Player's YouTube Clip Reignites Debate on Homophobia in NBA
Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood has reignited a conversation on homophobia in professional basketball after making fun of a YouTube clip which NBA free agent Stephon Marbury posted earlier in the summer. Haywood suggests there's something very "gay" about Marbury and he'd be apprehensive about sharing a locker room with him. According to Outsports, the crying and dejected behavior in Marbury's video apparently has something to do with being rejected by the Boston Celtics.
Watch the video, AFTER THE JUMP...
Said Haywood this week in a radio interview:
“At first it was cool, but after a while it just became disturbing. He’s on YouTube crying with no shirt on for no reason, sweating while his boy’s rubbing his shoulders. What’s that about? That’s like gay porn. I don’t understand it. He’s dancing to a song called ‘Barbie Doll’, doing like stripper moves. I have no idea what’s going on with the guy, it’s almost like he’s trying to end his own career. There’s not a GM out there that would touch Marbury right now… Have you seen the ‘Barbie Doll’ clip? Click on YouTube and go to Barbie Doll. There’s no way any other professional athletes would wanna get dressed around this guy, because you gotta think something is a little, he’s swinging from both sides of the fence.”
Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo! Sports and ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz were critical of Haywood's remarks.
Haywood later posted an apology: "My last blog about some of Stephon Marbury’s actions, combined with a radio interview that I did, have been misinterpreted by some as speaking out against homosexuality. I’ve received some comments and so have the Wizards about it. I just wanted to take a time out and let you know that no disrespect was intended. I was just trying to have fun with a crazy situation. I don’t support or condemn homosexuality and I believe in everyone making choices for themselves. If it doesn’t affect me, I don’t really care. I hope no one was offended because I wasn’t trying to come off like Tim Hardaway."
"But in that apology, Haywood invokes the name Tim Hardaway (as in, 'I wasn't trying to come off like Tim Hardaway') and offers up ye old 'if it doesn't affect me, I don't really care' response to the very existence of homosexuality. In other words, Haywood notifies us that he will continue to be a part of the problem...That kind of talk and the "I don't care one way or another" bit don't match up. You do care, Brendan. You're a professional athlete, and you're saying you don't want to get dressed next to a guy who might be bisexual or gay. You're entitled to have whatever internal fears you want. No one can put you on trial for getting nervous around a gay man, just as no one can prosecute a white woman who clutches her purse tightly when passing you on the street. Both fears are ignorant and accessory to a perpetual, destructive existence of fear of The Other. But they are your own fears. The problem is when you transform those fears into public opinions. And when you spout those wrong and ignorant opinions unprovoked in a broadcast conversation, and attach said opinions to the whole of the professional athlete fraternity, you forfeit your right to be indignant regarding negative reactions to your private, personal fears, since you have made those a topic of public discourse. You cannot make a homophobic comment and days later distance yourself from it by saying you have no problem with gay people."
Watch Stephon Marbury's video, AFTER THE JUMP...
The video also has a rear version:
Posted Aug. 19,2009 at 12:27 PM EST by Andy Towle in Basketball, Brendan Haywood, News, Sports, Stephon Marbury | Permalink
Huh?
Btw, let the racist comments begin.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Aug 19, 2009 12:33:41 PM
He sure has a cute butt.
Posted by: Pee Town | Aug 19, 2009 12:36:32 PM
I understand. I'm white, and I feel the same way about black people. I don't support them or condemn them. I really don't care what they do or what happens to them, as long it doesn't affect me. Very courageous, Mr. Haywood. You're quite the role model and star citizen.
Posted by: Kelly | Aug 19, 2009 12:39:07 PM
i am totally lost on this. why is he crying? what is the purpose of this video? who is this dude, and why should i care?
Posted by: Jack | Aug 19, 2009 12:43:57 PM
Oh My, How much did he have to drink for that performance? I know it's terrible to feel so low in one's life but to broadcast it. A little over the top.
Posted by: Maverick69 | Aug 19, 2009 12:44:15 PM
I'm with Haywood up to a point. This is behavior that would give me pause if I were looking for a veteran player to bring experience and stability to my team. However, sexuality isn't the issue. Batshit crazy, on the other hand, is.
If he'd stopped right before "There’s no way any other professional athletes would wanna get dressed around this guy, because you gotta think something is a little, he’s swinging from both sides of the fence" he'd have been fine.
Posted by: Jonathan | Aug 19, 2009 12:50:53 PM
why would a professional athlete put this online for the whole world in the first place?
If the guy said he seemed 'crazy' he'd have the mental health community after him. Instead he went for the "gay' talk.
Very odd, all around.
Posted by: Tom A | Aug 19, 2009 12:52:13 PM
OK, granted that Marbury is more or less the Terrell Owens of the NBA. very much a drama queen.
However, Haywood's comments are inexcusable. And what the hell does he know about what they do in gay porn, anyway?
With all due respect, I don't give a flying fuck about what you intended, Mr. Haywood. Your actions in that radio interview said it all and then you make it worse in your "apology" by spouting your bigoted views about Marbury's "choices." And why would you bring up Tim hardaway, anyway?
Just couldn't admit that you were wrong...
Posted by: Chitown Kev | Aug 19, 2009 12:59:34 PM
"Swings from both sides of the fence"? Simultaneously, or serially? Either way, quite a mental image.
Posted by: Pender | Aug 19, 2009 1:18:13 PM
He is a narcissist that is why it is posted and why he has little clothing on ... about as mature at gay men who take their shirt off at clubs or write "Only Those Who Take Care of Themself" in M4M Profiles
.... come on gay men with our community RIFE with Narcissistic Personality Disorder everywhere ... we should recongize it when we see it.
