An interesting commentary this morning on NPR during its normal sports commentary by Frank Deford in regards to homophobia in sports. (Link to NPR archived story) His POV was that it is NOT (other than the few like Hardaway) the professional athletes that really have a problem with gay men, but rather the sports fans that create a more hostile enviroment in which to play (sic work).

While I agree that homophobia exists inside the lockerroom, I think there is a very valid point the most of the perceived homophobia is actually coming from the stands. A case in point...while watching the MSU-Wisconsin game last night, during a 'preview' of the upcoming game a fan behind the sportscasters was holding a sign that said "Hardaway hates LSU"

I saw this on-line last night and could not believe it. I thought it was a typical cloying PSA at first, but then Takai goes into a whole "oh, No he DIDN'T" mode that was absolutely hysterical. Not to mention, if we all look that good at 70, we should be so lucky.

Is it embarrassingly northeast-liberal-politically-correct of me to suggest that such a sign shouldn't be allowed in the stands? Dude's advertising some seriously nasty comments. I know some would suggest the more gay-baiting signs, the better.


Anyway, some good comments from Deford:What you mean "us", Kemo Sabe? (Ok, I know, totally unPC. Sorry.)

I was merely pointing that out for the benefit of others because before I clicked on the link, it was confusing to me. Besides, who'd ever want to beat me up, anyway?

Hardaway is really a bizarre guy, as this ESPN.com interview shows:

I thought the introduction to the story was more enlightening:



This is exactly what's wrong with so-called "journalists." They're more interested in helping their friends than reporting a story properly. This writer's not much better than Michael Irvin doing "interviews" with T.O.

Sports Illustrated's Sign of the Apocalypse:

In a 2001 humor column, outsports.com named Tim Hardaway one of its "Ten Most Likely Gay Ballers in the NBA.

I'm not sure why this is a SotA - does SI think OS was way wrong? (I'm not convinced he isn't.) If so, I still don't get it.

Has SI mentioned OS before?

Yes, a couple of times. They called to confirm the date, not sure what it's a sign of the apocalypse but not bad pub for us!

Wow... Wooooowww... the reporter asks, "Was there any homosexual experience that triggered any of your resentment toward gay people that happened when you were young that none of us knows about?"

Do these reporters not have producers, or editors? I mean, I guess the reporter's idiocy is revealing - in much the same way TH's bigotry is revealing.

One caution: the religious right has taken the tactic of claiming virtually any opposition to their dogma is a denial of their right to practice their faith.

This has a lot of traction with average citizens of the USA on issues such as abortion and evolution.

They see opposition to abortion as a right-to-life for the child over the mother's health or even life in some instances.

Two-thirds of adults in the USA have doubts about the theory of evolution. A well-known case here in Pennsylvania is the subject of a recent book: I believe it's called Monkeyblind, appropriately. It was reviewed on NPR this morning.

Tim Hardaway no doubt believes he has the right to be "homophobic" as he calls it. He does not consider this particular phobia to be a disease but a choice.

One can not be cured of an affliction that they believe is their natural right and legitimate religious obligation.

Would you have rather seen him NOT disclose this information before sharing the interview/discussion??

I think that makes what Hardaway said even more disturbing; the writer (who happens to be a lifetime friend) gave Tim the outlet to make things right and set the record straight (pardon the word) and he STILL puts his large NBA foot in his mouth and exposes his ignorance.

I don't think that the writer was trying to protect Hardaway, just give him another chance, which he blows again!!

I was amazed, among other things, at Hardaway's concern about physical violence against him or his family - does he read the papers? Gay people aren't exactly the ones going around doing the bashing here - it is straight men, for the most part, who have given us the murders, the rapes, the armed robberies, the assaults, etc. And adding to that the fact that Mr. Hardaway's response to seeing "the gay" on the street (when he recognizes it, of course) is to walk away, I think the good people of Miami should assist Mr. Hardaway by mimicking his behavior. When he comes near, stay away from him - cross the street, avoid his presence, particularly if you yourself are gay, or know and love a gay person.

I agree with NFLJock here. When you've got a friend drowning, all you can do is throw a life preserver (if you have one.) The friend has to be the one who grabs on and saves themself. Unfortunately he didn't and opted for the lead balloons instead. I'm afraid they might be calling it "Timmy Jone's Locker" soon.

Tim Hardaway has to be on the best (or worst) grade of crack available or at a level of ignorance that requires an advanced college degree to practice.

I read the entire 2nd interview and all he said was, I think and feel the same way, but I just wish I hadn't gotten myself in trouble but actually using the "hate" word out loud[, even though that's how I actually think and feel].

