Full Court Press

It is sad we have come to a point in our society that you cannot express how you feel whether or not you agree with it.This article is absolutely correct though.The P.C. police will be relentless in making sure Tim Hardaway pays for opening his mouth to reporters.I bet Tim thinks twice before doing any more interviews for anybody if he is smart.Tolerence is for people who share the P.C point of view.Lets wait and see how much tolerence is shown to Tim Hardaway.I am betting the lack of it will amaze most people.

I pretty much agree with Tim Hardaway. Homosexuality is wrong. I don't hate people who embraces that lifestyle, but I dislike it. God made man and WOman. He intended for them to be fruitful and multiply. You just cannot multiply the world with two people of the same sex.

Tim said what other wanted to say but were afraid.

What has happened to freedom of speech, uh?

Not sure i agree. But what he says does sound a lot like what the Pope has said, not sure what the difference is if the church says don't condone it or if some ex basketball player says it?

Roman responds: I wouldn't be surprised if the Catholic Church someday accepts homosexuality as something you're born with. And maybe even - drum roll - women will be allowed to be priests. It may take another 100 years, but it will happen. I remember as a young Catholic being taught babies who die before being baptized go to some place called limbo. Then they changed their minds and said they go to heaven. The Catholic Church adapts, but it might take a while.

Tim Hardaway really made a mistake trying to explain how he feels about homosexuals. He's obviously not skillful in politically correct non-speak. You can't say what you believe or feel about many things anymore. Most people feel that homosexuality is not only wrong but very wrong. He said that he did not want to be around a homosexual, especially in the lockeroom where everyone removes their clothes. Now if the guy next to you is sexually attracted to you and you're not attracted to him well maybe it would be good if you didn't have to be naked right in front of him. It must be pretty fun for a homosexual to be walking around a bunch of naked guys. It isn't fun for most heterosexual males to have some homosexual male getting off on them. It's unbelievable that we have gotten to this point. A sexual lifestyle that causes disease and early death is celebrated in parades, and our children are taught in our schools that it is good and natural, and everybody has to say woopie or they better keep their mouths shut. Wait until you get thrown in jail for saying it's wrong. Pretty pitiful. People better speak up now before you can't.

About freedom of speech -- The constitution guarantees protection from government action, not public reaction. Yeah, Tim's taking heat for what he said, but can take comfort in the fact he wasn't hauled off by the police.

About PC -- People seem to think this is a liberal invention. We've always had political correctness. Thirty years ago it was "politically correct" to say what Tim said or worse.

To start with David Stern was correct in banning Hardaway because it is a NBA event which could bring a cloud over a special event.

Now in terms of what Hardaway said was not only does he does not like homosexuals but they should not be in the United States or on the Earth. That goes beyond speaking your mind...it comes close to the Third Reich and the extermination of the Jewish population as well as the homosexual population in Europe. That would be the same as a white man saying that blacks should not be allowed in the United States or on the planet. Hardaway is extremely prejudiced against a certain part of the population. Why can't we just try to live as what God created us for and what Jesus tried to impress on us while he was on Earth...brothers to each other.

Yes, it is sad. If a man had said the things about black people that Hardaway said about gay people, he would have not only been banished...a whole section of the population would have come down hard on him. He sounds like white supremists used to sound about black people. Wake up people. Homosexuality is a natural thing. Just different!

One thing i want to say... You should respect gay people, but it's a different story when you feel violated because they shower with you when you are naked. Tim Hardaway doesn't deserve that. Tim Hardaway doesn't get to shower with the cheerleaders and no one would allow that, they would say it is simple immoral and wrong. Why do gay athletes get a free ride.

Roman responds: The issue of being naked around people who might find you sexually attractive is interesting. I hope one of my gay bloggers will address it. Shower stalls would be an easy fix, and players don't walk around the locker room naked. So it's not a big issue, but it's interesting.

Tim has the right to say what he said, and I have the right to criticize it as hateful, dangerous, and ignorant speech (despite being heterosexual and a fan of Tim Hardaway's on-court play).

Chris Broussard wrote an article on ESPN.com proclaiming that he agrees with Hardaway's belief that homosexuality is wrong, but he thinks that the narrow-minded way he said it (namely the use of the word "hate") is going to get people away from the larger issue (the idea that there are still a lot of NBA players incredibly nervous about the idea of a gay teammate).

