Torii Hunter: Having an openly gay teammate would ‘be difficult and uncomfortable’

Citing his religious upbringing, Detroit Tigers slugger Torii Hunter told the Los Angeles Times that having an openly homosexual teammate would be tough to deal with. And it would be a divisive issue for any Major League Baseball team.

Quoted by reporter Kevin Baxter of the Times in his Sunday story — "In pro sports, gay athletes still feel unwelcome" — Hunter indicated he would not — or could not — be supportive of a teammate with a different sexual orientation than his own:

... 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." Kudos to Hunter for his honesty. But he needs to realize a few things.

One, after playing nearly 2,000 major league games, Hunter probably has had at least one gay teammate already. Two, when has the sexual orientation of any teammate (assuming they've all been straight) mattered in how many games a team has won? Did the Tigers get to the World Series in 2012 because Justin Verlander is in a relationship with Kate Upton? How would it matter if Verlander dated someone named Bob Upton?

[Jane Pudenda]

Gee..... people said the exact same thing about black players years ago. Using your religious beliefs as an excuse for bigotry is a chickenshit thing to do.

[DNF]

I just LOVE hearing sermons about morals from Christian millionaires who work on the Sabbath.

[DNF]

After turning down a three-year, $45,000,000 deal in August 2007 from the Twins, Hunter signed a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim worth $90,000,000. He replaced Gary Matthews Jr. as the everyday center fielder.

[JohnInToronto]

How the hell is a sports team different from other lines of work (barring the fact that people are paid astronomical salaries even when they are losers)? In an office setting, one is called upon to work with people of different views and backgrounds. So what is different about a sports team in this regard?

[Truth]

Glad he isn't in Minnesota anymore.

[faithman]

Just how many members of his own team does he know that fornicate, commit adultery, get drunk, slander others, or steal? I'm sure he' sincere in his religious convictions, but it doesn't matter that he is "among baseball's most thoughtful and intelligent players". If he doesn't publicly decry these "sins" & refuse to support these players, he is practicing hypocrisy and is in denial about it.

[snyper]

Jackie Robinson would be SO proud1

[KirkW]

Using religion as a reason to separate people for any reason is just wrong.

It seems more and more these days that the word Christian is becoming synonymous with *sshole.

[RalphB]

KirkW wrote:

Using religion as a reason to separate people for any reason is just wrong.
It seems more and more these days that the word Christian is becoming synonymous with *sshole.

It's not a recent phenomenon. I noticed it a looooooong time ago. It's no more true today than it was 50 years ago. They are only now getting the press that they deserve for their hypocritical views.

[Rainbow Kid]

RalphB wrote:

<quoted text>
It's not a recent phenomenon. I noticed it a looooooong time ago. It's no more true today than it was 50 years ago. They are only now getting the press that they deserve for their hypocritical views.

I agree
.
Instant worldwide communication provided by the internet is putting religious BDSM out to pasture forever

[NorCal Native]

I wonder how many of Hunter's teammates have an issue with his bigoted Christian beliefs? Probably more than he knows......and yet, he feels that it would be an issue for him if he had an out and proud Gay teammate.......maybe he should consider another line of employment!!!

[disaster in the making]

if it's such a struggle for Torii Hunter maybe he should consider a new profession

[Aardvark]

What about a non-Christain teammate

[snyper]

Aardvark wrote:

What about a non-Christain teammate

Or one that cheats on his wife?

[cath]

So I assume he's uncomfortable with all the skanky players who sleep around, do drugs or get drunk? Jesus was against divorce. Is he uncomfortable with divorced players?

GROW UP. Your beliefs apply to YOUR life, nobody else's. If you can't play with whoever the ball club deems worthy of hiring, you should get out of the game. Period. You can be replaced, so don't feel as though they need you.