I'm so flabbergasted, I can't formulate any reactions beyond this; except;

I agree with the posters in this thread who think that a Black man, of all people, should see how his bigotry and hatred and attitudes that lead to violence are EXACTLY like what he has experienced historically in the country we call the United States of America and, therefore, should be more willing to exhibit empathetic attitudes.

Maroon indeed.

Finally got the book and so far it's a great read. Now when's a book signing in Germany? I always have some Earl Grey in stock.

I'm okay that he disclosed that he was Hardaway's friend, but my preference would be that the interview be conducted by someone else.

This doesn't surprise me. I lost respect for him years ago. One of my military buddies attended a Tyson fight party Hardaway hosted when he was still playing with the W's, and told us all of how be belittled his then wife or girlfriend in front of everyone, yelling and bossing her around like she was his slave. These are the stories that never make it to the media. What a sad human being..

This whole thing has inflamed passions on both sides.

Thursday afternoon at practice, some teammates and I were doing the workout which consisted of doing lunges on the very well used path that goes around Green Lake in Seattle. I forget how the subject was broached, but we were talking about Tim Hardaway; the word they used to describe the original interview was "ridiculous." Meanwhile, some scruffy middle aged guy walks by, seemingly talking to himself--I figured he was just talking on a handsfree cellphone... then I heard the magic words, "Tim Hardaway" and "admire." I confronted him (from a distance) and we exchanged vague threats... the situation was probably over in 20 seconds, and it would not have been a fair fight (four varsity rowers against one middle aged homophobe...). But the whole Tim Hardaway fiasco has given homophobes a vehicle for expressing themselves.

Trust me,they have been freely expressing theirselves for a very long time and far too often.The only difference is that Tim, aka Ass**le, had a littlle star status attached to his name so more people were listening for a change.

Wow, Maher's interview with Amaechi was my first sighting of this guy and what a terrific, articulate presence he is, and that accent is very attractive...And, as usual, Bill Maher was hysterically funny and dead-on.

The other clip, the star trek guy, was odd but humorous.

And wouldn't you know it, this all comes down to religion. Hardaway was raised and conditioned by a simple religious family led by the archaic often bizarre views of the most enduring piece of literature we know: The Bible. Like many children raised by such parents, they never grow up to question those views thus perpetuating hatred and intolerance on and on...

Hey! I was raised in a church-going, god-fearing household in rural Mississippi and I didn't turn out that way! Oh, wait, I turned out to be gay.

Never mind. Carry on.

Somehow I doubt Jerry Sloane was in line for an autographed copy of Amaechi's book in Salt Lake City.

Poor little Timmy just doesn't get it. All that education of the Bible during his formative years, and the family skipped over the part about God is love, love is God. Where God is there is love, where love is, there is God. Little Timmy, (and I mean little physically and mentally) worry not! There are still plenty of Americans that would rather cross the street to avoid people of your skin color, just like you do the same to avoid gays. All is well in your closed, little world. Be careful though, the acid of hatred is far more damaging to the vial than it is to the rest of the world. Eventually, your hatred will be your undoing. By the way, learn to speak English. I can hardly understand your hateful words.

Our interview with John is finally posted.

John Amaechi talks with Outsports

Amaechi was on the "Daily Show" on Tuesday and was well-received.

Great inteview. Love the answer to the qeustion about what type of tree he would be. To come up with that answer off the top of his head is impressive. His communication talents need to be exposed and used. Perhaps he should be a philosopher. Next book ... Gravity explanined by John Amaechi

Oh, nice. I hope they show it in the global edition. If I'm not mistaken, it should also be viewable on www.comedycentral.de .

Thanks for doing the interview, and the chance to ask questions.

The Daily Show will also be rerun tonight at 8pm eastern time. Check your local listings.

Heres hoping they do, or on the UK More4 channel, or perhaps someone will put it on YouTube.

Clue?!? Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike any of Madeline's films. Hell I even have a copy of Won Ton Ton the Dog Who Saved Hollywood, but Clue?!?

Great Interview Cyd and John thanks for sitting down with us!

Great job Cyd...awesome interview. I continue to be impressed with the awesome stories by Outsports.

Good interview, Cyd, and thanks to John for articulating himself so clearly.

Has John seen "What's Up, Doc?" One of Madaline's best performances in my book...then there's the saturday night live hosting duties in the seventies...so funny.

I caught it this morning -- it's brief and rather bland. I wouldn't go out of my way to find it.

Meanwhile, in Amaechi news from all over, his publicist Howard Bragman is interviewed by the Flint (MI) Journal. Good interview -- for one thing, Amaechi "acknowledged" and "disclosed" his sexuality vs "admitted" or "confessed", and Outsports is properly credited for the scoop. (On the other hand, the headline is, umm, odd... "Flint native handles Amaechi coming-out with relative ease". As opposed to what, having a meltdown? Fleeing the country? Oh, wait, I get it; Bragman handled the publicity around Amaechi's coming-out with relative ease, despite having been scooped. Never mind.)

