Scottie Pippen's Past
By Keith Boykin, in sports
Monday, August 25 2003, 11:24AM
I get a lot of rumors in my email inbox, and I try to check them out. Some are true, some are false, and some just need a little more evidence. The latest rumor is about Scottie Pippen and a lover from the past.
"Hello Mr. Boykin," began the email I received last week. "I heard some news today on a radio show called Power 99 in Philly. The host's name is Wendy Williams." That should have been my first clue that something was suspicious about the story.
"I was on my way to work," he writes, "and almost wasted all of my coffee on my lap when she spoke these words...'Scottie Pippen's lover from college comes out.'" The writer asked me if I had heard about the story. Yes I had.
I had received an email the week before that read "FORMER EX-LOVER OF NBA SUPERSTAR SCOTTIE PIPPEN SPEAKS OUT." The initial email appeared to be taken from a news article but it listed no information about the publication. I found the source was called "Atlanta Gossip." That should have been my second clue.
The article cited a white man named Brent Worthington, who was identified as an Atlanta resident who described an "on again, off again relationship the two shared together while attending Central Arkansas University back in the 80's."
Brent, who supposedly lives in the Midtown-Piedmont Park area of Atlanta, is identified as a co-owner/hairstylist of a popular trendy Buckhead hair salon. The article didn't mention the name of the salon, but it does suggests the name might be Buckhead Hair Salon. I checked the Yellow Pages online and found no listing for Buckhead Hair Salon. I then called information in Atlanta and they confirmed there is no Buckhead Hair Salon listed. A little more information would have been helpful from the reporter.
In the article, Worthington claimed to own videotapes of their sexual encounters, including one called "My White Slave." He supposedly revealed this bombshell in an interview with Tiffany Long, a reporter for Atlanta Gossip. But when I tried to find Atlanta Gossip in the Yellow Pages, not a single listing turned up. I did a Google search on the Internet and struck out again.
Worthington claims his father was an investment banker and his mother a local socialite in Little Rock, Arkansas. He says both his parents were "very close friends with Hillary and Bill Clinton who at the time was Governor of Arkansas." According to Worthington, Pippen was a struggling college student on a basketball scholarship and depending on Worthington for financial support. Something smells fishy.
So why is this story coming out now? Supposedly, it's all about $500. "After my father went to jail for his involvement in the White Water Scandal in Arkansas, my mother and I were basically penniless," Worthington claims. Worthington claims he asked Pippen for $500 and Pippen refused.
"Scottie screamed at me over the telephone and told me that if he every saw me again that he would kill me," Worthington said. "He later ended our conversation by hanging the phone up in my face." That's the stuff of high drama, but not necessarily the stuff of reality.
I searched on the Nexis news database and found no mention of anyone named Worthington involved in the Whitewater scandal. In fact, I searched the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and found only one story that mentioned anybody named Worthington at all. That was an old story about Elisha Worthington, Arkansas' wealthiest planter who owned four plantations and more than 500 slaves.
Chances are, Brent Worthington's story (if he really exists) is not true. According to AllHipHop.com, Scottie Pippen heard the rumor himself and his legal counsel contacted them to say that Pippen is not gay and Brent Worthington does not exist.
I don't claim to know whether Scottie Pippen is gay or not. That's his business. I do know there are successful professional basketball players who are gay. And I strongly suspect that the Brent Worthington story is completely or partly fabricated.
At some level, the fascination with this story reflects society's obsession with homosexuality and bisexuality as a challenge to the social construction of masculinity. Yes, real men (whatever that means) do sleep with other men. Real basketball players do too. We don't need Brent Worthington to tell us that.
Comments conceal
mr
August 25 2003, 1:46PM
"In the article, Worthington claimed to own videotapes of their sexual encounters, including one called "My White Slave."
