NBA, 2011. We had heard athletes use the words ‘fag’ and ‘faggot’ before. In 2006, Pittsburgh Steeler Joey Porter called Kellen Winslow a ‘fag.’ Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen use the same word that year. Detroit Lions President Matt Millen called a former player a “faggot” in 2003. But in 2011 the NBA put a price tag on using the term when they fined Kobe Bryant $100k for calling referee Bennie Adams a “faggot” during a game.

In the past players using the word had been able to dismiss it. Not this time. Not in 2011. And not in the NBA. Bryant rolled his eyes and essentially called people overly sensitive for dwelling on the word. But when the media and fans came down hard on him in the 48 hours after he used the word, he changed his tune. And when Stern slapped Bryant with a six-figure fine,  it sent shockwaves through the sports world.

Like few other homophobic acts in pro sports before it, the incident gripped the sports world. And frankly, it just wasn’t as bad as many other athletes’ anti-gay indiscretions we had seen. On our “Rocker scale,” it likely would have registered a 1.5 out of 5. But because of the public profile of the star, his lame excuse, and Stern’s swift punishment…it exploded like few we had seen before it.

Bryant eventually issued a heart-felt apology and recorded an anti-bullying PSA. Like Tim Hardaway before him, he is putting his actions behind his apology.

Just a few weeks later, Chicago Bull Joakim Noah was caught using the same word; This time the fine was $50k. Despite the NBA halving Kobe’s fine (they had some lame reason about Kobe’s slur being directed at an official), the message is still clear: In the NBA, the use of the term will met with a swift, harsh punishment.

For more information:

• NBA fines Kobe Bryant $100k for anti-gay slur
• Outsports’ Rocker scale
• Column: Bryant raises cost of using anti-gay slurs

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With the Mavericks up by 30 and about to sweep the Lakers out of the playoffs, Bynum slammed Barea in the chest with his elbow as the Maverick guard soared, completely unprotected, through the air for a lay-up. (Video after the jump.)

Referees immediately ejected Bynum from the game, but that’s not remotely enough. This was the Lakers’ last game of the season. Bynum knows that. He’s eliminated many other teams en route to back-to-back NBA Championships. Cheap thugs like this can’t handle it when somebody else gets the best of them. Lamar Odom was also ejected for a cheap shot on Dirk Nowitzki.

Hopefully the league will hand him a 20-game suspension to send a very clear message: Whether your season is over or not, you cannot get away with trying to injure other players. If they don’t come down on him, and come down hard, other players will learn they can get away with injuring the team that just beat them with little consequence.

And if I were the Lakers, I’d cut him tomorrow. You can find someone else to contribute to the team, and this is simply not the behavior that two-defending champions should exhibit.

With the Lakers’ quick fall from grace I have to wonder if any of it has to do with Kobe calling a referee a “faggot.” Kharma’s a bitch.

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The NBA Playoffs are not going how they were supposed to. When you look back at 2010-11, this will be the season when the power in the NBA shifted. Are the Heat destined to win the championship? Is that the only way this season can end? I know this much…the NBA is hoping the power hasn’t shifted to a Memphis-Atlanta final.

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You can check out the PSA after the jump.

Hat tip to Fawn Yacker.

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I used to beat up a lot of kids even in high school who used to tease my friends because they were gay, or because they were black, or because they were Jewish, or because they were yellow, or because they were whatever. For people who don’t think my apology is sincere, they don’t know me. This isn’t over for me. I really plan to do more. What I said was ignorant and I really didn’t realize what I was saying. Now that I do and realize how it affects people I really plan to do more and to help with the awareness.

Some have expressed doubt about Bryant’s story, but to me the issue of beating up homophobes is secondary. Bryant says he’s going to do more on this issue, and I actually believe him. Talking to people over the weekend, and some people who have spent time with Bryant, I’ve come to think he will actually do something on this issue.

There’s still that invitation to ride in the Gay Pride Parade, Kobe! If the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks can do it…

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What happened in Tuesday night’s game is not representative of what the Lakers stand for. We want to reaffirm our commitment to all our fans and our appreciation for the support we receive from all segments of society.  We also understand the importance of positive messages in helping us convey this.  We appreciate the input we’ve received from GLAAD the past two days and will look forward to working with them on ways to help educate ourselves and our fans, and to help keep language like this out of our game.

This is a strong step in the right direction. And that’s all we can keep pushing for now – Out of lemons you have to make lemonade. You also have to applaud GLAAD. While HRC simply took a phone call and pawned their president off on CNN, GLAAD has been busy doing the work. Good for them.

Also, be sure to check out John Amaechi’s column in the New York Times today.

