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. »