Posted by: Tony | Aug 19, 2009 1:22:13 PM
This queen needs schooling in drama
Posted by: frank | Aug 19, 2009 1:36:12 PM
WE ALL KNOW IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE.
I WOULDN'T BE SO FAST TO CRITICIZE SOMEONE
ELSE'S BEHAVIOR MR HAYWOOD.
Posted by: Dante | Aug 19, 2009 1:53:17 PM
@Derek, I was going to say the same thing until I saw the post had been up for a while. So far 11 posts with no overt racism---some kind of record!
Posted by: Paul R | Aug 19, 2009 1:57:04 PM
Why hasn't anyone made a comment about Marbury's less than perfect, rolly polly friend in the video???
Posted by: DKNATL | Aug 19, 2009 2:00:16 PM
Kelly, in response to your comment where you state: "I'm white, and I feel the same way about black people. I don't support them or condemn them. I really don't care what they do or what happens to them, as long it doesn't affect me."
I hope you burn in hell forever. You are a pathetic, disgusting racist, and a sorry excuse for a human being.
Thanks,
OnyxEsq
Posted by: OnyxEsq | Aug 19, 2009 2:45:08 PM
@Tony
Dancing with one's shirt off, or only being attracted to men who take care of themselves = narcissistic personality disorder?
Stop throwing around clinical terms so carelessly.
It has nothing to do with "our community", because straight men and women are attracted to people who take care of themselves, too. Attributing it to some moral failing of homosexuals is merely self-loathing behavior on your part.
Do you take care of yourself? 'Cause if you did, I doubt you'd be offended by other people's standards in M4M profiles.
Aside from the cursory attraction that exceptionally beautiful people engender in others, people are attracted to the value you put into yourself, into your body, your mind, your career, your personality. If it's shallow to date only physically fit people, it's equally shallow to date only smart, funny, or nice people.
Posted by: Kevin | Aug 19, 2009 2:48:30 PM
@ OnyxEsq
Right On!!!
This just goes to show racism against black and hispanic people is still alive and well,due to the ignorance and stupidity of arrogant,ingorant white people who are still rapped in their own personal fears and self-importance.
But that was already indicated the second President Obama was elected and after Sonia Sotomayor was appointed to the supreme court,nothing but one racist after another made invalid statements and showed ignorance about the 2.Its all because President Obama is black and Sotomayor is a hispanic woman,the the theory of the racist white, is that they are not qualified or their jobs because they are not bald fat old white men.Apparently there are still those white people who think the entire world revolves around them.Kelly is a visual aid of that.I bet Kelly is on Glenn Beck's team.
As for the rest of you dont get pissy,you know Im telling the truth.If you got a problem tough shit.It would mean that you have your own unresolved racial issues against blacks and latinos.
Posted by: Rocky | Aug 19, 2009 3:01:38 PM
ingorant white people
*IGNORANT white people*
Posted by: Rocky | Aug 19, 2009 3:03:27 PM
I think Kelly's comment was meant to be sarcastic...
Posted by: Jon | Aug 19, 2009 3:24:20 PM
KELLY!!! You ignorant racist prick!
Rot in hell for not making your sarcasm more obvious to morons like onxyesq!
********
"I hope you burn in hell forever. You are a pathetic, disgusting racist, and a sorry excuse for a human being.
Thanks,
OnyxEsq"
Hey, I think Onyx was being sarcastic when he said 'thanks'....
Posted by: OttoErotica | Aug 19, 2009 3:46:48 PM
@Jon
That's what I thought, too. I didn't think there was anything racist about re-writing what Haywood stated in those terms just to show how ridiculous and bigoted his statement really is.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | Aug 19, 2009 4:12:07 PM
Kevin -- you sound very full of yourself, and quick to defend .... maybe you suffer from NPD ... and to not find adult men prancing around like teenagers making relationship decision based on body sculpting in the gym (most are not really fit and many are full of roids) ... well again ... sounds like someone loves his narcissistic gay culture.
Oh lets judge people on how they look, dress, shop, vacation .... the gay community got commodified and the wealthy and immature twerps bought into it hook line and sinker.
Again this guy is obviously a narcissist (the videos tend to show that) and for you Kevin who the heck even cares.
Posted by: john | Aug 19, 2009 4:21:32 PM
Haywood's apology was an insult and "smack in the face."
I'm curious, do Haywood and others know that certain mistakes can damage their image?
Posted by: Mel Smith | Aug 19, 2009 5:25:19 PM
Marbury is a very attractive man and the fact that he, as a major athlete, is not afraid to publicly show emotion, pain, and cry (at least in a video) and seek comfort from a friend, well, I see as an admirable quality in any man.
Whatever the emotional effects of sudden riches and fame that come with major league athletic prowess, these men are still human beings. At least Mr. Marbury isn't afraid to show that to the world. Mr. Haywood, on the other hand, could take some lessons in humanity from him.
Posted by: Goober | Aug 19, 2009 6:33:19 PM
People don't seem to remember the incident that happened around that mini YouTube clip...but Marbury was actually live camming for an entire weekend, barely sleeping, ranting insanely, half naked, incoherent. I caught some it due to MediaTakeOut linking it. It was...disturbing. Mr. Marbury seemed either in need of medications or fewer drugs. I could not tell. But it was scary to watch as it felt as if he were losing his grip on sanity right before you voyeuristic eyes. But the videos seemed to disappear after that weekend and the press was rather hush hush. I don't think there's anything 'gay' about Marbury's troubles. I think he could use a good counselor though.
Posted by: Ben | Aug 19, 2009 8:15:46 PM