ESPN Loves How Tim Hardaway Hates Gay People

Former Miami Heat and Golden State Warrior point guard Tim Hardaway said, in an interview with Miami-based radio talk show host Dan Le Batard:

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.

This is another sports story which confuses me. First, let me make it clear that I don’t agree with Hardaway’s sentiments. I feel that most people I’m exposed to also would not agree. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why this story is getting coverage.

But is it really news or news-worthy when a retired NBA player makes insensitive, homophobic remarks about another retired NBA player? There was already a question of how news-worthy the revealing of John Amaechi’s was. The Hardaway angle is a tangent of a story that’s barely news-worthy. Were this an active player revealing his sexuality with an active player responding, it would certainly be news-worthy. When people off-the-court who have no bearing on the results of games are thrown into the lead stories on nightly SportsCenter broadcasts, I can’t help but question the relevance of the coverage.

The common thread in the initial Amaechi coverage and the Hardaway story is ESPN. ESPN has Amaechi on the cover of its magazine. In promoting the story, they moved him to the lead of SportsCenter broadcasts and into the featured spot on ESPN.com. Amaechi, who announced his sexuality in a book he’s marketing – a book produced by ESPN Books.

I admit that there is part of me that does see these stories as relevant. But then I ask myself a few questions:

• Is it really surprising that (at least) one ex- or current NBA player is gay? (Answer: No)
• Is it really surprising that (at least) one ex- or current NBA player is a homophobe? (Answer: No)
• Does the coverage of these stories change how I see the issues surrounding sport, sexuality and society? (Answer: No)
• Did I need to know any of this information? (Answer: No)

ESPN is an entertainment entity that struggles with its role as the leader in sports journalism. As a huge sports fan, I have a need for compotent, respected, even-handed reporting on sports. It’s been a while since ESPN served this role. As with their pushing of the Carmelo Anthony story in the wake of his on-court fight-induced suspension, ESPN is making the story with Amaechi and Hardaway, not breaking the story.

I suppose we are supposed to be shocked by what Hardaway said. ESPN is counting on it. I’m not shocked. I’m not even concerned that he said those things or that there are people in the world who feel that way. We all know that there are some ignorant people walking around this world. If anything, I’m glad that Hardaway feels he can speak about these issues. There is a certain naive honorability behind being honest and not ducking the issue. It seems better for people to acknowledge how they really feel, even if I find those feelings completely inconsistent with how I wish to view the world.

But there is a fine line between saying or feeling a certain way and acting on it. Hardaway would go on to say:

And second of all, if he was on my team, I would, you know, really distance myself from him because, uh, I don’t think that’s right. And you know I don’t think he should be in the locker room while we’re in the locker room. I wouldn’t even be a part of that.

At least he’s retired.

I’m interested to hear what other people think of this issue. I don’t really care about your feelings towards gay people (though I admit that might be interesting). I’m more interested to hear how people see the coverage of these types of issues fitting into their sports world. Is it a central part? Or does it seem like an issue that doesn’t affect your sports experience?

Here is a Miami-based television station’s coverage of Hardaway’s comments. There’s a heading advert – just wait through it.