Torii Hunter: It would be 'difficult and uncomfortable' to play with gay teammate

Torii Hunter: It would be "difficult and uncomfortable" to play with gay teammate

By Andy Mannix Mon., Dec. 31 2012 at 11:29 AM

Hunter's comments are already stirring up negative feedback.

This past year has been a coming out party for gay-friendly professional athletes.

In Minnesota, Vikings punter Chris Kluwe became the NFL's most aggressive straight ally, and a spokesman for the campaign to a defeat a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. In our October cover story on Kluwe, "Game Changer," many speculated his position could signify a turning point, and pave the way for the first openly gay professional athlete in a major American sport.

Outsports.com is characterizing 2012 as "The Rise of the Straight Ally," citing dozens of steps forward in the sports universe throughout the year, including boxer Orlando Cruz and former Pittsburgh Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy coming out as gay.

But of course not every pro athlete is itching for the first gay player to make history. Here's what former Twins outfielder Torii Hunter told the L.A. Times:

But former Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, among baseball's most thoughtful and intelligent players, isn't kidding when he says an "out" teammate could divide a team.
"For me, as a Christian ... I will be uncomfortable because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it's not right," he says. "It will be difficult and uncomfortable."

Hunter's comments aren't quite as controversial as those of Tim Hardaway -- who in 2007 bluntly told a reporter, "I hate gay people" -- but they've unsurprisingly stirred up negative feedback.

Kluwe already commented on Twitter this morning:

Saw the Torii Hunter comments. It's sad when people take something founded on tolerance and turn it into bigotry. Says a lot about them.
— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) December 31, 2012

Torii would also do well to remember that religion was used to deny black people their rights not too long ago. Have a little empathy.
— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) December 31, 2012

As the L.A. Times points out, others have taken to criticizing Hunter as well.

Meanwhile, around 11:20 a.m. today, Hunter responded on his Twitter account, accusing the reporter of taking his statements out of context:

I'm very disappointed in Kevin Baxter's article in which my quotes and feelings have been misrepresented. He (cont) tl.gd/kidgaq
— Torii Hunter (@toriihunter48) December 31, 2012

Don't believe everything u read. Misleading and way out of context.
— Torii Hunter (@toriihunter48) December 31, 2012

UPDATE: 12:00 p.m.

In an email to City Pages, L.A. Times reporter Kevin Baxter says he stands by the reporting, and has Hunter's comments recorded.

[HT: NBCSports]

We Recommend

senatortombstone

1 Like

Don't know why it would be a big deal. Most of us work alongside openly gay people in white collar jobs. Even though I share Torii's religious views, the presence of gays doesn't have any impact on me one way or the other. Live and let live, and let God sort it out later. Good thing for Torii that he is black, as that will blunt any backlash he receives for these comments. Notice how much nicer Kluwe is to Torii, than he was to Andy Parrish?

MicheleBachmann topcommenter

2 Like

@senatortombstone Well dummy Andy Parrish is a political operative who has built his career on hating gay people and Torii is an athlete that says stupid things on occasion. Only a racist idiot settles on race as the big difference between those two men.

senatortombstone

@MicheleBachmann @senatortombstone Well, I am most certainly not an idiot (FYI: an idiot is an individual with an IQ of 30 or so - mine is higher than that), and "racist" is just an ad hominem attack that leftists use when they have no cogent arguments available to them to defend their positions, which is almost always the case. In any event, Torii Hunter is just one individual with an opinion. Personally, I disagree with it, and do not think that working along gays is any deal at all. Maybe he is worried that a gay teammate will check him out, in the locker room? In the end, though, a black who makes these sorts of comments will receive a less hostile backlash than a white - even from the pro-gay Citypages.

senatortombstone

1 Like

@MicheleBachmann @senatortombstone Merriam-Webster's definition of bigot: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.

Sounds like we are all bigots.

MicheleBachmann topcommenter

1 Like

@senatortombstone lol racist idiots like you are why the Republicans are a shrinking bunch of stupid white bigots. If you are so smart than make a new point beyond repeating your point a second time.

Chad Nordling

All i gotta say is respect freedom of speech and fuck off with diggin deep on this.. It is What it Is.. He aint our Govenor or some shit....Do has a good heart.. Probably fucked up on this one ... JUST CHILL. DO YOU

Georgia Conley Ramin

2 Like

News flash - I'm sure you are already playing with a gay teammate!

webcelt topcommenter

1 Like

Enlighten us Torii. Just what does the bible say about gay athletes? Thou shalt not hit while homo?

RandyFrehse

2 Like

@citypages if this is an accurate quote I'm glad he doesn't represent Minnesota anymore.

Pinko Thinker

Torii with 2 i's at the end of his name doesn't wanna play with the gays. You'd think a boy named Sue might have some empathy for those who have been pre-judged so harshly.

David Lloyd

1 Like

What Erica said.

Erica Anderson

1 Like

so should you too Eric.

OrangeAppeal

1 Like

I will give Torii the benefit of the doubt until more is uncovered from this. As a general rule of thumb: be wary of any quotes employing the use of awkward ellipses (...). In this case, it is obvious the quote was crafted in a way that would get the most knee-jerk reaction from people. The ellipses indicates there was something said between "For me, as a Christian ..." and "I will be uncomfortable.." Notice, the sentence, if read as one, isn't even grammatically correct. This is obviously "taken out of context," and there very well could be a phrase in there somewhere where he is explaining a rhetorical context or talking about something completely off-topic; we just don't know without the full word-for-word interview. I'm not saying that this validates anything he said, but let's not jump to any conclusions until we hear from Torii, who has so far said exactly what the quote represents: two quotes were mashed into one in order to get a rise out of the public.

kStafki

1 Like

@Lwelle11 @citypages May his fan mailbox be flooded with gay porn from now until eternity. Amen.

jack_sprat

@kStafki No offense, but best make it lesbian porn. Gay male porn is boring by comparison, either to actual gay sex or to Gonzo porn. Or, make it single-camera, homemade stuff. Show your best side.