Yes, I'm chiming in on the John Amaechi and now Tim Hardaway thing late. 

Actually, Amaechi coming out of the closet barely registered on my personal or professional radar - primarily because someone else's sexuality isn't a big deal to me.  I've been around gay folks all my life.  I had a gay babysitter and to dispel a common stereotype, Skeeter didn't molest me.  I had gay friends throughout college and currently in my professional career and - my gosh - they've never hit on me.  This despite the fact that I think I'm a rather dashing fellow.  So when Amaechi dealt with the issue of being in the closet as a professional basketball player, I shrugged.

And I was perfectly content to never deal with the topic.  Then Tim Hardaway, another former NBA player, had to open his mouth and insert his rather substantial foot.  The comments - the essence of which were "I hate gay people" - were hateful, putrid and almost unbelievable in this day and age.  I have little problem with individuals thinking that homosexuality is wrong, such beliefs are usually a matter of religious doctrine and personal moral code.  What upset me is that Hardaway said that gay people shouldn't be allowed on the planet and especially in the United States.

Those comments brought back a feeling I'd not had since my early teen years - I was actually ashamed of being African-American.  No ifs, ands, buts or maybes.  I was ashamed.  Why?  His comments reminded me of a prominent African-American contributor to USA Today who supported a boycott of Walt Disney World and the Walt Disney Co. because they had a day for gays at the world famous theme park. That and Hardaway's comments make me sad as an African-American because it shows that after 400 years of de facto, de jure and perceived oppression that many black people haven't learned a damned thing when it comes to discrimination and bigotry.

Hardaway suggested that if he knew of a gay teammate, said individual should be traded and most definitely he shouldn't be allowed in the lockerroom with all of his muscular, desirous teammates.   Obviously such an individual wouldn't be able to contain himself, so isolation and exclusion is the only answer.

Just like it was when African-Americans were forbidden to drink from the same water fountains as whites in the South.

Just like it was when African-Americans couldn't eat at the same counters as whites in the South.

Just like it was when African-Americans couldn't use the same bathrooms as whites in the South.

Just like it was when blacks and whites who just happened to fall in love couldn't marry one another.

According to news reports, the NBA, for whom Hardaway worked, have stripped him of his duties and banned him from attendance at this weekend's NBA All-Star Game.

To that I say good.  Now he knows what it feels like to be isolated and excluded.