Of course, Broussard also talks about his devout Christianity and mentions that he finds it "offensive and wrong" when people compare anti-homosexual remarks and anti-black remarks, mostly because race can't really be chosen, hidden, or changed.

Broussard's partially right. It can't. But religon can, and if a former NBA player had spoken about Jews, Muslims, or Christians the way Hardaway spoke about homosexuals, I believe that the outcry would be even more swift and even more brutal.

Free speech works both ways.

What has happened to freedom of speech, someone asked?
Ask Michael Richards or Trent Lott. If a white
player had said the same thing about African Americans, no one
would be talkin about free speech... Jesse Jackson and the NAACP would have him lynched.

this freedom of speech stuff is a joke! what if Tim was white, and said he hates black people and wishes they were still slaves?? is that gonna be appauded as free speech? were mel gibson and michael richards given that free pass??

what is wrong with you people??

YOu think being gay is wrong, so the whole world has to follow your inredibly arrogant lead? how about a reality check, people, there are millions and millions who believe that ALL people have an equal place in this world...join them

I don't think this is a matter of Freedom of Speech. It is a matter of offending specific people. I don't like this age of political correctness, but if you are a public figure, you need to be sensitive to the fact that you are being heard by a multitude of different people with different beliefs and lifestyles. Anyone in the Limelight needs to think of what they are going to say carefully before spewing out such ignorance. The word "hate" causes a lot of trouble no matter what the subject. He did apologize, but maybe just because of all the backlash he received. Speaking your mind is one thing, but when your words offend people, then expect some backlash.

Tim Hardaway : " I see Gay People"

Bill Vaughn and his ilk are so damn ignorant it's staggering. Gayness is not a lifestyle people embrace. People are born with one sexual orientation or another. Fortunately for Vaughn, most people come into the world as heterosexual. Tim Hardaway and other homophobes are actually insecure about their own sexuality. Usually when people go off about something, they are projecting their own fears and feelings onto others. If Hardaway was truly secure in himself and his own manhood, he wouldn't give a **** what other people do and wouldn't see it as threatening. So get a grip all you homophobes and shut up!

I agree too. Tim Hardaway should be free to say how he feels no matter what it is and nobody should be bullying him about it. If I were him, Hell would have to freeze over before I apologize for anything because I wouldn't care! FREEDOM OF SPEECH is supposedly liable in this country. It's the FIRST AMENDMENT on the CONSTITUTION- you can't miss it. Mr. Hardaway has the right to speak his mind; and I have the right to speak mine. Homosexuality is nothing other than a unfolding freak fest that wants it's way in this world. GOD and even the Devil knows that it sickening. God created a couple named ADAM and EVE. They're in the first chapter of the Bible- you can't miss that either. Even my 4 year old niece knows about Adam and Eve, and that's how it should be. Mr. Hardaway may have went a little overboard about saying that he hated gay people, but I'll be honest, he was rational on saying he'd keep his distant, because I'd do the same. But it's funny that anytime the truth comes to light on this issue of homosexuals, it's always being viewed as judging or hate. It's not hate and it's not judging, it's a fact and these folks need serious help. They need prayer and they need to get saved. It's not cute or attractive behavior it's nasty too! Society needs stop making homosexuality sound like it's OK because the bottom line is, it's not. It's raunchy and I want to throw up everytime I see them on TV or in person. Now I'm not a mother, (I'm only 20 years old) but I often take care of my three nieces who are all under the age of 5. I would not want them to be brougt up in this world thinking that they have to absorb all this gay and lesbian crap. It's gross and I wouldn't want my own kids to think that either. Hollywood is the main landmark for homosexuality to be shoved down people thoats, let alone the children.And to all of these dump, stupid celebrities who are making all of these hollow promises about themselves not getting married until the U.S makes gay marriage legal: they're going to be fiddling with a needle and thread- basically wasting their precious time because chances are..... it's NEVER going to happen and it shouldn't happen.

Freedom of speech guarantees that the government won't take action against someone. The NBA isn't the government. Private organizations aren't held to that standard. If the NBA doesn't want Tim Hardaway representing them, that's their right.