Btw Cyd, I'm curious -- has Outsports' hate mail picked up again, as it typically does when a gay-related sports story breaks through to the mainstream media?

Yeah, we did get some hatemail from this story, as I know John has, and I know Esera has gotten some hatemail from all of this as well. But, it's mostly been positive. There was this gem from someone who writes to me every once in a while, always with the title "hey f****t lover":

"Your goal is to make pro sports SO politically correct that hockey will feature rainbow logos with NO CHECKING and the NFL will become two hand touch so homosexuals like Esera won't get hurt. Do you not understand that the NFL and NBA were SO Much better in the homophobic 80's and early 1990's when you had TOUGH guys? You cannot be 'TOUGH' and be 'GAY FRIENDLY.' It does not work. Any straight guy who is not homophobic is scared of the pro0gay media consequences or of gay groups...so they act gay friendly. And...if you're scared of limp wristed gays who flail their arms like mild retards...you really are a wuss. There's a reason back in Tim Hardaway's day that the NBA finals averaged a 15.2 rating on television from 1990-1993, and that in 2006 and 2005, the rating was 8.5 and 8.2, respectively, and had a 6.5 rating in 2003. You have your gay loving owners like Mark Cuban, whose a HUGE nerd by the way, not a STUD there Cyd you sick man you...but you have less competition in the NBA< less talent, and LESS interest from the fans. All because homosexuals like Cyd Ziegler are out for the demasculation of pro sports and want to inject estrogen and femininity into sports. Cyd Ziegler wants players banned from saying f****t and wants them to attend pro-gay courses where a lispy voiced queer gives speeches about those OVERLY overused code words like 'diversity' and 'Tolerance.' How about we just play the game like we did 'WHEN IT WAS A GAME", huh CYd? But if we did that, CYD wouldn't get his dream of seeing a male compete in a dress in a major league game...CYD, why are gay males such sissies?"

At this point, I'm assuming he's gay. He just loooooves talking about gays and gay sex.

And BTW, it was all of you who came up with the best questions. We'll definitely be asking for input like that before we talk to other people who come out. Thanks to all of you!!

I'd have to give this guy credit on this. There certainly is a reason that ratings are down. Well actually, many reasons I'm sure, but one pretty big one named Michael Jordan. Strange though...I never knew he was gay.

By the way Cyd, do you think there is a reason he says your name so much, Cyd. Cyd, I think maybe he has a thing for you Cyd.

This guy is clearly a freak wanting a reaction.
Did you reply to him?

BTW....enjoyed the interview! I just finished reading John's book. Does anybody have a contact for John Amaechi? I'd like to send him a note?

John can be contacted through his website.

Great interview Cyd. Loved the fact that you asked about the shoe size he wears. ...

So size 15, huh?!

Thanks Jim!

Amaechi will be online on washingtonpost.com tomorrow at 2 p.m. to answer questions



Here's a link to the page

Looks like anyone can already start posting their questions/comments now

... and speaking of DC, I thought I saw an ad in the Blade over the weekend that he'll be at Lamba Rising for a book signing sometime in March.

... edited to say that, indeed, he will be at Lambda Rising this Friday March 2 at 7 p.m.

Is this the same guy that sent the letter in the "We get mail" thread? The syntax seems vaguely familiar.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

It never ceases to amaze me just how many people are complete MORONS.

Doesn't everyone have a thing for Cyd?

The interview with John Steward is on http://www.comedycentral.com/ (to the left).

John Amaechi rocks. I went to his book signing last night at Outwrite, here in Atlanta. He signed everybody's book, and took pictures. He answered some really crazy questions, like this guy asked him to marry him. He actually blushed, and laughed.

Afterwards, he ended up hanging out with most of the people from the book signing. What a nice guy.

Cyd great interview. I am glad you used some of our questions. I wasn't shocked but a bit surprised that he knew between 10-20 gay NBA and ex-NBA players. I guess we will see more guys coming out after their career's are over, but wouldn't it be nice if one would come out during his last year as a player. Knowing it would be his last year, he wouldn't have as much to lose and it would show us the real acceptance quotient in the league.

John King, I love your anecdote about the marriage proposal.
I'll agree that interview on The Daily Show wasn't spectacular, but I really enjoyed his sense of humor.
Very glad to hear that's he's nice, for real.

Here's the transcript of Amaechi's Q&A session on washingtonpost.com from the other day.

Here's a direct link to Amaechi on The Daily Show.

Cool guy. First I've heard him speak.