Joakim Noah Caught Using Gay Slur During Game

First Kobe Bryant, now Joakim Noah. The Bulls star has been caught using a gay slur towards a fan and will likely be punished by the NBA for his actions. The incident occured just one week after Suns CEO and president Rick Welts admitted that he was gay, one of the first prominent figures in sports to do so.

Bryant was fined $100k for using a gay slur towards an official, so expect Noah's punishment to be similar. The Bulls star has apologized, and given that Noah deals with a lot of abuse from opposing fans night after night, he may be given more of a free pass from other players and the media in regards to his actions than Bryant was.

The bigger picture here is that the NBA can't shake the issue of its players using gay slurs during games. After Bryant was caught hurling a gay obscenity at an official, the league started running commercials featuring NBA stars encouraging players and fans not to use gay slurs during basketball. If Welts' coming out was a step forward for the sport, Noah's actions are a clear step back.

Kobe Bryant Fined For Using Gay Slur in Game

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was fined 100k by NBA commissioner David Stern for using a gay slur during a game. Bryant has apologized for the incident, and plans on appealing the fine.

The All-Star guard apparently was upset after being whistled for a technical foul, and hurled the slur at referee Bennie Adams. Unfortunately, the cameras were on Kobe (as they usually are). Bryant, known throughout the league as a fierce competitor with an extremely short fuse, will not have to miss any playoff games if further punishment is issued.

The league did what it had to do on this issue, especially with a high-profile player such as Bryant. This is an athlete who has the second highest selling jersey in the league and is on TV night in and night out. As a result, Stern’s actions were praised by various gay and lesbian communities across the country.

In Bryant’s defense, he said something in the heat of the moment that likely gets tossed around several times in an NBA game. Basketball players are notorious trash talkers, and we have several examples of guys taking it too far. Bryant got caught, and saying these comments to an official rather than an opposing player probably deserves a stronger punishment. While the NBA did the right thing, it is foolish to think this will cut down on NBA trash talk or force athletes to choose their words more carefully during games.