Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Really homophobic remarks

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So much time is spent (I feel) on this blog and others making false accusations of homophobia or racism, or blowing little things out of proportion in what is perhaps a desire to label people as racists or homophobes, that we are sometimes desensitized to it when there is a real solid example.

Former NBA All Star Tim Hardaway was making an appearance on a sports radio show the other day, and when the topic of a player who recently came out of the closet came up, Hardaway responded:

“I hate gay people,” Hardaway said. “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 sports.”

Shouldn’t be in the world? Wow. That’s about as bad is gets. Thoughts, anyone?

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  1. sums it up nicely.

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    Hardaway, a guy relying on endorsement contracts, forcefully states that he is a bigot.  What a moron!  Apparently NBA wasted no times in distancing themselves from Hardaway’s comments.  McCullum challenges the still-playing big names in the NBA (O’Neal, Bryant, etc) to step up and state clearly that such moronic crap does not fairly represent the sport.  I hope they do – there is lazy compicity in silence.  I don’t care about any apology from Hardaway (coming through clenched teeth, it just isn’t too convincing, you know?).  I’d rather see his former colleagues shove the crap back in his face, then we can all move on and forget about whatshisname, that moron who torpedoed his own economic future all for the sake of senseless hatred.

    • Shoot – I know what Hardaway said was wrong, but darn it you got to respect his right to free speech.

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      • doesn’t mean you’re not an idiot for saying it. 

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        Look at John Rocker.  Sure he can say anything that he wants, but what did it do to his career?  He folded under the extra pressure. 

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        This is why the Laura Engraham saying, “Shut up and sign” applies to all entertainers (athletes too) on all sides of the political spectrum.

          • I you learned that people were hurt by his comments?

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            What criteria do you use to judge that no one was hurt? 

            • Here is what I was attempting to write:

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              So you agree that it would be uncool if you learned that people were hurt by his comments? 

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              What criteria did you use to judge that no one was hurt?

            • I checked EVERY emergency room in the greater Boston area . . .  And although it is still early . . .  so far there are NO injuries from Mr. Hardaway’s comments.

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                • I plan on getting the rest of the ER’s in Massachusetts before the end of the week and the rest of the US ER’s by the end of the month.

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                  Do you want me to put your name down as the first casualty?  I can say Laurel from Blue Mass Group suffered GREATLY.  In fact I don’t know if Laurel can continue on. 

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          • One person will have to suffer the consequences for a long time.

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            That person would be Tim Hardaway.  He’s already lost some endorsement deals and he’ll have a much hardder time marketing himself now. So he takes a financial hit.

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            Frankly, I’m heartened by the NBA’s reaction, the quick reaction of sponsors to distance themselves from his remarks and the eloquent response John Amaechi has made.

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            The tide has turned and wearing homophobia proudly is not so smart.  If you have any doubt, look at how contrite he’s being now:

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            “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 certainly caused the same kinds of feelings and reactions. I especially apologize to my fans, friends and family in Miami and Chicago. I am committed to examining my feelings and will recognize, appreciate and respect the differences among people in our society. I regret any embarrassment I have caused the league on the eve of one of their greatest annual events.”

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            Oh well.  Guess being a fag basher just doesn’t have the charm  it used to.

        • “but what did it do to his career?  He folded under the extra pressure.”

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          Come on – do you really know that for a fact or are you making it up to fit your argument. 

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          facts please

          • but Rocker made his remarks in January of 2000.  From his official website, his ERA for his short career was as follows:

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            Year  ERA
            1998   2.13
            1999  2.49
            2000  2.89
            2001(Braves)  3.09
            2001(Indians)  5.45
            2002  6.66
            2003  9.00

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            Circumstantial yes, but there is a nice trend of a good ERAs prior to the remarks and a sharp increase after the remarks.

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            Closest anyone could come to facts in this case is trends and those back up my assertion.

