A Homophobes Apoligy

Last week Tim Hardaway (former Miami Heat gaurd) who had a good reputation in south florida stated on a Miami radio station "You know, I hate gay people, so 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."

At the end of the radio interview Hardaway was asked what he would do if he was still in the NBA and found out that one of his teammates was gay, Hardaway said he would ask for the player to be traded or to be bought out of his contract. finally, when asked what if the player that was gay was a great player, ''If he were that great something would still have to give,'' he said. ``People would feel uncomfortable with that. If you're not gay, nobody in that locker room would feel comfortable with that person on your team.''

Two days after this surprising interview with retired Miami Heat basketball star, current Miami Heat stars Dwayne Wade, Shaquile O'Neal, and Jason Kapono announced to the press that they disagreed with the gay tolerance portrayed by Hardaway in his radio interview (Ft.Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel).

"I am a guy who loves his teammates," Wade said. "I don't look at it like [Hardaway]. I look at it like, `What can guys do for you [on the court]?" (Ft.Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)

Two days after the Miami Heats star player commented on Hardaways views, Hardaway himself appoligized on to a Miami television station saying that he didn't mean what he said.

"It was like, you know, I had killed somebody. ... I never knew that this was going to escalate that high," Hardaway said. (Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)

Hardaway who was suppose to be part of some of the All-Star activities this weekend was asked by the NBA not to show up and take part in any of the activities that he was previously asked to take part in. (Palm Beach Post)

As a result of the radio interview and all of the attention which it brought, Hardaway lost endorsements and decided to change the name of his carwash chain in Miami so that his employees would not suffer for his mistakes.

It has been an action-packed week for Tim Hardaway however it appears that he had enough energy to survive. Perhaps he should consider teaming up with Scottie Pippen (who has recently announced his interest in returning to the NBA to play for the Miami Heat) and talk about arranging a meeting with Pat Riley to talk about using his energy on the court instead of announcing his homophobic views on radio stations.