ignorant people in the world. It just so happens that someone put a microphone in front of this ignoramous' face.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:40PM
neno said...
since when the normal people should issue an apology when they say what they think about the ubnormal people, i don't like or respect gay people too and i'm not homophobic, insted i'm normal person who thinks that marriage, love and intemacy should be between a man and a woman.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:44PM
Weston White said...
I really think that was something he should have keep to himself....i know we have freedom of speech, but that was just a bit TOO MUCH.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:46PM
Just one black guy! said...
For someone to even imply that Hardaway has carte blanche to feelings of pain at being called the N-word is over board. Think People! Hardaway is one black person and insults, or comparisons, which he so rightly deserve should be directed at him, only. Let's be more creative please.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:48PM
JOE ADAMS said...
HEY, I AGREE WITH HARDAWAY 100%. HE SAID WHAT HE BELIEVES.DITTO FOR ME.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:49PM
pep said...
hate is such a awful word dont approve is better but he does have his right to speak about hateing gays gays should stay in the closet sorry there are still alot of people still dont approve of the life stylei hate having it shoved in our faces what you do behind close doors is your bussiness.you have to stand before god.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:50PM
jeff said...
I am coming out of the closet; I am announcing to the world that I am black! I have hidden this secret identity from my friends, family, and team mates. They will never see me the same way again.
Tim Hardaway made statements that are politically incorrect. Many in our great nation consider homosexuality to be moral turpitude, repugnant, and disgusting. Is being black a moral issue. Last I checked moral matters are subject to change. Check the "exodus" website thousands of homosexuals change from that moral behavior every year. You will never hear that reported in our media. There has been only one person who changed from black to white, Jacko!
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2-15-2007 @ 2:52PM
Just one black guy! said...
For anyone to imply that Hardaway has carte blanche to feeling insulted by the use of the N-word is insensitive and over the top. Think People! Don't abuse the right to insult him personally, which he deserves, by insulting a whole race of people who may not feel the disdain he feels towards gays. Be more creative and make better comparisons.
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