So Tim Hardaway hates Gay people. No UTEP two-stepping around this issue from him.

It would be easy to dismiss Hardaway’s rant as the ravings of a bigoted imbicile and move on with our lives. After all, ego and self-importance are traits that have always been synonomous with professional atheletes. Perhaps Hardaway and other atheletes who share his views, fear the possibility of unwanted sexual advances from a gay teammate. Whether these fears are based in any sense of reality or in the athelete’s overs inflated ego is another issue.

Surely Hardaway will be lambasted in the media, his name placed alongside of Al Campanis and Jimmy the Greek in the foot in mouth, bigot Hall of Fame. Whether anyone agrees with Hardaway’s views or not, they are however, his views and Hardaway has a Constitutional right to speak his mind. Hardaway’s views are not to be admired but his determination in showing the courage of his convictions, knowing full well the firestorm to follow, demonstrates a bizzare, yet impressive level of courage.

At the risk of sounding redundant, I am stressing to note that I do not, in anyway agree with, or approve of Hardaway’s beliefs. I am however, defending his right to express his beliefs and his right to have these beliefs. The comparison of the gay/lesbian community to other minority groups does not apply because, to anyone with any religious conscience, homosexuality, unlike being black, asian, or female, is a sin. To ask anyone who holds a faith, to accept the gay or lesbian lifestyle is to ask them to abandon their religion. That is, of course, not to say that anyone should be treated poorly, discriminated against, or oppressed because of their lifestyle, but it is Hardaway’s right to disapprove of that lifestyle.

The bottom line is that Hardaway's views, as assinine as they maybe, are his views and he is entitled to them. As now, is everyone entitled to have their own views about Hardaway.