If a company hires someone to be a spokesman or otherwise represent it, doesn't it have the right to make sure that the spokesman isn't going to say something that will embarrass it or turn away customers? Why did the NBA hire Hardaway in the first place? Probably they believed he is an articulate man and is a going to represent them in a positive way. Doesn't the NBA have the right to say that someone does not represent them in the manner they want to be conneced with?

You seem to be the one demanding that people live up to your standards. You are saying that we are only here to have children, so homosexuals are by default bad people. So what are we to think about women or men who are unable to create a child? Are they bad too. Do you dislike them?

I have a question about the first post. What are the "PC Police"? Are they just people who disagree with you? I hear the term PC used but no explanation of who we are talking about. Nobody needs to be relentless in pursuit of Hardaway. He already said what he believed, so people can judge for themselves if he's a brave patriot or a paranoid jerk. If he is unable to find work as a spokesman, it's because he made statements that companies don't want to be associated with. No "PC Police" stopped him from giving his opinion on homosexuality. He spoke and now has to live with the consequences. They didn't kick him out of the NBA as a player, but as one of the faces of the NBA. Remember Karl Malone's statements when discussing if someone HIV positive should be allowed to play? Did he get forced out of basketball? He seemed to come through it without being destroyed. Or don't they have PC police in Utah?

Hello Mitty?

Nothing has happened to free speech. Hardaway wasn't arrested. The NBA just decided his views don't match theirs so they dismissed him from representing them. There is no free speech issue.

Also, I don't see what having children has to do with this issue. Do you feel there aren't enough children in the world? Do you try and have a child every time you have sex?

I agree with you that people ar afriad to express hateful speech for fear of the response and that Hardaway did express such speech. But so what? If a person goes on a racist tirade against white or black or asian people should we be thankful they were brave enough to express what many people want to say but are afraid?

Just like Hardaway, you have all the free speech rights you want to say whatever you want about others. Just like Hardaway, you also appear to be bigot. I'll use my free speech rights to cal you on it.

It was a speech smacking of intolerance and bigotry. Sounds like the same things whites used to say about blacks before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball.

First of all, thank you Mr. Modrowski for your enlightened point of view. Yours is a voice sorely missed and silenced, I believe, in the world of sports journalism.
Secondly, in reference to one of the writers above, NO!, ones opinion can not and should not be expressed in this society if it is bigoted and hurtful, if it is in support of INTOLERANCE. That is why, rightly so, we can not say the "N" word or other terms in our society without there being outrage! You can not say you HATE gay people anymore. You just can't. It has been well documented and proven that being gay is not a lifestyle choice. Being gay is an attribute that distinguishes you from other humans. Being gay is like being left handed or brown eyed. It is one of the AMAZING things that makes you PERFECTLY HUMAN! So, when someone says they HATE people for being gay, we as an educated and advanced society stand up and say NO!!!! THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE! We reject that speech and we reject YOU for saying it!! Instead we say we choose to advance humanity and our society and we will NOT reject anyone because they happen to LOVE differently!

wilson cruz

Fill in the "blank" of Tim Hardaway's statements with any other descriptive of a group of people, and most thinking S-T readers should be able to see the hate and venom in Hardaway's for-the-record comments:

"I hate _____ [Greeks ?, Hispanics ?, Mormans ?, women ?, the handicapped ?, the elderly ?, children ?... ]

... and they shouldn't be in the world or the United States"...

Anyone who does not see the violent repercussions of this kind of sentiment has no understanding of history.

Have they not heard of the damage done by racism, slavery, burning suspected "witches" to death), religious intolerance that lead to the Holocaust?

Do these people wilfully choose to be blind, ignorant and malevolent? If so, their opinion on this topic is worth about as much as the opinion annoyingly croaked out by a small-brained warty toad in the middle of the summmer's night.

Mitty:

He does have free speech. The government cannot arrest him for saying what he said.

But the court of public opinion (and the NBA)is also just as free to say they do not want to have associated with them someone that has his opinion on that subject.

Having said that, I do agree with Hardaway.

I think what Hardaway said was closedminded (I'd shy away from using the word "wrong") and the biggest issue I'd take is his use of the word "hate". Hate is a pretty strong word and it may even imply action to express that hate. That is what I take biggest issue with.

Had he said he was "uncomfortable" being with them or around them then I think the hetero public opinion, at least coming from males would be on his side.

