Well that's just rude TIM HARDAWAY

NBA has already rebuked him/pulled him from all star appearances this weekend. He has apologized, but is that because of the money he'll lose? 'I hate gay people,' former Heat star Tim Hardaway declares By Ira Winderman South Florida Sun-Sentinel February 15, 2007 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."

Rude is an understatement!! Seems like this stuff is showing up more and more these days and it sure doesn't feel good. I keep hoping TR Knight will sue Disney for not adequately addressing the hostile working environment he's having to cope with now. Maybe people would start to understand that this stuff isn't okay if he did.

Things like this just make my blood boil! At a time that we should be teaching our kids about tolerance and acceptance along comes this asswipe and has a comment like that. He should be penalized if you ask me. That is not an appropriate comment for a sports personality to make. It's just as bad as someone saying something stupid like "I don't like black people", "I don't like Puerto Ricans", or anything like that. Who can we write to about this? Rachelle (who doesn't give a rats ass who anyone sleeps with)

Unfortunately, he's retired. He's been making publicity appearances on behalf of the NBA, which have now stopped. Beyond that, all you can do is write to HIM in care of the NBA and tell him what an asswipe he is. And write to the NBA, telling them how insincere his apology is, and make sure they don't rehire him.

Sounds like a classic case of someone who is having problems with his own sexualality.