According to NJ Advance Media New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy said at a meeting about Inclusion in Sports last March that he “100 percent” disagrees with the gay lifestyle.
Murphy made his opinion known while meeting with former professional baseball athlete Billy Bean, who publicly came out after his career and now serves as the MLB’s Ambassador for Inclusion.
Bean was invited to spend the day and speak with Mets players as the behest of general manager Sandy Alderson.
Per NJ.com:
I disagree with his lifestyle. I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual. That doesn’t mean I can’t still invest in him and get to know him. I don’t think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect. Getting to know him. That, I would say, you can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 percent.
Murphy said he would embrace a gay player on the Mets, despite his religious conviction against same-sex sexual orientation and went on to articulate a love-the-sinner-hate-the-sin approach.
What a douchebag and I agree with that 100%.
This isn’t breaking news, Will. Mets fans like myself who follow the team have known about this since he made the comments in March. While the truth is, as is so often the case in pro sports, that many fans are willing to look the other way from a pro athlete’s moral lapses as long as he or she keeps winning or putting points on the board (i.e. Alex Rodriguez, Rhonda Rousey).
One thing I’ve noticed when this has come up in FB Mets fan groups is that many fans support Murphy as a player for how his skills have helped the team, but they don’t support his anti-gay views and regularly express their discomfort when they hear them. In a twisted kind of way, Murphy’s (and Rousey’s) public statements are calling attention to anti-LGBT discrimination in pro sports with positive results.
Personally, as a lifelong Mets fan, I think Murphy should just keep his mouth shut on anything not to do with baseball. That said, he’s also obviously unintentionally generated some very positive statements of support for LGBT people from fans so at least there’s one positive aspect to it, anyway.
Well those of us outside the city are just really learning about it now. i’m surprised it wasn’t covered more nationally when it happened.
Remember Tim Hardaway’s “I hate gay people” rant on Dan LeBatard?
http://www.sbnation.com/2013/7/3/4491588/tim-hardaway-marriage-equality-in-Florida
So, people can change.
They said that about a lot of people and many do not. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robinson, Anita Bryant, Hitler to name a few. The “change” rate is not so high as to hang hopes on IMO
Once this brain deficient bats-in-his head-baller accepts the fact being gay is not a lifestyle but an orientation, he might advance a few bases toward the more intelligent people playing on the fields of life. If this b-baller were really secure in his own orientation, he would not be so worried. Hint, hint.
I feel the same way he does, I don’t like “HOMOSEXUALITY” either but I Love all people. To many people that might not make any sense but I’m not on earth to make a believer out of men, I’m not some Messiah. As for Daniel Murphy, I support him 100% and he has a right to his own opinion so lay off of the guy. It’s completely baffling how people think that we all have to just accept each other’s views and suggestions. Well news flash, WE DON’T! #LetsGoMets #MurphForPresident
I’m livid.
TO everyone who reads this: do a simple test.
Copy and paste Mr Murphy’s statement into a blank page.
Then, substitute YOUR ethnicity, religion, background, family, gender, nationality, race…whenever you see the word ‘homosexual’.
NOW TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL!
A sure sign he is a closet homosexual.
Actually, I’ve heard otherwise, that he’s a true believer, a Christian ideologue who honestly believes that homosexuality is sinful (they do exist, you know). That said, as I noted above I and many fans believe that Murphy would be best off leaving his proselytizing for the off-season and sticking to talking baseball in the media.
It might comfort you to know that rumors are swirling that the Mets aren’t planning to re-sign Murphy when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. He’ll still probably be making a pile of money, especially after his performance in the playoffs, but it’s at least as likely as not that it won’t be with the Mets.