Happy Furry Puppy Story Time with Norbizness

The Showers! Won't Someone Think of the Showers?

Get them queers outta my Sega Genesis!

You know, the Golden State Warriors used to be one of my favorite teams to play with on NBA Action '95; you had a young Latrell Sprewell attacking the rim, Chris Mullin bombing threes, Rony Seikaly patrolling the middle, and the headbanded greatness of Chris Gatling coming off the bench to grab boards and make mid-range jumpers. But the engine of this machine was a plucky young point guard named Timmy Hardaway, who was as comfortable making a sweet dish as he was draining a 25-foot jumper.

And now this pint-sized ex-hoopster has made crystal clear what should have been relatively obvious to all but the most hopelessly naive: professional sports is riddled with anti-gay bigotry. His rant, which would not seem out of place (if properly coded) at a major political party's convention, was in response to the recent announcement by ex-player Jon Amaechi that he is gay. Of course, this revelation took place some three years after his unremarkable career ended. No active player in any of the four major sports has ever come on, and only a handful of ex-players (none remotely close to a star) has done it. It seems to be much more difficult in team sports, naturally, as one of the greatest tennis players of all time (Martina Navratilova) came out, as well as one of the best Olympic athletes of all time (Greg Louganis). They only have to worry about endorsements, after all.

There is very little doubt on where you stand with Timmy, tepid, forced after-apology aside. I realize that the temptation will be to try to forcefully educate Mr. Hardaway through the sheer force of a thousand blog posts today, creating some sort of Grinch-like epiphany of tolerance. Or, you could spend some time thinking on how these thoughts develop, and unusual places you might have heard about it before. For instance, I didn't realize that the term "fag" (not a cigarette) was used twice in Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's The Message.

As usual, it's the people who throw a thin veneer of "the team is the most important thing" over a bunch of dodgy assertions who need to be more closely watched. Many other reactions have been culled in the last two weeks (this article has an extensive roundup); some have to be unpacked and puzzled over for a bit in the extended entry...

-- Larry Bowa, (former Philadelphia Phillies manager) "All I know is that if he hits .340, it probably would be easier than if he hits .220." Wrong sport, Larry, but correct assumption.

-- Pat Garrity (Orlando Magic player and former teammate): "They would have teammates that would accept them for being a good person and a good teammate, and there would be people who would give him a hard time about it. I think that's true if you're playing basketball or in an office job. That's just how the world is right now.'' Hopelessly naive, but somewhat true.

-- David Stern, NBA Commissioner: "We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is always 'Have you got game?' That's it, end of inquiry." (Makes Pat Garrity look like a seasoned cynic by comparison)

-- Steven Hunter (76ers player): "For real? He's gay for real? Nowadays it's proven that people can live double lives. I watch a lot of TV, so I see a lot of sick perverted stuff about married men running around with gay guys and all types of foolishness. ... As long as he don't make any advances toward me I'm fine with it. As long as he came to play basketball like a man and conducted himself like a good person, I'd be fine with it." Probably about par for the course; a whole lot of bigotry and homophobia followed up by the team nonsense.

-- Isiah Thomas (Hall of Famer, Knicks coach): "If [there was an openly gay player] in my locker room, we won't have a problem with it. I can't speak for somebody else's locker room, but if it's in mine, we won't have a problem. I'll make damn sure there's no problem. I think [an openly gay player] will and I think he should [be accepted.] We're a diverse society and we preach acceptance. We're proud of diversity and no matter what your sexual preference may be, there is an acceptance and a tolerance level that should be accepted everywhere. No one should be excluded." I knew Isiah was gay! I mean, good for him.

-- Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets player who played with Amaechi in Orlando): "I"m the type of dude who don't give a fuck. I don't care what you are as long as you're doing what you're supposed to be doing on the court. You could be the most flaming (guy) on earth and answer to boyfriend and kiss him after the game as long as you don't try it with me. I just want to win. And that's how I am. To each his own, be yourself, and be proud of it. Everything else is just a bunch of crap." Well, it's hardly the most enlightened thing ever committed to tape recorder... but he's a Houston Rocket, so he gets a pass.

-- Would Amaechi have been accepted? "Probably not," [Troy Hudson, Timberwolves guard]. "The majority of people in pro sports -- I mean, in the world -- don't feel comfortable with that type of person around. Especially in a masculine sport where you're always touching each other, you have to take showers together. But the way I see it, if you keep it to yourself, I don't care what you are." Finally, a realist.

Posted by Norbizness at February 15, 2007 08:28 AM