NBA Commissioner David Stern says the
NBA doesn't need to do anything to accommodate gay players.
Stern, who will step down as NBA
commissioner on February 1, 2014, the 30th anniversary of
his tenure, was asked in a Wall Street Journal on-camera
interview how the NBA plans to protect gay players now that Jason
Collins, a NBA free agent as of July 1, has come out.
“Well, I don't think we're going to
have to do anything, other than continue the rules that we currently
have,” Stern replied. “Abusive fans, I guess if that's what
you're concerned about, are going to be escorted from the building.
And if there's any abuse by fellow players, which I doubt, we'll take
appropriate action there.”
Stern added that he planned to “make
it easy” for those players.
“And by making it easy, it's really
about the business as usual. There's a lot of prejudice out there.
Italian soccer and other countries have been dealing with it. It's
in the news. Racist statements, crowds chanting racist epithets.
That doesn't have a place in sport, which is supposed to bring out
the best in us. And I think that strong action will continue. I
think a tradition of openness in our league.” (The video is
embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)