Torii Hunter made controversial statements about playing with an openly gay teammate. Should the new Detroit Tigers outfielder be punished by the MLB?
Jon Morosi, baseball writer for FOXSports.com, mentions in his extended piece that baseball should take this as a lesson and prepare themselves for the inevitable.
Here's what Hunter said, "For me, as a Christian ... I will be uncomfortable because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it's not right. It will be difficult and uncomfortable."
At no point is Hunter being disrespectful or making gestures that would offend those in the gay community or in support of homosexuality. Hunter has always been a class act and respected in the game of baseball.
His thoughts were expressed sincerely. Is his thought process correct? No. Does it deserve a suspension? Absolutely not.
These comments, though hurtful and ignorant, were nothing compared to the scene in San Francisco when Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell made obscene gestures at Giants fans and asked them if they were a "homo couple." Another incident, more recently, was then Toronto Blue Jays' shortstop, Yunel Escobar, who wrote a gay slur in his eye black.
Morosi sees this as an opportunity for Major League Baseball to take a stance and begin educating their players about homosexuality. In the end, what will matter is that the player produces out on the field. That's what the game is about. However, the idea of everybody accepting gay people is much more complicated.
You can read Morosi's article here as he goes further into explaining the ways players could be helped in understanding an issue that has been talked about for years in sports.
So far, no openly gay man has come out while playing in either of the four major professional sports.
