Reznet

Timmy, get some help

By Dalton Walker

He may not have invented the crossover dribble, but he sure did perfect it. Tim Hardaway’s 6-foot stature was perfect for dribbling the basketball.

I still remember his signature move: The killer crossover; he dribbled with his right hand toward the basket only to stop, dribble through his legs, fake left and dribble back through his legs all in one quick motion. The defender was usually left frozen – easy layup.

The former NBA All-Star made a name for himself in the ‘90s with his quick 3-point shot release and winning teams. He never won a championship and was hardly ever mentioned as one of the greats. He has been out of the league for a few years now. However, he did leave on a good note and with a solid career.

Then he opened his mouth.

Hardaway was recently interviewed by Dan Le Batard on the radio show "790 The Ticket," and his words quickly became national news. The former NBA player was asked his opinion on gay players in the NBA.

Hardaway could have easily said, "No comment," and no harm would have been done. Instead …

"Well, you know, I hate gay people," Hardaway said. "I let it be known I don’t like gay people. I don’t like to be around gay people. I’m homophobic. It shouldn’t be in the world, in the United States, I don’t like it."

His rant was malicious. He had a set agenda with gays and let it be known.

Hardaway's comments came days after former NBA player John Amaechi revealed he’s gay. Amaechi became the first professional basketball player to openly identify himself as gay.

Hardaway later apologized in a statement, but the damage was already done.

He can forget about all his basketball accomplishments. It might as well be erased. He can also forget about a post-NBA analyst career or any career with professional basketball.

He was scheduled to appear at the recent NBA All-Star Game weekend activities. NBA Commissioner David Stern sent Hardaway home and said the NBA does not agree with Hardaway and will not tolerate such behavior.

Similar questions have been asked NBA stars, but no one has gone on a rant like Hardaway. NBA game commentators and analysts have speculated on Hardaway’s rant. All agree there is no place for people like Hardaway in the NBA.

The NBA is home to the world’s greatest athletes. Too bad a bigot like Tim Hardaway had to ruin it.

The NBA will recover if it hasn’t already. Hopefully Hardaway will get the counseling and help he needs.

Dalton Walker, Red Lake Anishinabe, is a reporter at the Argus Leader newspaper in Sioux Falls, S.D. Walker is a graduate of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and the American Indian Journalism Institute. A longtime reznet staff writer and a Chips Quinn Scholar, Walker had reporting internships at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis and The New York Times.

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