Barkley: “Every player’s played with gay guys”
May 17, 2011, 4:57 PM | Updated: 6:09 pm
Former Phoenix Suns great Charles Barkley would like you to know something. He’s had gay teammates and so has everyone else.
At least that’s what he told Washington Post columnist Mike Wise on his radio show Monday.
“Every player’s played with gay guys,” Barkley said. “I didn’t think it, they were gay!
“I say on two of the teams I played on,” he responded when asked if he had gay teammates on every team he played for. “It didn’t bother me.”
Barkley made it clear that it never mattered to him what the sexual preference of those he played with were as long as they had talent.
“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.”
The hall of famer hasn’t exactly been known for his sensitivity on delicate subjects but his take on this one is interesting. If you believe what he said, and with Barkley what you see is usually what you get, the only teammate he would have had a problem with is the one who had a genetic predisposition to lacking athletic ability.
From what Barkley said it sounds safe to assume that there have been and are plenty of homosexuals playing in the NBA. The question is how long before one of them comes out during their playing days? It may be getting closer than you think.
