He may have signed a petition calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Florida. Or call Jason Collins, the first active NBA player to openly discuss his homosexuality, to support him. ” I didn’t know he had evolved as an individual “, was also almost surprised the former pivot. Despite these steps, Tim Hardaway always has the feeling of having to y “ to face ” daily.
Face what? In the image he reflects in public opinion since his infamous homophobic statements. It was in 2007, four years after his last NBA games, at the microphone of a Miami radio station on which he was then invited to react to the “coming out” of John Amaechi.
” I hate homosexuals. I say it clearly. I don’t like gays and I don’t like being with them. I am homophobic. I do not like it. It should not exist in the world or in the United States. If I had a gay teammate on my team, I would have tried to get him fired. he had lost his temper.
Fifteen years later, he who collaborates with groups for the defense of homosexual rights has taken a step back on what could have pushed him to make such remarks. ” I grew up in a church. The churches were like that, they taught you that (homosexuality) was not the way we were supposed to be. I was taught another way. ‘Don’t talk to them, don’t approach them, leave them alone’“, reports the former player.
“It was not a rare feeling”
Before adding: I never tried to say bad things about them or do hateful things. This is the education I received in church. But I’ll tell you: I was really wrong and people suffered. I had to grow up and do some soul-searching. What I said was hurtful.“
Reconverted as an assistant coach, a position he held from 2014 to 2018 with the Pistons, and now as a scout at the Knicks, the 56-year-old former player has long thought that his exit had had an adverse effect on his candidacy. in the Hall of Fame. His feeling should fade in a few days since he will be inducted into the pantheon of basketball in the company of Manu Ginobili in particular.
Despite this, ” a lot of people don’t want to deal with me because I said that, and I won’t get a second chance. I understand but it bothers me. A lot of people still have a grudge against me. Some organizations don’t want to talk to me. I continue to advance and I advance in parallel as they advance in parallel. […] I know when people look at me wildly, they’re like, ‘That’s the guy who said that about gays’ “, reports the five-time All-Star.
A player who, according to his former teammate at the Warriors, Tom Tolbert, would have said aloud what some were thinking then quietly: “ It was not an uncommon feeling among athletes at the time. Then you evolve, you grow a little bit, and you realize that was stupid. Tim has learned and given his time to certain causes.“
His view on the matter having completely evolved, Tim Hardaway no longer wants to leave room for doubt: We’re supposed to love each other no matter what, and understand each other.“
