Kobe Bryant to Be Suspended by NBA for His Anti-Gay Slur?

During the third quarter of last night's game between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant was assessed with a technical foul, and once he got to the bench, he appeared to direct an anti-gay slur toward an official.

Most of the news surrounding the Lakers' win over the Spurs focused on a knee injury suffered by center Andrew Bynum, but as a video of Bryant's outburst surfaced, the conversation shifted.

The NBA has taken a very hard stance against anti-gay behavior from its players, but there is really no precedent on how to proceed with any type of punishment for Bryant.

Bryant's slur was made in the heat of the moment while his emotions were high but was clearly visible for anyone watching TNT's telecast last night, and ESPN has put the moment into its SportsCenter rotation for good measure.

So what punishment, if any, should Bryant face for his misdeed?

The most likely step will be a huge fine from the NBA, but it's doubtful that Bryant will face a suspension due to the circumstances surrounding the incident.

What Bryant said was clearly visible to anyone who can read lips, but there is always the chance that Bryant could say that his words were misconstrued or that they were not directed toward the official at all.

However, in the court of public opinion, Bryant will probably be obliterated, and he has potentially added an entire group of people to the ranks of those who already despise him.

It's a very unfortunate incident because regardless of Bryant's intent, hurling a slur like the one thrown by Bryant is wrong and hurtful under any circumstances.

The last thing Bryant needed was another polarizing moment to add to his repertoire, and for his team, it's another distraction at the worst possible time.

The Lakers had been struggling before their victory over the Spurs, but the win could have come at a great cost depending on the results of Bynum's MRI today.

History suggests that Bynum's diagnosis will cause him to miss at least a little time, and some people have been questioning the Lakers' ability to three-peat even with a healthy Bynum.

The size advantage Bynum provides the Lakers is out the window if he is unable to play, and although the Lakers are still talented enough to advance in the postseason, they would certainly miss Bynum's defense and toughness.

Bynum's injury is troubling enough as it is, but what Bryant said goes beyond basketball and threatens to attract all the wrong attention when the Lakers' focus should be squarely on the postseason.

Bryant has a responsibility to apologize to those he may have offended, and he should do it quickly to prevent a long, drawn-out and potentially drama-filled controversy.

There is no question that Bryant should receive some type of penalty from the NBA if for no other reason than to show that those types of reactions will not be tolerated.

But whatever punishment the NBA does decide to levy on Bryant will likely pale in comparison to the abuse he is about to receive from the public.