Former center becomes first openly gay NBA player

Hate the message not the messenger?

Wow.

Personally I hate both. Actually I don't hate... I think that's a very strong word that shouldn't be used lightly. I'm glad Hardaway spoke his mind from the perspective that we shouldn't be lulled into thinking that we've eased into the 21st century and have erased these pathetic issues of hate and bigotry.

I actually feel bad for Hardaway that he can be so closed minded, hateful and ignorant. He's a sad, pathetic man.

Wow?
Hardaway is not alone. As I said, he probably represents ahtheletes as a whole in this country. How many openly gay atheletes are active in their sport? So..........there are no gay atheletes? They do not want to deal with that stigma and the associated BS from all who would rain it on them. Not talking about it won't fix it. painful for some or not

I'm aware that Hardaway isn't alone. His comments represent a sad state of affairs in pro sports and society in general.

You know what's scary? If Hitler rose from the grave today he'd still have plenty of followers.

It's easy to hate what we don't understand, it takes a bigger person to keep an open mind and try to understand someone else's point of view.

Wow?
Hardaway is not alone. As I said, he probably represents ahtheletes as a whole in this country. How many openly gay atheletes are active in their sport? So..........there are no gay atheletes? They do not want to deal with that stigma and the associated BS from all who would rain it on them. Not talking about it won't fix it. painful for some or not

I said wow because it sounds like you are letting him off the hook by saying hate the message and not the messenger.

I'm aware that Hardaway isn't alone. His comments represent a sad state of affairs in pro sports and society in general.

You know what's scary? If Hitler rose from the grave today he'd still have plenty of followers.

It's easy to hate what we don't understand, it takes a bigger person to keep an open mind and try to understand someone else's point of view.

I agree with you, that the KKK/Skinhead/Neo-Nazi movement is anything but dead. If I had to guess, I would suspect it gains momentum. The internet helps it maintain communications, and mobilize as well.
I personally believe it's not my place to judge, so I try not to. Not always successful, but that's the goal

I said wow because it sounds like you are letting him off the hook by saying hate the message and not the messenger.
That's a hard call. I DO respect his standing up (later to break like a wuss under media scrutiny). I don't agree with the hate message, but he has the right to say so. I think having it out in the open will do more good than harm
Like I say, it's not my place to judge him, or the gay world in general. I do not agree with the gay lifestyle in general, but it does no harm to me. Live and let live. I try not hold on to a bunch of hate and a sundry of other useless emotions. Not always successful at this either

That's a hard call. I DO respect his standing up (later to break like a wuss under media scrutiny). I don't agree with the hate message, but he has the right to say so. I think having it out in the open will do more good than harm
Like I say, it's not my place to judge him, or the gay world in general. I do not agree with the gay lifestyle in general, but it does no harm to me. Live and let live. I try not hold on to a bunch of hate and a sundry of other useless emotions. Not always successful at this either
So do you applaud someone that stands up and says they hate the blacks just because they "stood up"?

If you don't believe in the homosexual lifestyle that's one thing, but applauding the abuse of the first amendment because it's not politically correct? That's totally off base.

Yeah, you're not given the right to free speech for hate comments. Yeah, he does have the right to say that, but yeah, he's also a douchebag for saying it.

So do you applaud someone that stands up and says they hate the blacks just because they "stood up"?

If you don't believe in the homosexual lifestyle that's one thing, but applauding the abuse of the first amendment because it's not politically correct? That's totally off base.

Yeah, you're not given the right to free speech for hate comments. Yeah, he does have the right to say that, but yeah, he's also a douchebag for saying it.

I cannot say that I would (as I personally don't want to listen to that) enjoy anyone parading around stating they hate blacks, etc.
As far as I know, they have the right to say it under the first amendment. The same way the KKK gets to march for all kinds of distastful things. Moreover, the issue is not really about what I like, or do not.
Hardaway did society a favor by shooting off his mouth, and bringing another human rights issue to the surface. Hiding our heads in the sand and hoping something will go away does not work.

What I don't understand is how so many minorities have such homophobic tendencies. As a minority myself, I am simply dumbfounded when my relatives make semi-bigoted comments about other minority groups (incl. homosexuals).

Hardaway did society a favor by shooting off his mouth, and bringing another human rights issue to the surface. Hiding our heads in the sand and hoping something will go away does not work.
The only favor Hardaway did to society was expose the ignorance that exists on the subject. I guess to say something so hatefull will atleast encourage others to roll their eyes at anyone who maintain prejudice against them.

Once again, if your not about the lifestyle, thats cool... But to say you hate the person.... not cool.

I don't mean to be a dick, but I've got several openly gay friends and they've got some shit to deal with. An interesting point that Amaechi made was when someone said that being gay was a choice. He simply said "why would I want to choose a lifestyle like this.... who would possibly want to choose this". I think people need to gain perspective on the issue before going all ape-shit and saying they "hate".