I Hate Bigoted People

Good! Tim Hardaway is banned from the All-Star Games this weekend. When I heard the clip on news the other morning, all I could say was "huh?" He says he's sorry now but everyone knows he meant every single word. I hear a lot of people defending his right to free speech and to express his opinion. In America, that is absolutely the case but so is accepting the repercussions of saying exactly how you feel. He is free to hate whomever he wants and the NBA has the right to invite and/or dis-invite whomever they want. Now he can stay his sorry ass home.

The NBA has kicked Tim Hardaway to the curb in the wake of his recent anti-gay remarks during a radio interview.

This means the former Miami Heat guard’s scheduled appearances on behalf of the league during All-Star weekend have been cancelled.

"It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours," NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement Thursday.

Hardaway’s All-Star ban comes after the retired player released a statement apologizing for his remarks during the interview on Miami’s Dan Le Betard Show on 790 The Ticket. When the former athlete was asked about the recent coming out of ex-NBA player John Amaechi, Hardaway responded:

"First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team. 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 is right. I don't think he should be in the locker room while we are in the locker room."

When show host Dan Le Batard told Hardaway those comments were "flatly homophobic" and "bigotry," the player continued: "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'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

In Hardaway’s apology issued Thursday by his agent, he said: "As an African-American, I know all too well the negative thoughts and feelings hatred and bigotry cause. I regret and apologize for the statements that I made that have certainly caused the same kinds of feelings and reactions.

"I especially apologize to my fans, friends and family in Miami and Chicago. I am committed to examining my feelings and will recognize, appreciate and respect the differences among people in our society," he said. "I regret any embarrassment I have caused the league on the eve of one of their greatest annual events."

Too late dude! The people who hate bigots will not allow you to play in anymore reindeer games.