Tim

Hardaway

''I wanted to play another year because I didn’t go out the way I wanted to go out,’' Hardaway said, referring to being injured last year. It’s still possible he could change his mind if someone wants him.

''I need to take a look at the team and where Jamaal (Tinsley) is and all that,’' president Donnie Walsh said before Monday’s game. Coach Isiah Thomas deferred to Walsh and was noncommittal about Hardaway.

Hardaway worked out for the Pacers Saturday, and it sounds like he wasn’t that impressive. Walsh has decided that the team is ''going through so many difficulties [that] this would be the wrong time’’ to bring in a new face.

Hardaway had six points in seven minutes before leaving.

“It’s something I wanted to do,” he said. “It’s all about teaching. I’m good at teaching and understanding players.” Although Hardaway is happy to be joining the Pistons, he also admitted that it would be difficult leaving the Miami Heat family. “It’s going to be hard, going to be sad [to leave the Heat].There will always be a big place in my heart for the Heat, Micky Arison, Pat Riley. It’s bittersweet.”

The Pacers have an open roster spot and would like another point guard. ''I’d say if we’re going to do something we’ll do it sometime in the next week,’' said team president Donnie Walsh.

The former five time all star averaged 17.7 points and 8.2 assists per game in a 13 season career. Hardaway’s #10 will join Alonzo Morning’s #33 among the retired Heat numbers.

“It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement on Thursday. Hardaway, who remarked on the air that he hates gay people, has made another comment in attempt to quell the firestorm. “As an African-American, I know all too well the negative thoughts and feelings hatred and bigotry cause,” Hardaway said in a statement issued by his agent. “I regret and apologize for the statements that I made that have certainly caused the same kinds of feelings and reactions.”

“You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people,” he said while a guest on Sports Talk 790 The Ticket. “I’m homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.” He later said he regretted making the comments, but it was too little, too late. “Yes, I regret it. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said I hate gay people or anything like that,” he said. “That was my mistake.” These comments, combined with the recent revelation by former player John Amaechi that he is gay, are going to cause an uproar, and you can probably hear David Stern groaning if you listen close enough. Regardless of where you are.