If this video exists I suspect 2 things:
1. It will be bigger than the R Kelly child porno tapes.
2. After closer analysis it will be some other guy that doesn't even look like Scottie Pippen.
Ashwon
August 25 2003, 1:59PM
This is crazy! what is this fasciation homosexuality, bisexuality in particular? It's always something within both communities. I believe that most brother's are bisexual, weather they are married or not. Given today's climate,even moreso I do not forsee brother's comming out, what good will it do, if they did? And we as AA community and sgl be there for them? It's one thing to come out, but will there be support? I think, this fasciation is ridiculous, live and let live.
anonymous
August 25 2003, 3:14PM
I am here in Florida and a radio station owned by Cumulus Broadcasting Inc. is playing the same thing down here. Cumulus owns dozens of radio stations across the nation. I believe this is a radio prank however it might be a reference to an autobiography that came out recently. For the last 8 years, I have heard that some of the author's fictional characters are based on well known people. Read between the lines.
alicia banks
August 26 2003, 6:43PM
i heard this came originally from radio star wendy williams
i love her and have never known her to out people before she did her homework...
we shall see...
peace
ab
Danny
August 27 2003, 10:09AM
Way to go Kieth. Most of the people who posted the garbage did just that without researching whether or not it was true. I had my doubts of how true this story actually was. Thanks for laying them to rest. This is why I visit your site daily.
Jaylen
August 27 2003, 3:38PM
Everyone knows that Wendy Williams hear stuff and run with it. Just like she had rumour about Tyson Beckford and Derrick Jeter. But Keith I'm glad you did some research. I had my doubts also, I don't put anything past anybody, but I was like "YEAH RIGHT! SCOTTIE PIPPEN IS NOT GAY." And if he is dang it his business. If people spent more time tending to their own business this world would be a better place.
Doug Cooper
August 28 2003, 4:45PM
So, hey, Keith, question: If the info is true, would you engage in the outing process also? Just curious about your stand on the issue of outing because I've been torn on it (though I have to admit I have been known to engage in the process myself, though I am still torn).
I am asking this question because I have some info and pretty strong 'clues' as to the veracity of my info on a particular high profile black baseball player. He's married though and I find myself torn between my political stand and my concern about hurting this man's life.
My stand has always been that if the person has not presented himself or herself as being towards to the gay community then I would not out them, but if they have been known to take a hostile stand, then the war is on...
Let me know.
Keith Boykin
August 29 2003, 8:36AM
As a general rule, I don't support outing. I don't think it helps the gay cause to force somebody who doesn't want to be out into the open. Instead it reinforces the image that homosexuality is something to hide.
On the other hand, I agree with the idea of political situational outing for those public figures who are publicly hostile to the LGBT community. I would certainly out Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson or anyone else like that if I discovered they were gay.
Aaron
August 29 2003, 1:22PM
If Scottie is gay what's the big deal? I'm a gay black male and I come into contact with sooo many other guys who are bisexual(married) or on the DL. These guys are very masculine and live a heterosexual life during the day but at night they are cruising the gay strip. When I first heard this story I wasn't surprised at all. I personally don't think it's true because this Brent guy would have said something long ago if he wanted to damage Scottie's image. What does he stand to gain? A person's sexual preference does not determine if they are a success or not. There's more to a person than their sexual preference. When you first meet someone do say "hi my name is..." Are you straight, gay or bi? See how stupid that sounds? So it shouldn't make a difference. The only thing I would be concerned about is if this a good hearted person who will help in rich my life by becoming friends with them.
Wanda
August 31 2003, 3:41AM
The story may not be true, but why are so many people fascinated or surprised to hear that so called "masculine men" sleep with other men? Men have been sleeping with each other since the beginning of time. And of all people, why are most blacks still walking around with their eyes and ears closed about black men? The black churches and community can decide tommorrow to welcome and embrace the black gay and lesbian community, and black men who sleep with other men will still choose to stay on the "down low." This sense of masculinity most men choose to hold on to convinces others, especially black hetersexual women, that they are "real men." This successfully breeds and feeds ignnorance and insecurity. How long are we going to continue gasping for air everytime we hear that someone is black, famous and possibly gay? We've been around since the beginning of time too, DUH!
