A war of words has erupted between Australian basketball legends, with Andrew Gaze saying he “doesn’t understand” why controversial superstar Andrew Bogut is in trouble with a transgender woman who plays in a women’s league.
It comes after Bogut posted a call to action of sorts on Monday morning, writing about his disgust that the semi-professional women’s league NBL1 South, which includes teams from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, would allow a “biological male” to play. .
‘Word is NBL1 South Women will have a biological male playing this upcoming season. Are you okay with sacrificing the sanctity of female sport in the name of “inclusion”? ‘, books.
It quickly ignited a firestorm of controversy, with top basketball players like Chloe Baby, Sarid Taylor, Anelie Male and Marina Whittle speaking up for them when they support having a transgender player compete in the league.
Opals greats Michelle Thames has thrown her support behind the players, saying she’ll never have a problem before the greatest NBL player of all time, Gaze, collapses—exactly why he thinks Bogut couldn’t be more wrong.
Photographed with wife Melinda, daughters Courtney, Phoebe and Annie, and son Mason, Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaese gave an adorable reason why he didn’t understand Bogut’s problem with a transgender player in a women’s league.
NBA star Andrew Bogut recently showed off his disgust that a ‘biological male’ would be playing in a women’s league, quickly drawing criticism across the sport.
“This has confronted me personally,” Jez explained on his show. Ran Home With Andy Maher on SEN Radio.
“My daughter plays Australian rules football, and there is a female biologically born male playing.
When I went there for a warm up and I looked at the other end and I’m thinking “wow that’s a big girl”…and (I wonder) what kind of impact that would have.
Well, I’ve seen this one-on-one play three times, that sure wasn’t a problem. Yes (was) very good, but not more serious, not more physical.
With the sport of basketball and the nature of the rules, to use the argument (made by Bogut) that a person who switched would be more dangerous than a female, I don’t understand that argument.
Ghez and his wife Melinda have four children, ages 20 and up: Courtney, Phoebe, Annie and Mason.
The seven-time NBL MVP winner then went on to say that he thought a transgender female playing in competition in the NBL1 South was a great thing for both the sport and the individual participant — in direct opposition to Bogut’s point.
Stare and his wife Melinda with their four children on Christmas Day 2021: Courtney, Phoebe, Annie and Mason
Boomers legend Andrew Gaese plays in the 1996 Olympics. The Australian great has won seven NBL MVP awards
The Boomers and the great NBL then pointed out the club the player would compete for, Kilsyth, and the league in gender.
They’ve moved on, they’ve met eligibility. I think it’s cool, Jeez said, and I wish it wasn’t a story.
I do not understand the arguments of people who say that this is bad.
That’s the good thing. People who have made or are going through or have made the decision to move, it’s a very bad way to treat them,[but]here is an example where sports can step in and help with that transition.
What I understand is that he is welcome. This individual will not dominate the team, nor will he have any influence other than (being) cool to her and great to the team. And I think that’s a great situation.
Earlier, Jez and Maher had a heated discussion—with the ire directed at Bogut, not each other—about why it would be problematic for a transgender female to play in a women’s league.
“There are some who would argue that if you were born male, you have an unfair biological advantage for you to compete with females,” said Geese, trying to explain Bogut’s comments.
Andrew Jazz (left) and Andy Maher (right) had a heated discussion about a transgender player on their radio show on Wednesday.
Maher interjected hotly: “The trans woman is a woman.” “I agree with you,” Ghez then said, before Maher immediately responded.
“It’s a matter of legality, not a matter of agreement with me,” he said.
He then targeted Maher Bogut to ignite the hatred and fan the fire by attacking both the player involved and the league’s rivals who spoke out in her defense.
What does Bogut base that (he says a transgender female playing in a women’s league would “sacrifice her sanctity”)? Does he understand that the sport has thought about the eligibility process for a long period of time? Maher questioned.
These are highly factored in, and take a whole host of factors into consideration.
Your sport (basketball) has clearly reached a situation where all criteria are met, and this woman, who has gone through a transition, is now allowed to play with other women.
“If he has an issue with the eligibility process, and thinks it is not rigorous enough, or is allowing a transgender athlete to participate too early in the transition process, explain that well afterward.”
Though Maher didn’t express any opinion about Bogut’s motives, the NBA champ took to social media to share his disgust at the former’s comments: “Hot shot, radio host Andy Maher says I posted him for clickbait?”
Then Maher moved to point out the “misinformation” to Bogut: “Morning Andrew. By all means, head over to yesterday’s show podcast and listen to it. If you can find any reference to ‘clickbait’, please let me know. It looks like you’ve been misled.”
Bogut, who was photographed with his son Luca in 2019, doubled down on his criticism, even accusing those responsible for making the eligibility decision of ‘bias’.
Bogut has criticized the NBL1 Women’s Southern League for allowing a “biological male” to play in the competition this year (pictured: last season’s champions, Ringwood)
Bogut doubled down on his comments in the face of a wave of criticism on Tuesday, even claiming that the board responsible for approving a transgender player was biased.
“There’s actually a board of experts that sits down, of both basketball experts and doctors, that determines whether you should be allowed to transfer, and when you look at the background and past jobs of those experts… it’s a pretty biased panel,” he said.
Failing to give examples of how they are biased, Bogut said, “It is human nature to suggest that everyone is biased, but this is a highly biased group of experts.”
In response, the game’s board of directors, which is very focused on inclusion, indicated that they were very disappointed about the storm of controversy Bogut had stirred up on social media.
‘It is disappointing to see negative comments and hurtful language used across social media over the past 24 hours since it was announced that Basketball Victoria has received an application for a transgender athlete to play in the NBL1 South competition,’ a statement read.
Australian Basketball prides itself on being a sport for all, ensuring all participants experience a welcoming, fair and inclusive environment.
“We ask for patience and understanding as we support Basketball Victoria in navigating through this complex space with integrity and respect for all involved, and we also thank those in the community who have shown sensitivities at this time.”