Rex Hudler Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Not trying to open up a can of worms again, but I thought it would be fair to post his latest column. Todd Jones - Answers Should Not Be Taken Out of Context Greetings, Birmingham. Hope all is well. It's been a hectic week. As many of you probably know, I've been in the media spotlight for my stance toward gay players in the clubhouse. Many people think I should be released or fined. Some fans said they would protest the Rockies' games. Some think I'm a gay-hating redneck from Alabama that "ain't never been nowhere." People have said I'm homophobic and should move into the 21st century. While I stand by what I said, I think it's important for readers to know the context of the interview that took place with the Denver Post four weeks ago. The writer came to me about doing a piece on some play about a gay baseball player. He asked me what I thought would happen if a player came out and admitted he was gay. Every one of my comments was based on what I thought it would do to the team as it pertains to life in the clubhouse, not outside of the ballpark. One of the things fans don't understand is how delicate the clubhouse atmosphere is. There's not a doubt in my mind that if there were a gay player on the team, it would be a huge distraction from what the team is trying to accomplish. It would be even more difficult if he were open about his lifestyle. Some players would have no problem with him. Some guys would be willing to look past it as long as they didn't feel threatened. But some guys would hate it because they would feel very uncomfortable. Maybe my critics don't understand the closeness in the clubhouse. Guys shower together and there are no dividers. At most jobs, co-workers don't shower together, so maybe people don't understand. I stand by what I said 100 percent. All I did was respond to a writer's question about what I thought would happen if a gay player came out. For people to hold the Rockies, The Sporting News or The Birmingham News responsible for my comments is ludicrous. Sometimes I wonder why our society is so worried about what is politically correct. I don't hate gay people. Honestly, I couldn't care less if somebody is gay. But for people to treat this like it's a witch hunt, or to try to crucify a supposedly Neanderthal redneck baseball player for stating his opinions on a sensitive issue is scary to me. For all the people who have written to me, no, I don't have a T-shirt that says, "Gays not welcome." I'm tired of being politically correct. I have no social agenda. This wasn't a big deal until everyone who got their feathers ruffled made it one. This is America. People should be able to have a voice, regardless of what someone else will say. Someone asked me if I had it to do all over again, would I say the same thing? My answer is yes, but I'd want the people to know the context. It was only one man's comments on the clubhouse reaction to a gay player. That's all. From behind the seams, -- Todd Jones -- Todd Jones, a former Jacksonville State star, resides in Pell City and pitches for the Colorado Rockies. His column on baseball appears every Sunday during the season. Questions about baseball can be sent to Jones by e-mailing to: [email protected] or by writing to: Todd Jones, c/o Colorado Rockies, Coors Field, 2001 Blake Street, Denver, Colo., 80205-2000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Interesting that he puts all of his personal info out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Interesting that he puts all of his personal info out there. I think the paper that prints the column did that and did it before all this crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerbaho-WG Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 He's still a homophobe. "Delicate atmosphere in the clubhouse" .. "could disrupt it". I'm really sure that Joey Ballplayer is losing hair over a gay guy in the shower with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggio202 Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 there is a difference in what was being portrayed and what really happened...this reporter asked todd what he thought would happen in the clubhouse if a gay guy came out because he was doing a play...todd jones said exactly the same thing billy bean said..no one is calling billy bean a homophobe...ill bet you anything there is no play..this was a set up this is the same s*** that happens to frank thomas all the time...they set him up and then twist whatever he says... maybe todd jones should work on being a little more open..thats probably the case for about 80% of major league rosters...but he is not a guy youre gonna see dragging a gay behind his pick up truck..calling for his release and for him to be fined is rediculous...the man has a right to his opinions..even if we dont agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 .but he is not a guy youre gonna see dragging a gay behind his pick up truck.. but he would deny a gu employment becuase he has some fear of showers - that is far more subtle type of bigotry equal rights to employment ?? not surprizing then that in almost all states a gay or lesbian has no protection in job discrimination because of orientation - that is a crime in America and Todd Jones is just anouthert hog feeding off the trough who has got his, and his drewam, but would deny it to others because of course Todd Jones is so hot hot hot in his own mnd he can't take a shower without being the object of lust - or is as much as bigot as the baseball players in 1946 who didn't want to shower with blacks, or the Jim Crow laws in the south which prevented whites and blacks from swimming in the same swimming pool - same thing - and we have had at least 3 reports of Jones saying what he has said, plus what I read on the Rockies website - the guy cannot claim - nor can you - that anyone has set him up - he just keeps shooting of his mouth over and over - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted May 6, 2003 Author Share Posted May 6, 2003 It seems funny to me that Todd said what he thought would happen if there were an openly gay player in the clubhouse and his words were basically mirrored by former baseball exec (and gay) Billy Bean. But since Billy is gay, it is okay for him to say the same thing?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 It seems funny to me that Todd said what he thought would happen if there were an openly gay player in the clubhouse and his words were basically mirrored by former baseball exec (and gay) Billy Bean. But since Billy is gay, it is okay for him to say the same thing?? George Wallace and Macolm X could have both told us what would happen to freedom rights in the south - but they were coming from very different places Bean is describing what would happen now if nothing changes Jones is describing what he would do and his enforcing that nothing changes being on the giving end or receiving end oif bias, prehudice, and bigotry makes a big diofference in what the words mean - and then as well, to say they said the same thing is only about were one aspect of it all - are all of their words identical? Not hardly, beginning with Jones's other nasty ass comments about gays You can take every word of what Jones says and chnage the word "gay" to "black" and we are back in MLB 1946. Acceptable? Or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.