Bryant fined $100,000 by NBA for anti-gay slur
The NBA fined Kobe Bryant $100,000 for directing an anti-gay slur at referee Bennie Adams during the Lakers' game Tuesday against San Antonio.
"Kobe Bryant's comment during last night’s game was offensive and inexcusable," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement. "While I'm fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated. Accordingly, I have fined Kobe $100,000. Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society."
Bryant has been widely criticized Wednesday for his outburst.
The Human Rights Campaign, a national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, said in a statement it was a "disgrace" for Bryant to "use such horribly offensive and distasteful language, especially when millions of people are watching."
Bryant was irritated in the game after receiving his 15th technical foul of the season. He pounded a chair on the bench before sitting, threw a towel and then yelled “Bennie!” before muttering the homophobic slur.
Bryant issued a statement Wednesday, saying his comment "should not be taken literally."
"My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period," his statement read. "The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone."
The HRC said Bryant did not go far enough toward a formal apology and commended Stern's disciplinary action in a statement: "We hope such swift and decisive action will send a strong and universal message that this kind of hateful outburst is simply inexcusable no matter what the context."
RELATED:
GLAAD says it has talked to Lakers about Kobe Bryant's anti-gay slur
Kobe Bryant says his anti-gay slur should not be taken literally
Video: Kobe Bryant appears to direct anti-gay slug at referee
--Mike Bresnahan
Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant reacts after making a three-point shot against the Spurs on Tuesday night at Staples Center. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times
sticks and stones .....
Posted by: jc | April 13, 2011 at 05:19 PM
WB,
If there is a blowhard here, it is you. We did not call u names and here u come expressing strongly your blowhard opinion.
As I said to Bay to LA, David Stern is not the boss of Kobe. He is the f**king Commissioner. Is there any body higher than David Stern who would review his decisions or at least listen to the accused player. If the answer is none, then he is a little dictator in his own league.
Btw, this is not McDonald restaurant where employees are completely subservient to the boss. This is a basketball game where there is a free flow of emotions. When players get to their seat, they have the right to be angry and "what we are all saying" he didn't mean the words spoken. It was spoken out of anger or frustration. Have u not experienced this situation in your lifetime?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 13, 2011 at 05:24 PM
Wonder what Perez Hilton is up to?
Posted by: Robert | April 13, 2011 at 05:25 PM
What a joke. He should never have been fined. This is a game boys. People get angry. Game. Stern is a joke.
Posted by: Brad Edwards | April 13, 2011 at 05:25 PM
Calm down people, isn't Glee on tonight?
Posted by: Fernando | April 13, 2011 at 05:28 PM
Politcal corectness at its finest. The man said something in the heat of a moment and because it hurts someone's feelings it's a major issue. I am formally applying for the position of Executive Director of the "People who are sick of tired of being politcally correct."
Posted by: bruinnnc | April 13, 2011 at 05:28 PM
Where is the right to freedom of speech under article 19? It is so double standard.
Posted by: speakup | April 13, 2011 at 05:32 PM
I'm going to wait until a homosexual basketball player is rich and famous. Once this happens, then I am going to buy one of those high tech cameras and capture every single moment of his career. If I ever find this "homosexual" player use the words of "gay", "fa**et", or other terms insulting the LGBT, then we all know who this homosexual represents. I expect these things to be all shared between all athletes. Why is it that the LGBT is out there crying about every little thing? No where is safe for any person to say anything. This is the society that we created and it's quite sad.
Posted by: Lakerfan | April 13, 2011 at 05:32 PM
I agree with KOBE and what he said. The reason GOD created ADAM and EVE
NOT NOT NOT ADAM AND STEVE!
:))))))))
Posted by: Lakers | April 13, 2011 at 05:32 PM
If I were Kobe, I would simply say that I meant the ref was a s useless as a bundle of sticks.
Posted by: Dictionary definition | April 13, 2011 at 05:33 PM
Fernando,
I laughed.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 13, 2011 at 05:41 PM
No one is stopping kobe from using derisive terms. He will just get fined for doing so. He is making $24 million a year so he can afford the fines. We can cantrol our anger we do it all the time. When we get angry at work do we call our boss a ball headed fat piece of sheet? No. if ray lewis of the ravens miss and step on your foot will any of us jump up in his face and call him some derogatory name? All of us who like our teeth will stay calm. So to suggest that kobe can't control his anger is bogus.
Posted by: island priest | April 13, 2011 at 05:45 PM
Oh pleeeeease. There is no reason in the world to fine him one dime. This is total overkill and pandering to a very small class of people. Lets get on with the important things in life.
Posted by: Think123 | April 13, 2011 at 05:47 PM
That beats the $2.00 fine I paid to say FU f*****t to my boss.
Posted by: Kyle | April 13, 2011 at 06:01 PM
Hey everyone,
When NBA players are levied fines, all the money eventually goes to charity. The NBA Players' Association receives and donates half the money and the NBA receives and donates the other half to charities the players' association has approved. So, it appears to get spread among many organizations who put the money to good use.