MAF
September 1 2003, 3:59AM
Even if Scottie isn't gay he is still a homo
Easy
September 1 2003, 1:20PM
I checked out the story and to be honest I find that some parts of this is true, if you search the web you will find Fred Worthington does exist and he had a soon named Fred Worthington Jr, and his wife Nove which had three children and one was named Brent which attended the same school as Scottie at the same time. Now I don't pretend to know if this is true but his grandfather and uncle were investment bankers and there was only one family of Worthington in Ark, and they were from Rose City the birth place of Bill Clinton. All this is interesting to me, but you tell me.
DB
September 1 2003, 11:56PM
I heard this story on Memphis's K-97FM. I thought it sounded fishy but, it was very interesting. I would like to know the truth...if there be any.
White American
September 3 2003, 4:37PM
How sad that black people are willing and eager to believe some fictional crap like this story. If black people focused this same energy on resolving some of the problems that are in their own community, the black race would not be having some of the negative situations that now exist for their own people.
Lorenz Walker
September 3 2003, 6:56PM
U Know I think a Lot of people wish Scottie did have some type of XXX Video out any type..So that they could see a Lot more than Gym shoes and Shorts
I would even suspect quite a few would love to see
Keith Boykin in a skin flic Gay or Str8.
But the bottom line is If scottie is Gay More Power to him...We Love ya Scottie...If He is not Gay More power to Ya Scottie We Love ya...If he had a Gay thing with anybody SOOOO WHatt We Love ya Scottie
Love Lorenz
OH P.S.Same to you Keith..Love Ya
Staford Boatright Jr.
September 12 2003, 10:44PM
I think that it is true, because he liked dennis rodman
RITA
September 16 2003, 12:10PM
I am a big fan of Scottie's; I love him because he is a great athlete. Whether he is gay or not; doesn't take away from him being a great athlete or the things he has done for communities. People really need to get a life-especially black people. It should not matter whether he is gay or not, he is a good brother, that's what matters. So let's support our brothers and sisters and stay our nosy asses out of their bedrooms.
JAZZS MAN
September 19 2003, 1:53AM
If he is gay that him let him do his job in the
N. B . A.
nita
October 2 2003, 1:12PM
I am so glad that someone has addressed this issue. As soon as I got the e-mail I did research on the topic and I could not find anything. I knew then that it was a hoax. People just cant wait to spread a rumor. I really like Scottie and I hope that whoever started this thing will be exposed and sued on an account of being stupid.
aloe
October 21 2003, 10:20PM
what people do for money!
Diana
November 8 2003, 5:24AM
I hate that alot of them haters out there are always trying to start roomers that are not even true, Why do such stupid mindless people have to pick On Scottie Pippe, They Just need to stop and think before they open there own BIG mouths!
I hope this gets cleared soon for you scottie.
Reality Check
February 17 2004, 2:51PM
Oh this is such a bunch of ridiculous garbage. I already submitted this email chain to http://www.breakthechain.org/and they will post a definitive resolution on this thing pretty quick I am sure. This whole "article" is passed around as hearsay... Hey,pssst. I heard this, I heard that". You know?
Everything from the word choices to the convenient links to the Clintons and the misspellings are all indicative of something made up. The article is written as if this was in a news story somewhere. Where is that news story or television story?
People should learn to see the BS laying right in front of them when it smells this bad.
"D"
July 2 2004, 2:33PM
For all the Scottie Pippen supporters out there, please clear up these rumors with actual facts. He is too great player and person to be dragged into these rumors. Peace.
G
August 17 2004, 12:20PM
I just recieved an article on this yesterday. I had not heard this rumor before yesterday. That just goes to show you when a lie gets started you cannot track it down. I don't know whether it is true or not. The last thing I heard on Scottie is that he was dodging child support. So Keith with your research what did you finally find out? Did a book ever come out about this? Did "Brent" get his $500 bucks yet?