'I hate gay people,' former Heat star Tim Hardaway declares
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted February 15 2007
By Ira Winderman
Please see the following link for video/radio cast (in Mr. Hardaway's own words)
http://video.sun-sentinel.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=1239430&h1=Tim%20Hardaway%20declares%20he%20hates%20gays&vt1=v&at1=V&d1=127667&LaunchPageAdTag=NEWS&fvCatNo=&backgroundImageURL=&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-215hardaway%2C0%2C2415610.story%3Fcoll%3Dsfla-sports-front&rnd=87940560
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.
Hardaway was listed Tuesday as an "NBA Legend" when the league launched its NBA FIT program at the YMCA of Southern Nevada and had been part of the NBA's Community Caravan leading up to Sunday's All-Star Game in Las Vegas.Hardaway played for the Heat from 1996 to 2001.
Shortly after arriving in Las Vegas, agent Henry Thomas, who also represents Heat guard Dwyane Wade, issued a statement through his office from Hardaway that read, "I want to apologize for my comments yesterday regarding gays. My comments were offensive and I regret making them. I'm sorry to anyone I have offended.
"However, when contacted by Channel 4 before that statement was issued, Hardaway reiterated the comments he made in the radio interview.
"I don't condone it. And if people got problems with it, I'm sorry. I'm saying I can't stand being around that person, knowing that they sleep with somebody of the same sex," he told the television station, adding he would not talk to a gay family member.
When asked in the radio interview about how he would have dealt with a gay teammate, Hardaway responded, "First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team. And second of all, if he was on my team, you know, I would really distance myself from him because I don't think that is right."
Posted February 15 2007
By Ira Winderman
Please see the following link for video/radio cast (in Mr. Hardaway's own words)
http://video.sun-sentinel.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=1239430&h1=Tim%20Hardaway%20declares%20he%20hates%20gays&vt1=v&at1=V&d1=127667&LaunchPageAdTag=NEWS&fvCatNo=&backgroundImageURL=&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-215hardaway%2C0%2C2415610.story%3Fcoll%3Dsfla-sports-front&rnd=87940560
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.
Hardaway was listed Tuesday as an "NBA Legend" when the league launched its NBA FIT program at the YMCA of Southern Nevada and had been part of the NBA's Community Caravan leading up to Sunday's All-Star Game in Las Vegas.Hardaway played for the Heat from 1996 to 2001.
Shortly after arriving in Las Vegas, agent Henry Thomas, who also represents Heat guard Dwyane Wade, issued a statement through his office from Hardaway that read, "I want to apologize for my comments yesterday regarding gays. My comments were offensive and I regret making them. I'm sorry to anyone I have offended.
"However, when contacted by Channel 4 before that statement was issued, Hardaway reiterated the comments he made in the radio interview.
"I don't condone it. And if people got problems with it, I'm sorry. I'm saying I can't stand being around that person, knowing that they sleep with somebody of the same sex," he told the television station, adding he would not talk to a gay family member.
When asked in the radio interview about how he would have dealt with a gay teammate, Hardaway responded, "First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team. And second of all, if he was on my team, you know, I would really distance myself from him because I don't think that is right."