            • Perhaps a better discussion for SoSH, but ERA is a pretty crappy statistical indicator for a pitcher, basically because there are too many variables not under his direct control.

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              That said, we can look at at ERA+ over the same time period, and recognize a similar pattern (higher number is better):

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              Year  ERA+
              1998  199
              1999  174
              2000  161
              2001 (total)  103
              2002  74
              2003  50

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              Granted we’re also talking a relatively small sample size, but given the general downward trajectory of his numbers it could be that hitters were simply just catching up with him.

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              And for those who care:

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              ERA+ – the ratio of the league’s ERA (adjusted to the pitcher’s ballpark) to that of the pitcher. > 100 is above average and < 100 is below average. lgERA / ERA

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              Source

              • “but given the general downward trajectory of his numbers it could be that hitters were simply just catching up with him.” 

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                I was thinking age or fatigue was also a factor. . . but no way am I going to pretend to know the exact reason for his down fall or even imply there is just 1 reason for it.

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                In the end
                I just think there is a TON of BOGUS INFO on this Blog, usually coming from guys like JK who look at a stat like a ball players ERA and try to shape some political argument for it. 

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  2. I suggest the following:  Consider the source.

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    And to Laurel, if someone is “hurt” by some washed up basketball jackass, then they need to learn the childhood “Sticks and Stones” ryhme.

    • You seem to get all riled at me asking a clarifying question of a poster who is not you.  Why is that?

      • I just wonder why anybody cares what this guy–truly, a has-been– has to say about anything.

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        And I had a knee jerk reaction to your exchange with that other poster above because it reminded me of an old pet peeve–speech codes– that treat “hurt feelings” the same as a physical assualt, as if people have some right not to hear something that they may not like.

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        And if you really are “hurt” by this guy:

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        He’s in his early thirtys.  He has made a truckload of dough, but has spent it unwisely.  Although he has mad skillz, he has no skills.  To the extent he had the opportunity for a post-sports career, he has just ended it.  Now he has many years to live, and a nest egg that he has little chance of increasing.  He is going to experience a dramatic decrease in his standard of living.

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        It may be that the only one who was hurt by these comments is the dolt who made them.

        • the first response to this diary, which was mine, you’ll see we agree on your second point.  good riddance to bad rubbish.

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          as for “hurt feeling” – i don’t hear anyone compaining of hurt feelings.  how can someone you don’t know hurt your feelings?  what i hear is more a concern that as an ex-NBA player, like it or not, he is a roll mode.  when roll models voice blanket bigotry, it helps create an atmosphere of worse intolerance.  romney and bush and many other national figures have done this too, and so are just as bad.  i see Hardaway’s hateful bigot talk in the current hateful atmosphere that the religious right and their political colleagues have created as one small step away from the proverbial cry of fire in the crowded auditorium.  there is no guarantee someone will get hurt, but the chances have certainly increased.  this does not mean i advocate censoring anyone’s speech.  just an explanation of how i think it can be hurtful to people without actually huring their feelings.

          • I would say that Romney and Bush were quite a bit worse, simply because their opinions are relevant.

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            I suppose, to the extent this guy actually is a roll model, the comments are hurtful in the way that you suggest. I’m not so sure that he is, though.

        • I just wonder why anybody cares what this guy–truly, a has-been– has to say about anything.

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          True, nobody cares about what specifically this guy has to say, but the reason it’s set off a nerve and debate is because so many people still hold similar views in American society today.

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          What’s also interesting is that if some celebrity said nowadays that he hates all black people, that they should leave the country, and that he didn’t want them on his team, people would be outraged and virtually nobody would go near the comments to defend his “free speech”. But because this sort of homophobia is still acceptable (though becoming much less so with time), the defenders come out of the woodwork.

      • is bad policy. Tragedy of the Commons and all.

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        RRRM says stuff to get a rise. If you respond, he will say more stuff and get still more rises. It is like feeding pigeons. You might feel as if you have to feed that one pigeon: soon you are swimming in pigeon poop. 

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