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.

Suns President Rick Welts Reveals He Is Gay

Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts has revealed to the public that he is gay. Welts hopes that by coming out, he will help the NBA address a topic it has had trouble approaching in the past.

Welts' admission wasn't much of a surprise to Suns guard Steve Nash, NBA commissioner David Stern, or Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry, who all had ideas about Welts' sexuality but reaffirmed their support for the Suns executive. Welts hopes that by admitting he is gay, he can help breach a wall that has seperated homosexuality and sports.

Welts' revelation may have opened the door for other athletes to address their sexuality. ESPN now has a feature on former Villanova guard Will Sheridan, who also has admitted that he is gay. Other athletes may address the topic in the future after the general positive reception both Welts and Sheridan have received for their bravery.