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Kobe Bryant’s comment during last night’s game was offensive and inexcusable.  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.

The statement is very strong, but the fine is a meaningless slap on the wrist. Last year Bryant made $33 million. I’ve seen his net worth valued in the $150 million range. That fine is the equivalent to a $120 parking ticket to the average American. The only way to get the attention of multi-million-dollar athletes is to keep them from playing. The NBA had the opportunity to send a strong message not just with their words but with their actions. They did not.

In an interview with Mason & Ireland on ESPN Radio Wednesday afternoon, Bryant said he will appeal the NBA’s decision. You can listen to that interview here.

He went on in the interview to talk about how people shouldn’t tease people and that he didn’t intend the slur the way it was taken. And he says he takes responsibility for his own actions. But he has still not apologized to anyone for his offensive comment, and his appeal of the fine certainly sends the message that he truly isn’t sorry and is instead blaming everyone else for being so damn sensitive and not understanding how hard it is to be a multi-millionaire playing professional basketball.

In the coming days and months I’ll be watching how the Lakers and Bryant himself handle the issue. Will the Lakers issue a real punishment? Will Bryant truly work to undermine homophobia in our sports culture? We’ll see.

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What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone.

First, it’s not an apology. Essentially he’s saying, “All you faggots need to chill out. I didn’t mean it that way.” Call me crazy, but that isn’t the same as, “I’m deeply sorry for what I did. I’ll make amends.” I just got an email from GLAAD, which is framing his statement as an apology; I hope they change their tune.

Second, Kobe clearly doesn’t get it. His words, using an anti-gay slur to demean someone, reinforces the notion in sports that gays are weak and that the last thing you’d ever want to be in sports is gay. But he doesn’t get that. He thinks because he has a gay friend that his actions aren’t homophobic.

I hope the Lakers and NBA see through his statement. Saying, “I didn’t mean it that way” just isn’t enough anymore.

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Within a couple hours of circulation of a video of Bryant calling a referee a “faggot,” people across the country are condemning his comment. GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios is holding the Lakers accountable:

Discriminatory slurs have no place on or off the court. Professional sports players need to set a better example for young people who use words like this on the playground and in our schools, creating a climate of intolerance and hostility. The LA Lakers have a responsibility to educate their fans about why this word is unacceptable.

Straight rugby star Ben Cohen was disappointed:

It is disappointing to see this.  As a professional athlete and rugby World Cup champion, I understand the heat and passion of competition at the highest levels.  But we must all remember that strong bodies must be balanced with strong characters, and work toward that end. Our positions as role models demand it.

The Human Rights Campaign called the incident a disgrace:

Hopefully Mr. Bryant will recognize that as a person with such fame and influence, the use of such language not only offends millions of LGBT people around the world, but also perpetuates a culture of discrimination and hate that all of us, most notably Mr. Bryant, should be working to eradicate.

LZ Granderson of ESPN said this is just the latest in a continually growing issue:

It’s a little deal that lumps in with all the other little deals we let go unchecked because, well, it’s sports. Like snowflakes gathering near the top of a mountain, each is harmless — until there’s an avalanche. Instead of the TNT announcers suggesting the cameras cut away from Kobe’s tirade, it would have been nice for them to denounce what was being said as unacceptable. It’s a slur, not a figure of speech — end of story.

Of course there’s also been the flip side. Some guy named Zach Rambaud, whose Twitter account is TornadoZRam, continued Bryant’s rant:

That is the language and attitude Bryant’s slur has inspired. There’s only one way to go with this: Suspend Kobe Bryant!

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I’ve been accused of not being sensitive enough on this Web site in the past. I’ve been told I don’t get offended easily enough and I’m not a good barometer for whether something is offensive. With this remark by Bryant, I’ve hit the tipping point. It’s time to stop the use of this word. Bryant knows it’s not appropriate; Every professional athlete knows it’s wrong. Yet Bryant decided to hurl the F-bomb at a referee with teammates and others in earshot.

Ten years ago, Major League Baseball suspended John Rocker for anti-gay and racist remarks in a Sports Illustrated interview. It’s time the NBA stepped up and said this language won’t be tolerated anymore. There won’t be a better opportunity for the NBA to make a statement than Bryant calling a referee a “faggot.” The playoffs are around the corner: The NBA should suspend Bryant for one of those playoff games. And if the NBA won’t do it, the Lakers should.

Two months ago we held Equality Night at the Staples Center, which celebrated the increased LGBT equality in sports and our society at large. I’m glad we got to hold the event with the Los Angeles Clippers and not Bryant’s Lakers.

Hat tip to TMZ and Wide Rights.

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