Anti-Gay Comments Have Hardaway Looking for New Job

Hardaway's NBA career ended a few years ago. His new career as a spokesman for the league came to a close last week. That's the day that Hardaway, a five NBA All-Star, was interviewed on a Miami radio station.

In the wake of former NBA player John Amaechi's announcement that he was gay, Hardaway, who played for six teams in his 13-year career, was asked his opinion of playing alongside a gay teammate.

The former Olympian didn't mince words, saying, "I hate gay people, so let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I'm homophobic. I don't think it should be in the world or in the United States."

Hardaway, who apparently doesn't know that the United States is part of the world, added that if he found out that a teammate was gay, he would ask that the player be kicked off the team. At least Hardaway was open with his true feelings. I just hope he wasn't counting on that new job of his.

Hardaway was going to play a role during this year's NBA All-Star festivities in Las Vegas. Hardaway represented the NBA at a Habitat for Humanity event two days before the All-Star game and he was to coach at a wheelchair basketball game the following night. He was also to appear at other fan-friendly events.

After Hardaway's comments aired, NBA commissioner David Stern said Hardaway was not welcome. In a society where public figures have to watch their words carefully, Hardaway made himself look like an ignorant fool. He also made it clear why players, such as John Amaechi, don't make their sexual orientation known while they are still playing in the league. Amaechi, who detailed his life in the new book "Man in the Middle," retired four years ago.

A lot of players would react as Hardaway did. Let's face it, the NBA and other professional leagues like the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NHL are testosterone-driven sports. A perceived threat, like a gay teammate, would make most players overreact, as Hardaway did when faced with a simple question. Hardaway would have given the same response had he been accused of being gay.

Hardaway, who admits to not knowing any gay people, has tried to cover up his remarks to no avail. After gay and lesbian groups, along with Stern, came down hard on Hardaway, he's tired to back away from his comments. Hardaway apologized in a telephone interview the day after making his anti-gay remarks and he appeared in front of his house on Friday to try to quell the firestorm he created.

"As an African American, I know all too well the negative thoughts and feelings hatred and bigotry cause. I regret and apologize for the statements that I made that have caused the same kinds of feelings and reactions," Hardaway said. "I am committed to examining my feelings and will recognize, appreciate and respect the difference among people in our society."

It's a little too late for that. Hardaway has the right to speak his mind, but letting your true feelings out may not always be in your best interest. Using the word "hate" when describing any group of people is usually a mistake unless you are talking about Nazis.

At least Hardaway has left us with one less homophobe in the media.
We've heard the last of him thanks to Hardaway himself.