Image via Complex Original
This week is Gay Pride week, and this year the nationally recognized observance has even more significance as president Barack Obama has voiced his approval of marriage equality. But although much progress has been made, there are segments of society that have lagged behind. Unfortunately, one prominent example is the sports world.
Yes, there have been athletes like John Amaechi who've come out after retirement and other straight athletes like Sean Avery and Michael Irvin who have shown their support, but there are still a number of well-known athletes who've been caught spewing hate speech in recent years. From Kobe Bryant yelling slurs from the bench to John Rocker's infamous SI interview, here is a recent history of homophobia in sports.
Glenn Burke Offered Bonus To Get Married
Year: 1978
If you think the sports world has a homophobic climate today, you can imagine what it was like back in the mid-'70s. Glenn Burke was a gay outfielder who played for the Dodgers and A's and was open about his orientation with his teammates and the team owner.
According to Burke, his openness caused then Dodger GM Al Campanis to offer to pay for his honeymoon if Burke got married. The outfielder refused and caused a stir by being linked to manager Tommy Lasorda's estranged gay son, Tommy Lasorda, Jr. Burke was later traded to the Oakland A's and manager Billy Martin called him a "faggot." His treatment in the clubhouse was a factor in his early retirement at age 27, and he would die of AIDS complications at the age of 42.
Rene Portland Hating Since the '80s
Year: 1981-2006
During her 27-year tenure, Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland maintained a reign of public and private homophobic intimidation. A gay former player alleged that Portland came to her in 1981 and essentially said that if she found out the player was homosexual, she would out her to the media and her family. In 1986, Portland bragged of her no-lesbians policy in an interview, saying, "I will not have it in my program. I bring it up, and the kids are so relieved, and the parents are so relieved." Finally, in 2005, Jennifer Harris, a homosexual player, claimed she was cut from the team by Portland because she was gay. A suit was filed by Harris and it eventually led to Portland's resignation. Good riddance.
Cris Carter Doesn't Think Players Would Accept Gay Players
Year: 1999
Today Cris Carter is an ESPN analyst who's a straight talker and one of the best in the business. In a 1999 interview with ESPN.com during his playing days however, he was nothing of the sort. "I think it would be tough for a lot of the athletes that I play with to think that, 'Wow, I am showering, I am performing on the field, I am bleeding, I am fighting with a person that is a homosexual.'" Did we mention Carter is also considered an all-time Hall of Fame snub? That's karma you're showering with Cris.
Rocker's SI Interview
Year: 2000
In a 2000 interview with Sports Illustrated, John Rocker was asked whether or not he would consider playing in New York. Rocker's response was an epic rant about what he hates most about the Big Apple: "I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-wracking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing." Um, a simple "yes" or "no" would've been suffice, but OK.
A.I. Spits Bars Full of Slurs
Year: 2000
Ballers trying to rap is generally never a good idea but this case was particularly terrible. During the 2000 offseason Allen Iverson became "Jewelz" and dropped his single "40 Bars." The track featured derogatory lyrics like "Come to me wit faggot tendencies/You'll be sleepin where the maggots be." Needless to say, commissioner David Stern did not take kindly to such statements and spoke out against Iverson with a number of other gay rights groups. Thankfully Iverson did not release an album and focused on winning MVP honors in the 2001 season instead of spewing hate speech.
White Chocolate Gets At Fan
Year: 2001
Jason Williams has always been a badass. But he's also been just an ass. In 2001, a Warriors fan named Michael Ching heckled Williams, then the point guard for the Sacramento Kings. Williams responded with "Are you a fag? Are you gay? Do you remember the Vietnam War? I'll kill y'all just like that." Then, he followed that up by making a rifle shooting motion in Ching's direction. When word got around of White Chocolate's actions, he was fined and issued an apology to the Asian community but nothing was mentioned about gay people.
Garrison Hearst: "I don't want any faggot on my team"
Year: 2002
When defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo came out and admitted that he was gay, the Fresno Bee asked Garrison Hearst for his perspective. Maybe they shouldn't have. Hearst gave an awfully honest response. "Aww, hell no! I don't want any faggots on my team. I know this might not be what people want to hear, but that's a punk. I don't want any faggots in this locker room." To make matters worse, the retired running back issued an apology three weeks later. Can you say sorry but I'm not sorry? Now that's a punk.
