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.

Big 12 Signs Long Term Deal With Fox Sports

On Wednesday, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe announced a new TV Deal with Fox Sports for Big 12 Football. The Deal starts next year (the 2012 season) and runs for 13 years. Financial terms weren't disclosed by Beebe, but insiders say the deal is worth $1.17 billion ($90 million/yr). Other experts also said the deal could have been worth more, but the Conference insisted that Fox televise KU games as well. Add that to the $65 million annually that the Big 12 already gets from ESPN/ABC and that's a whole pile of money. Each school stands to get around $20 million after you add in other revenue from sources like the NCAA Tournament and Merchandise.

Just 10 months ago the Big 12 looked as if it might disband all together as two members fled to other Conferences and perceived greener pastures. Commissioner Beebe kept the remaining ten members together with the promise of a new TV deal that would keep the institutions flush with cash. More than that, it seems assured now that the Big 12 with 10 teams is a viable league for the long term.

All of this is good news for Kansas City, whether you are a college sports fan or not. Revenue is generated by the Big 12 coming here for their Conference Tournaments and Football games played at Arrowhead Stadium. The basketball tournament alone is said to have a $14 million impact on our local economy.

Royals Fall to Twins in Extras

After starting the season with a couple of thrilling wins in extra innings, the Royals have now been on the wrong side of two extended games. Last night, Kansas City fell to Minnesota, 4-3. As a result, the Royals are no longer in first place, trailing the White Sox by a half-game. Chicago grabbed the division lead with its own extra-inning magic against Oakland. The Royals were in a dogfight all night, and were forced to manufacture runs off of sacrifices and infield singles. The weak offensive output wasted another solid start from Jeff Francis, who now has three straight no decisions despite only giving up six runs in his first 20 2/3 innings as a Royal.

The difference in last night’s game was the performance of the bullpens: Minnesota’s relievers were absolutely lights out, retiring 12 consecutive batters and never allowing KC to pose a threat. Robinson Tejeda struggled, loading the bases before Danny Valencia won the game with a single.

Kansas City has a bad habit of dropping close slugfests like last night’s game, especially against the Twins. If it wants to continue to win games and be a contender, it has to start beating Minnesota consistently.

Spring Has Arrived in Kansas City!

Every year Kansas City marks the coming of spring by turning on their world famous fountains. This year Fountain Day fell on April 12. Tuesday, the city turned on all but one of its 47 public fountains. The Kansas City Parks Department operates the fountains, and has been preparing for this years season for the last 3 weeks. The first fountain turned on was the Firefighters' memorial fountain located in Penn Valley Park. Built in 1991, The Firefighters' Memorial Fountain is dedicated to all fallen Firefighters, but specifically those killed in a 1988 explosion on Kansas City's East side.

Our fountains are important to our local identity, and even the logo of Kansas City has a fountain in it. The decision to incorporate fountains into the city plan started in the 1890's with the City Beautiful Movement. Unfortunately, Kansas City's oldest surviving fountain is not yet operational for this year. The Women's Leadership Fountain, built in 1899 at 9th & Paseo, had copper fittings and pipe stolen from earlier this year, and will not be repaired until later this summer. The lights were stolen from the JC Nichols Fountain on the Plaza, but the water is flowing at that site anyway.

The cost for running the fountains all summer is approximately $168,000 - part of that cost is shared by the "Friends of the Fountains" fund. And repairs to the two vandalized fountains will cost around $85,000.

Lawrence Taylor Reputation Ruined Despite Lowest Sex Offender Status

Lawrence Taylor was given the status of a level one sex offender, meaning his name will not appear in search results on the online sex offender registry. Judge William Kelly ultimately decided that Taylor was not a threat to public safety and would likely not repeat his crime.

Despite avoiding a level two or three sex offender ruling, Taylor’s name has already been dragged through the mud with this trial. The former NFL star was sentenced to six months probation for being caught with a 16-year-old prostitute in May of 2010. Taylor never made any apologies for seeing a prostitute, claiming that the girl told him she was 19. While Taylor escaped a more severe punishment than many thought he deserved, he will likely now be exiled from the NFL community. His actions as well as his comments on prostitution are enough for the league to distance itself as far away from Taylor as it can. It is sad, really, that many of the best NFL players over the past 25 years carry so much baggage. Hopefully Taylor serves as a reminder to other players that no matter how dominant you are on the field, your actions off it often shape your legacy.