Overall, I think people fail to understand the macho mentality of a male society, whether that be office workers guys out on the town for a drink, an after work drink - or even an athletic lockerroom which takes the normal guys night out and magnifies it times a hundred.

the use of the "f" word to describe homosexuals for e.g. carries most of its power when used against a straight male. What's the point of using an epithet to tell someone he is what he is? the reason the it carries such important in a straight male environment is that you are calling someone "not a man". To poke fun of someone's lack of masculinity (and being gay would be the ultimate example of such) is typical everyday banter among straight men at the office, and once again - multiply that a hundredfold in the locker room.

It doesn't matter what the corporation does, what the NBA does and what is and isn't "politically correct", the grass roots attitudes aren't going to change, and they especially will not change in a sports locker room - unless our future athletes are hair stylists, interior designers, and artsy fartsy types which obviously they'll never be.

so this is all in all a fairly dumb discussion.

Even had Hardaway not used the word hate, he'd be skewered in the PC world of public opinion, but IMHO the focus would be why he used the word "hate".

Hardaway comments turns back the clock some 60 years when MLB's Brooklyn Dodgers added Jackie Robinson & not long after Larry Doby with Indians.All the bigot racists spoke out against having a player of another race on team.Many racist ball players wouldn't even shake hands with Jackie or Larry back then.Comments by Hardaway sounded just like those bigots of the 40s & 50s just replacing the word gay with black .It's ironic a african american who knows what racism is to make such comments about gays.Yes we have freedom of speech .If a guy like Hardaway wants to speak out & be ignorant he has that right.Hate is truly a four letter word. I may not go along with the gay life style but believe in the rights of all .I lived through the years when equal rights was a struggle. In 2007 ,it's amazing we still have a ways to go.

I agree to some extent with Hardaway...if I'm a guy showering with a guy who likes other guys, that is creepy. Would you want your daughter showering with a heterosexual boy who they put on the girls' team? We're making such a big deal out of a no-name bball player pandering to sell books...and a big deal out of a has-been bball player who doesn't like gays. So - I mean this is Tim Hardaway for God sake.
Did someone make this breakthrough that gayness is not learned and that you are born that way? Who said that? Take it to the extreme...if everyone was gay, civilization would end in 80-90 years.
Finally...is it just me or is Tim Hardaway unbelieveably hard to understand???

Roman responds: If you think homosexuality is a choice, that means YOU can choose to be homosexual. I can't make that choice, therefore I believe you're born that way. Seems pretty simple to me.

Maybe in 5 generations Hardaways rich descendants will have to pay reparations to the descendants of the survivors of the "great persecution" of gays....Oops there wont be any descendants

Maybe in 5 generations Hardaways rich descendants will have to pay reparations to the descendants of the survivors of the "great persecution" of gays....Oops there wont be any descendants to pay to

First of all Homosexuality has been around since biblical times. The term sodomy came from the sins of the people of Sodom and Gamorha. The history of Greece is full of homosexual activities. So this is not something that has just cropped up in the past century. Over the course of my life I have know several gay men & women and none of them were 2 headed monsters, in fact they were more pleasant than some heterosexual people I know and not once did any of them infringe upon my heterosexuality. They respected my orientation and I did the same and saw them merely as another human being trying to make something of life. But once again we have an example of the kind of bigotry that still exists in this country. This is not a matter of being "PC" it is just another example of how far this country still has to go in erasing bigotry.

I've read the postings and agree with a lot of the points. Free speech rights, tolerance: good. Bigotry, intolerance, hate: bad. But some of the positions taken in support for one point or the other are not based on facts or not logical. The one about a homosexual is born that way is wrong. One might not have the proper balance of hormones and that leads to an inclination toward homosexuality. But the step into that behavior is something taken intentionally. Sexual abuse, bad parenting, peer pressure later and other causes influence individuals to take that step at some point, much to that persons detriment I might add. A person might have similar issues that can cause an inclination toward alchoholism. But each of these persons must fight against taking steps in their lives that lead to physical, emotional, and spiritual destruction and early death. A homosexual will die 15-20 years younger than heterosexuals. And those last 20 years will be painful and disease ridden. And why isn't their spread of contagious diseases a concern? Why aren't these points out there screaming at everyone that these people need help not just tolerance. When a person gets their sexual pleasure playing in the human body's sewer, that person will suffer and die relatively young. Throughout history homosexuality has been around. It has been destructive of person's lives and past culture's live's. Look at what it is doing to our kids and culture. The Bible explains it if anyone cares to read about it.