Mike Tyson's "I'll F*ck You Till You Love Me" Rant
Year: 2002
In the press conference leading up to Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis' heavyweight title bout there was an epic brawl which reportedly involved Iron Mike biting the English boxing champ. After the boxers' camps were separated, one simple phrase from journalist Mark Malinowski set Iron Mike off. The words the sparked one of the most vile rants in sports history? "Put him in a straitjacket."
From there Tyson went on a racist and homophobic rant where he threatened Malinowski with sodomy and told him, "I'll fuck you till you love me, faggot." SMH. We're glad the former champ has calmed down in his older age and prefers doing hilarious interviews as opposed to going off on disturbing tirades.
Luiz Felipe Scolari Doesn't Want Homosexuals on His Team
Year: 2002
In the world of soccer, Luiz Felipe Scolari is known for his unmatched temper and off-the-cuff reactions to whatever is going on the pitch. So, it should come as no surprise that when asked how he would feel if there was a gay player on his team, he said that he would "throw them off the team." He eventually did cover it up by saying that "my friends include people whose sexual preference is different from my own," so we gotta ask: Did they have to get thrown out of the house first?
Matt Millen Fails Again
Year: 2003
Any football fan knows the name of Matt Millen. Unfortunately, Millen is usually synonymous with dumb front office choices. But did you know that those same idiotic choices stretched to the treatment of his own players? In 2003, the former Lions GM passed wide receiver Johnnie Morton outside of the Chiefs' locker room. The two exchanged a couple verbal jabs before Matt hit him with a “You faggot! Yeah, you heard me. You faggot!” Of course, Millen issued an apology for his actions but let's just say that dude seeking forgiveness from the Detroit fanbase fell by the wayside a long time ago.
Todd Jones' Hate-Filled Rant
Year: 2004
Todd Jones was asked about how he felt about the Broadway play Take Me Out, which talks about a player coming out. What ensued was a rant that trumps all other rants. "I wouldn't want a gay guy being around me.... It's got nothing to do with me being scared. That's the problem: All these people say he's got all these rights. Yeah, he's got rights or whatever, but he shouldn't walk around proud. It's like he's rubbing it in our face. 'See me, hear me roar.' We're not trying to be close-minded, but then again, why be confrontational when you don't really have to be?" Hmmm, you seemed to have missed your own point Mr. Jones.
Brock Lesnar Doesn't Like Gays and Wants Us To Know
Year: 2004
Brock Lesnar was just reckless in 2004 when he spewed out some of his thoughts on homosexuals in an interview with ESPN Magazine. "I don't like gays. Write that down in your little notebook. I don't like gays." Yep and you must also not like succeeding at real sports either. #shots
Paul Scholes Puts an English Twist on Homophobia
Year: 2006
If you find yourself visiting our neighbors across the pond, make sure "poof" doesn't get uttered with others around. That is because the word is slang for homosexual. Now, after receiving a yellow card, Paul Scholes instinctively decided to call the ref a "fucking poof." Ouch! C'mon man, save those phrases for the agitated magicians.
Ozzie Guillen Being Ozzie All Over Jay Mariotti
Year: 2007
You know what's the difference between Ozzie Guillen from five years ago and the person you see these days? Nothing. He's still an MLB manager even though he was still saying whatever was on his mind. Take an incident in 2007 where he called Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti a "fucking faggot." When things got a little too out of control, Ozzie offered up the best apology he could. "Jay, I think I made this guy a lot of money and he's famous. If not for Ozzie Guillen, no one would have heard of him," Guillen said. "If I hurt anybody with what I called him, I apologize." He later went on to try and justify his name-calling. "I don't have anything against those people. In my country [Venezuela], you call someone something like that and it is not the same as it is in this country." So, wait. Is this still an apology?
Hardaway Hates Gay People
Year: 2007
After John Amaechi made the announcement that he was gay in 2007, radio host Dan Le Batard asked Tim Hardaway for his perspective on the situation. At which point Hardaway fucked up his life with comments like "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." Hardaway made sure that he couldn't say later on that his words were taken out of context...or be accepted by the public ever again. Good job?
Tottenham Fans Welcome Sol Campbell Back With Hate
Year: 2008
When Sol Campbell returned to his former team, Tottenham, in 2008, he had to expect his fair share of boos and heckling from the hometown fans. But he probably didn't anticipate the flat-out homophobic chants by the crowd. With the disheartening phrases like, "He's big, he's black, he takes it up the crack, Sol Campbell, Sol Campbell," the defender felt "victimized and helpless by the abuse" and eventually, legal action was taken against 16 people involved in the hurtful chants. Eleven were arrested, four pleaded guilty and were sentenced to a three-year football ban while three men and two 15-year-old boys (!) were given police cautions since it was their first offense.
