Kobe’s Anti-Gay Slur: is a $100,000 Fine Enough?

BY BRICE SANDER

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Kobe, Kobe, Kobe. The LA Laker takes the controversy spotlight for what seems like the billionth time.

After getting a technical foul in Tuesday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, Kobe Bryant banked it to the bench, directing a homophobic slur at the ref who called him out. (TMZ)

Kobe’s “performance” put him on damage control, apologizing for his actions. While Bryant didn’t defend his comments, he did brush them off as locker room talk to ESPN radio.

“Heat of the moment, you have outbursts. You say things – that doesn’t mean you mean what you say.”

The NBA fined Bryant $100,000 for what it called “inexcusable” language. Ouch, right? Eh- a blogger for Bleacher Report argues in The LA Times- the NBA is playing favorites.

“If the NBA had to deal with a lesser moneymaker (and they have), the player would be fined, suspended and made persona non grata. This case may test the muddy waters of ‘Fine, just don’t ask.’”

And CNN’s Jami Floyd agrees, suggesting the 100K ain’t enough.

JAMI FLOYD: “First of all, it’s $300,000 a game for Kobe Bryant. It’s like fining you or I $10, or something. It’s ridiculous, but I do think it’s really important to make a statement to viewers, to kids – for the NBA to say, ‘Look, we’re just not gonna tolerate this.'"

But as ABC’s David Wright explains, that’s exactly what the NBA was trying to do before Bryant set it back.

DAVID WRIGHT: “This controversy comes at a time when the NBA was already planning a public service campaign in order to present the league as being more ‘gay friendly' ... In fact, here’s a sneak peak at a public service message to be broadcast during the NBA finals. The Phoenix Suns’ Grant Hill taped it the same day Bryant called the ref out.”

But The Village Voice’s Michael Musto looks at the lighter side – maybe the Kobe controversy could be a good thing.

“From now on, athletes are going to be mighty wary of letting their prejudices show as they dribble on the court and get into squabbles … We’ll surely be hearing such non-headed epithets as ... 'Why, you lowdown, filthy British name for a cigarette! [Awkward pause] Which I'm sure is 'cigarette', just like here.'"

FYI, this is the sixth straight season Bryant’s landed in the top 10 for technical fouls. And while some angered fans are calling for a suspension, experts say it’s unlikely

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