Former NBA star Tim Hardaway: "I hate gay people"

John Amaechi's coming out of the closet continues to stir discussion and to expose the attitudes of both former and current players. Here is one of the most disturbing reactions to date from former NBA Miami Heat player Tim Hardaway in an interview with Dan Le Batard of 790 the Ticket when asked about how he would deal with someone like Amaechi on his team:
"First of all I wouldn't want him on my team. Second of all, if he was on my team I would really distance myself from him because I don't think that's right and I don't think he should be in the locker room while we're in the locker room." Le Batard pointed out that Hardaway was being "flatly homophobic" but that did not stop the bigotry from spewing out of his mouth:"Well, you know, I hate gay people. I let it be known, I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people.Yeah, I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world, or in the United States. So, yeah, I don't like it."
Hardaway had been making public appearances for the NBA and was immediately dumped with the league saying: "It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours."
Hardaway, perhaps realizing that this is 2007, later apologized for his comments during an interview with Miami's WSVN. Said Hardaway: "Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that. That was my mistake."

BIG mistake, pal.