Ever since Phoenix Suns President and CEO Rick Welts came out as an openly gay man (can someone give me his number? I'm ready to be a kept woman lol...I kid BTW) the always outspoken Charles Barkley expressed his frustration towards the machismo media and players who continue to spread vitrol that the world is not ready for an openly gay player in the NBA.
“First of all, every player has played with gay guys. It bothers me when I hear these reporters and jocks get on TV and say: ‘Oh, no guy can come out in a team sport. These guys would go crazy.’ First of all, quit telling me what I think. I’d rather have a gay guy who can play than a straight guy who can’t play.”
“Any professional athlete who gets on TV or radio and says he never played with a gay guy is a stone-freakin’ idiot,” Barkley said. “I would even say the same thing in college. Every college player, every pro player in any sport has probably played with a gay person.
Barkley’s message is simple: Don’t worry. Deal with it.
“They’re not going to do anything in the locker room,” he said. “Doesn’t work like that.”
Barkley added that he wished Welts, whom he knows well because he lives in Phoenix, the best in the fallout from his public revelation. He also explained his stance and feelings about the issue.
“First of all, society discriminates against gay people,” Barkley said. “They always try to make it like jocks discriminate against gay people. I’ve been a big proponent of gay marriage for a long time, because as a black person, I can’t be in for any form of discrimination at all.”
Yes, he says, there are whispers and rumors in the NBA.
“We gossiped behind each other’s back before; I’ll be the first to admit that,” he said, before adding, “The first people who whine and complain is them Bible-thumpers, who are supposed to be non-judgmental, who rail against them.
You tell 'em Charles. If only those players would cut the bullshit and realize some gay player invading your back area is the last thing they're thinking about.
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