Stern makes the right call on Hardaway

By Anthony Galaviz
The Collegian

NBA COMMISSIONER DAVID Stern did the right thing
Before the NBA All-Star weekend Stern banished Tim Hardaway from appearing in Las Vegas, the site of this past Sunday’s All-Star Game because of comments he made toward former NBA player John Amaechi, who recently came out and said he was gay.

“It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours,” Stern said.

Professional athletes are role models for children and for others. For Hardaway to come out and say “I don’t like gay people” is wrong.

Hardaway should’ve keep those feelings to himself. All athletes are in the limelight.

Even Hardaway’s CBA employer, the Indiana Alleycats don’t support his view. Hardaway was fired by the CBA.

“The CBA does not in any way condone or endorse the hateful comments made by Mr. Hardaway to ESPN yesterday,” the CBA’s statement read. “Mr. Hardaway’s comments were unfortunate, hateful and are not the views of the CBA or any of its member teams. It is our fervent belief that any person should be allowed to participate in our league, regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, political preference or sexual orientation, without fear of reprisal or discrimination.

“The CBA is an equal opportunity employer, and Mr. Hardaway’s comments have no effect or bearing on our position now or in the future. We do not share his views or support his position regarding Mr. Amaechi and his recent personal revelations.”

Other athletes should be served notice: Personal beliefs are not welcomed.

Sure, there are people who will say Hardaway has the freedom to say what is on his mind, but the fact is, Hardaway is a former NBA player who kids looked up to.

Just because of what he said, does it give children the right to say it? Athletes are often heroes to children. Hardaway is not a hero.

Hardaway went on a Miami radio station and spoke his mind about Amaechi.

“First of all I wouldn’t want him on my team. Second of all, if he was on my team I would really distance myself from him because I don’t think that’s right and I don’t think he should be in the locker room when we’re in the locker room,” Hardaway said.

“Something has to give. If you have 12 other ballplayers in your locker room that’s upset and can’t concentrate and always worried about him in the locker room or on the court or whatever, it’s going to be hard for your teammates to win and accept him as a teammate.”

Then he backtracked.

“I don’t hate gay people. I’m a good-hearted person.” Hardaway told a Miami television station. “I respect people. For me to say ‘hate’ was a bad word, and I didn’t mean to use it.”

Too late, Tim.

Hardaway set a bad example for the NBA and Stern took quick action by removing him from the NBA festivities.

However, Amaechi, who played for the Orlando Magic at the end of his career, did credit Hardaway.

“Finally, someone who is honest,” Amaechi told the Miami Herald. “It is ridiculous, absurd, petty, bigoted and shows a lack of empathy that is gargantuan and unfathomable. But it is honest. And it illustrates the problem better than any of the fuzzy language other people have used so far.”

Hopefully, this will be a lesson for Hardway, and for other NBA players and even other professional athletes. If you say things that will hurt or give the league a bad image, you will face the consequences.
Just ask Hardaway.

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