The difference between this being an issue for the "PC police," or evidence of media overreaction, is that homosexuals are still dragged behind cars and lynched. Actively inciting intolerance towards a minority still in danger of sudden, merciless killings is irresponsible and unacceptable.

It always surprises me when historically oppressed minorities line up to oppress others.

"this freedom of speech stuff is a joke! what if Tim was white, and said he hates black people and wishes they were still slaves?? is that gonna be appauded as free speech? were mel gibson and michael richards given that free pass??"

A white player would not made this comment because he would know that the majority of NBA players are black and he wouldn't want to be ostracized from his teammates.

Micheal Richards and Mel Gibson WERE given a free pass. Gibson just released a new movie in fact, and the sales of the Seinfeld Season 5 DVD went up after the Kramergate scandall. Neither of them are in prison, neither of them were tortured. These petty reverse-discriminitation claims have almost no basis in reality. Sure, many Americans disagree with their comments, but guess what, this is a free country. We are free to disagree.

Every time I hear the term "politically correct" I know an opinionated bigot is abusing the term in a misguided effort to obtain a license to hate, belittle or degrade a person or a group. Opposing political correctness will never justify bigotry.

How dare the NBA outcast Tim for speech his mind. Yes his presentation may have been a bit harsh, however he's right. If your gay come out of the closet, he should have the option of showering and changing his close in front of a gay male. Now his career has taken a hit because of a no name ex-NBA player who wants to sale books.

To compare Tim Hardaway's comments to a racial bigot is out of line. Just the fact that a lot of homosexual people are "in" the closet, and usually don't come out until they are ready tends to lead to a person chooses to be gay.(I must confess I am not God, so I do not know), but I do know that blacks are not "in" the black closet, and only come out when they feel their families can take it. We cannot hide our blackness. I also know other nationalities have the same problem(not the exceptions, just the general rule.)

His comments were stupid(and judgemental). To say you hate someone because of their sexual orientation is wrong(only God can Judge.)

But, the Bible does preach that homosexuality is a sin, and don't say the Bible preaches for slavery, because Jesus said "You have only one Master,...", and he didn't say it was the slave master. Just because people owned slaves, does not mean it is right.

And, most importantly, Hardaway has the freedom to say whatever he wants, and we have the freedom to comment however we want, but it boils down to: when we die, and we all die, our opinions don't matter anymore, and who or whatever we worship is in control of our life from that point on. You only have one shot, so make it good.

show me a person who can go to a maternity ward and point out a gay or straight child....and i will follow him or her...but even i can go to the same ward and point out a black,white,or hispanic child

I too know a few gay individuals, who seem to be pleasant people.
They, however, know that I think the lifestyle is condemned in God's Word. As for them & other sins, including mine, we are answerable to God.
I think Tim's use of the word "hate" was out of line. I dislike being around smokers but certainly do not hate them.
I do not feel Mr. Amaechi is a hero, in any sense of the word. If he came out without having a book to profit from I might have a little more respect for him.

btw I forgot to add that I essentially do believe that homosexuality is something you're born with. I don't consider it a "disease", an "immoral lifestyle", etc. I worked at various nightclubs around Chicago for years that always had a very significant gay percentage of clientele. I'm not uncomfortable around gays, I've even been hit on by a couple (I considered that a compliment, btw).

However, all this pretty much changes when in a locker room.

which brings the point if someone can't help be the way he is, (was born that way) why shouldn't he openly participate in all aspects of life, such as being openly gay in a professional sport.

the answer essentially is "because life isn't fair, it sucks and then you die" (as the old proverb goes)

this doesn't only apply to homosexual athletes. Lots of other "injustices" in life.

Hardaway should be skewered for his choice of words. The use of the word "hate" is fairly indefensible. But the larger point, which the PC is trying to hoist upon us, which is that everyone should holds hands (preferably naked) and sing Kummbaya in the locker room.

Good luck. Will never happen.

Come on everytime somebody says something anymore people take offense to it. Come on people stop all your sensitivity poor me attitude. Grab a piece of the REAL WORLD that all of us have a right to speak and feel the way we do...as long as no violence is used.Lighten up, only words, as the middl