CBA Fires Hardaway

Tim Hardaway has been fired from his role with the Continental Basketball Association after the former NBA All-Star's anti-gay rant last week in which he said, "I hate gay people."

Ricardo A. Richardson, president and CEO of the CBA, told Outsports late Monday night that Hardaway has been relieved of his duties as "Chief Basketball Operations advisor for Trinity Sports, which was scheduled to have a team in the CBA next season, [the] Miami Majesty." Hardaway was also the coach of the Majesty, which was formerly the Florida Pit Bulls of the American Basketball Association.

Hardaway's hate-filled diatribe came during a Feb. 14 radio interview with Dan Le Batard. Among other comments, Hardaway told Le Batard, "Well, 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. So yeah, I don't like it.''

Hardaway made the comments in the midst of various appearances in Las Vegas on behalf of the NBA in the week leading up to the NBA's All-Star Weekend. Within hours of Hardaway's anti-gay comments, the NBA dismissed the former All-Star from his role with the Association, and Hardaway left Las Vegas the next day.

The day after Hardaway made his comments, Dennis Truax, Director of Basketball Operations for the CBA, made the following statement:

“The CBA does not in any way condone or endorse the hateful comments made by Mr. Hardaway to ESPN yesterday. Mr. Hardaway’s comments were unfortunate, hateful and are not the views of the CBA or any of its member teams. It is our fervent belief that any person should be allowed to participate in our league, regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, political preference or sexual orientation, without fear of reprisal or discrimination. The CBA is an equal opportunity employer, and Mr. Hardaway’s comments have no effect or bearing on our position now or in the future. We do not share his views or support his position regarding Mr. [John] Amaechi and his recent personnel revelations.”

Amaechi, who played in the NBA for five seasons, revealed two weeks ago that he is gay. ESPN Books released his autobiography, "Man in the Middle," last week.

Other athletes have been penalized for making anti-gay comments in the past. Former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker was suspended in 2000 by Major League Baseball for making anti-gay and racist comments about riding the 7 train in New York City. In 2006, Pittsburgh Steeler Joey Porter was fined $10,000 by the NFL for publicly calling Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. a "fag."

"We would like to move on from this issue," Richardson told Outsports. "As it relates to the CBA, we do not discriminate against individuals based on sexual orientation."

*by Cyd Zeigler, Outsports.com

Is Isaiah Washington Next?

GLAAD Unhappy with Isaiah Washington

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is demanding an apology from "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington for continually making homophobic remarks. In the past four months, Washington has used the offensive term "faggot" twice in reference to co-star T.R. Knight.

In a statement to TMZ, GLAAD President Neil Giuliano said, "When Isaiah Washington uses this kind of anti-gay slur - whether on set or in front of the press - it does more than create a hostile environment for his castmates and the crew of 'Grey's Anatomy.' It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm's way. Washington's repeated use of it on-set and in the media is simply inexcusable."

In an interview at Monday's Golden Globes, Washington denied using the offensive term by ... using the offensive term. "No, I did not call T.R. a faggot." Knight then went on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and confirmed that Washington did, in fact, use the term on the "Grey's" set in October.

GLAAD has contacted Washington in hopes of setting up a meeting with the embattled actor. Giuliano added, "We want to sit down with him and give him an opportunity to raise public awareness about the destructive impact of these kinds of anti-gay slurs. Over the past four months Washington has become part of a significant problem of anti-gay prejudice in this country. He now has an opportunity to be part of the solution."

Reps for "Grey's Anatomy" could not be immediately reached.
*TMZ.com