The article explains that these provocative questions are posed in order to gauge the athletes’ temperament — can they conteol themselves when provoked or insulted. And the athletes are warned beforehand to expect to be shocked or insulted, and to keep their cool. It’s all part of the game.
"Hanrahan! Your wife's a dyke!"
Reminds me of the oddball questions one is asked at the oral review board while testing for law enforcement.
They get pretty wild.