Here's a link for the entire story:
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/04/what-happens-to-kobe-bryants-100000-fine-.html
Enjoy the postseason.
Posted by: Dan Loumena | April 13, 2011 at 06:56 PM
hey the boys got their panties in a wad , get over it and be a man.
Posted by: catt | April 13, 2011 at 07:28 PM
What is $100k to this jerk? He should have been suspended for a few games. THAT would be meaningful to him. $100k is chump change to these overpaid and underworked jerks.
Posted by: mhcfires | April 13, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Maybe if someone called him the N word he would then understand how words hurt. So here goes,.......Even though you make lots of money and are a professional athlete...YOUR still a nigger.....Does not feel real good now does it.....you want respect, then give it to others, JERK!!!!!
Posted by: John Miller | April 14, 2011 at 02:19 AM
Ok; now it´s time to recognize that gays and lesbians are fully incorporated in everyday living , so why so much sensibility???; they are not discriminated minority anymore.!!!!!Between heteros are every day said strong things and no 1 cares. But it is a cheap publicity for Kobe... And cheers for him cause he knows well how to do his business. Lakers are great. :)))) 1 more thing, it would be much more profitable to invest in the children than spend time with bu**s**t. Big love to everyone ...
Posted by: jim | April 14, 2011 at 03:14 PM
The only way you can get his ATTENTION!!! Is Keeping Him Out At least Three Games.!!!
Posted by: Bruce Cameron | April 14, 2011 at 04:30 PM
"Bay to LA,
David Stern may be the commissioner of NBA but he's not the immediate boss of any player. Supposing he is the boss as you alluded to, can Kobe not ask for appeal to a higher boss to review such unfair actions. Now if there is nobody higher than David Stern, then it is dictatorship. Can't say anything, do anything but pay for the consequences as determined by the Commissioner.
BTW, are you a subservient follower and always agree to what the boss says?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 13, 2011 at 05:03 PM "
Most private companies essentially are dictatorships in that respect. I don't have a higher boss to go to if I want to review dissatisfaction with my boss.
And no, I don't always agree with what my boss says but that doesn't give me the right to speak my mind and still have a job no matter what I say. On the other side of it, if I have a problem I am free to leave and there is nothing the "dictator" can do to stop me.
Posted by: Bay to LA | April 14, 2011 at 04:42 PM
Hey Kobe said it because it just
Came out ppl make mistakes stop
pressuring Kobe he's just person who isn't
perfect like all of us they made a big
deal out of nothing!
Lakers are #1
Kobe a.k.a black mamba
Love u Kobe now and always
Posted by: Kobe's #1 fan | April 15, 2011 at 05:59 PM
To Kobe: The FG word you hurled on national tv, is just like some one hurling the NG word at you! How would you like that?
Triple the fine and then match that amount with a charitable contributions to the groups you have offended, and get some psych help. Immediate suspension!
Posted by: NG FG | April 16, 2011 at 12:24 AM
When we go to the games is to watch a match of two good teams striving to the best, and eventually one will be the winner. Meanwhile, the players are ought to behave within sportsmanship. This involves self control of emotions, respect to all players and officers in the court. As well as public who pay for the tickets to watch a good professional game.
There is no space then, for outbursts of anger from disappointments, less to use derogatory words against someone especially when those words have some negative significance of ethnicity, origin, race, gender, and orientation. It is understood when those words are use, even in a moment of anger, have consciously mentally searched to express the anger in that moment. to inflict aggravation. So, the fine has sent a clear message across the sport arena nationwide; no tolerance at all. There are a diversity of fans watching the sports. Think before one opens mouth, especially on public national view.
Posted by: arnblazer | April 16, 2011 at 07:53 AM
I read all the comments after the article. We always see people defending wrong because this is their hero and their hero can't do no wrong. Just keep forgiving and forgiving. Even if he murdered someone. You only care when it affects you! Though this comment hurts and offend and promote stereotypes. Hes already had plenty of things hes done but yet the public keeps forgiving him because he rich and famous. Just another OJ like get away. I haven't watch the lakers ever since he started to be the star of the Lakers. I know I will get some comments form Kobe Lovers. Again I don't care. Whats wrong is wrong. Whats right is right. He is arrogant, self-centered and full of hatred. No matter what the NBA or TV try to make him look like a hero, caring and a good person. His true character will show.
Posted by: CommonSense | April 21, 2011 at 12:40 PM
When someone hurls the N***** in the heat of the moment its okay too! When a white man and women on TV or Radio hurls the N word he gets fired loses his career and his life. He loses respect but when Black men do the same we make excuses. Fining $100,000 is like losing a penny to Kobe. We know he won't lose his job. So he will continue to make millions and be continue to be idolized. No matter what he does! More people, fans, radio and TV will continue to defend him. It never ends!
Posted by: CommonSense | April 21, 2011 at 12:59 PM