Marcello Lippi Thinks Homosexuals Bring Conflict
Year: 2009
In 2009, after anti-gay violence in Rome, former Italian national soccer team coach Marcello Lippi threw out some very questionable comments when asked his opinion on the matter. Lippi stated that he would never allow openly homosexual players on the national team because it would create scandal. Considering percentages and averages, we're gonna guess it's likely that there are some great homosexual footballers out there who might have helped you not get replaced after the last World Cup. #shotsfired
Greg McMackin Is an Idiot
Year: 2009
During a radio press conference, former Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin started discussing a pre-game cheer by Notre Dame. When he searched through his mental rolodex for the appropriate words to say, McMackin came up with "a little faggot dance." Really? That's the best you could think of? Suddenly, the coach came to his senses and said, "Don't write that faggot down. I was misquoted." Alright, at least he's got some sense left in that brain. That was until he came out with this gem: "But, please...last year you covered for me as far as my recruit...please cover for me...Well, go ahead. Say 'faggot dance.'" Welp, we take everything back.
Vlatko Markovic Drops The Ball
Year: 2010
When sports figures say something, they can usually cover it up with a good 'ol "My comments were taken out of context" excuse. In this case, there's no way of hiding behind that lie. When Markovic was appointed President of the Croatian Football Federation, he had a very important yet odd rule: no homosexuals playing on the national team. Then, he came out with the dagger to kill any cover up: "Luckily, only normal people play football." Riiiiight.
Michael dos Santos Forced To Come Out By Hateful Fans
Year: 2011
In a Superliga volleyball game, the crowd repeatedly taunted dos Santos with chants of "Bicha! Bicha!" (the Portuguese equivalent of "faggot") referring to rumors that dos Santos was gay. Four days later dos Santos turned the chants on their head by coming out on the GloboEsporte website. So, in other words, Fuck off.
Eucharia Uche Tries to Remove the Gay "Problem"
Year: 2011
It's not often that you see somebody lack the knowledge of social ramifications like former Nigerian women's national soccer team coach Eucharia Uche. In a New York Times article in 2011 she let the world know her disdain for homosexuality when she let off an anti-gay tirade as it related to her team. Uche said that since she had become coach of the team "the problem" of lesbian players had "been cleared up" and that "there [were] no more lesbian players on [her] team." She went on to say "She could not tolerate [that] dirty life." Let's just say she no longer coaches the Super Falcons.
Joakim Noah Gets Frustrated By Fan
Year: 2011
When the Heat squared off against the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, Chicago needed their center Joakim Noah to be the anchor in the middle. Unfortunately, after catching two early fouls in the first quarter, the fans started heckling an already agitated Noah. In an unfortunately typical caught-up-in-the-moment response, Joakim reacted by saying "Fuck you faggot" to the individual. One apology and stiff fine later, we're hopeful that homie will never utter those words again.
Reggie Evans and Leandro Barbosa Get Ripped for Holding Hands
Year: 2011
After a narrow 102-98 loss to the Magic last season, Reggie Evans and Leandro Barbosa briefly held hands on their way to the locker room. Sadly, but predictably, the comments on the YouTube clipped trended toward the homophobic. The NBA wasn't having it, so they banned their fans from posting any mean-spirited comments. We won't call Evans any names, except dirty player and one of the worst ballers in the NBA right now.
Uptown Sports Disagrees With Sean Avery
Year: 2011
When a badass hockey player like Sean Avery comes out in support of marriage equality, the stand sent ripples throughout the sport and everyone associated with the winger. The strongest opposition came from the Uptown Sports Agency, who not only referred to Avery's stance as "misguided," but they also confessed that the idea of same-sex marriage "will always be wrong." When will these individuals involved in sports ever learn?
Black Mamba Spews Hate
Year: 2011
When he received a technical foul during the second to last game of the 2010-2011 season, Kobe Bryant didn't take the call too kindly. In fact, Kobe went as far as to shout at referee Bennie Adams and then call him a "fucking faggot" right afterwards. Afterwards, KB made up a really lame excuse for his choice of words saying that they "should not be taken literally." Guess those same feelings didn't resonate with NBA commissioner David Stern, who hit the Black Mamba with a steep $100,000 fine. Hey Bryant, maybe we shouldn't take that number of women you cheated on Vanessa with literally too, right? Or the amount of money she would've gotten out of a divorce.