"The Hardaway Gang"

In the next few days, Tim Hardaway will likely get reamed for his comments made on a radio show Wednesday about how he would react to having a gay teammate and what he thinks about gays in general.

Hardaway, a retired five-time All-Star guard, said on Miami sports talk radio to columnist Dan Le Betard: "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 am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

Hardaway later apologized for his comments, but he's not getting away with this one. His words are out there, and columnists across the country are thanking Hardaway for giving them such an easy column to write in the next day or two.

I'd like to follow the pack and write that Hardaway was way out of line and that his viewpoint is the exception among past and present NBA players. I want to absolutely ream him and take away the "T" from TMC.

But, alas, I can't.

Because, honestly, Hardaway was just the speaker of the house. In other words, there are others out there who feel the exact same way he does. Players who are appalled at the thought of showering next to a gay man. We just don't know their thoughts. We just haven't heard them all over America's airwaves.

Why do you think John Amaechi hid in the closet for his entire career? Because, obviously, he was scared to death of what would happen to him if he came out. He wasn't a great player. He wasn't a star. He wasn't making wheelbarrows full of cash. He couldn't afford for his career to be cut short.

Amaechi played just five seasons in the NBA and averaged 6.2 points per game. If he had declared his homosexuality, say, during his second year, I bet he'd have been out of the league within a year and out a few million bucks. So he made the smart move.

It's great that LeBron James said he wouldn't mind having a gay teammate and that he'd want the player to come talk to him about his sexuality. James sounds sincere in saying this. But let's remember that James is also the man who said he wants to become the richest person in the world. He's going to need everyone's support to do that. A few critics here, a few critics there, and he'll be relegated to the Top 10 list.

As demeaning as Hardaway's comments were, they weren't that shocking. Professional sports laud being macho, testosterone-ridden, and "The Man." None of your boys are going to be calling you "The Man" if you share the ball with a gay teammate or become good friends with him.

They'll be questioning your sexuality, your manhood. It just wouldn't work.

A gay player in the NBA, or NFL, or MLB would find himself all alone in the clubhouse, isolated by his teammates. He'd be viewed as "the gay guy" and his friends would be limited. He wouldn't be as trusted on the court or field as his teammates. He might not receive as many passes in basketball. If he is a running back, his offensive linemen might intentionally miss blocks, leaving him out to dry.

It's not a pretty picture, but it's a realistic one. Tim Hardaway's not the only homophobe. How else could you explain this country's resistance to gay marriage? People may not hate gays - like Hardaway does - but they certainly don't feel comfortable around them. And in a tight locker room, feeling relaxed around your teammates is high on the priority chart.

No other athlete - past or present - will paraphrase Hardaway's comments in the coming days. They'll see how the former star, the "T" in TMC with the killer crossover, is castrated by the enormous American sports media.

But don't be ignorant on this one. They're out there. More Tim Hardaways.

Just ask Amaechi. That's why he kept his secret for so long.