Kobe Bryant: NBA Needs To Reduce Fine on Kobe for Gay Slur Uttered at Referee

Kobe Bryant says he is appealing the 100,000 dollar fine the NBA slapped in his face after television cameras caught him calling referee Bennie Adams a gay slur when he sat down on the bench following his technical foul.

I’m not condoning the use of the word he used, but a $100,000 fine is simply ridiculous. Bryant was frustrated and in the heat of the battle and vented the first thing that came out of his mouth. People need to realize that despite the word having a derogatory connotation, Bryant did not use it in that manner. Not only that but if it were not for the television cameras nobody would have heard about it.

Now since his actions represent the NBA I think that it is appropriate for them to fine him, sending a message that they are not going to tolerate derogatory language especially words that offend a sexual orientation. However, the NBA needs to fine the action and not the player. If another player in the league had spoken the same words there is no way that the NBA would have punished them to the same extent. They need to be consistent in their fining of players. Even though $100,000 is not much money to Kobe the way it may be to a rookie who comes off the bench, the NBA needs to hold all players to the same standard.

Charles Barkley has always been one to say that the players should not be role models. But they are, no matter if they like it or not. A young boy is much more likely to try to act like Kobe than he is to try to emulate his own father, simply because Kobe is on TV, Kobe is good, and Kobe is popular. Therefore, Kobe needs to be punished for the use of derogatory language which that same kid might see on TV and assume that it’s okay because…well it’s Kobe.

When the NBA reviews Bryant’s case they need to understand that, like just about anything, words have evolved over time. Offensive terms are tossed around nowadays without the vulgarity that they had in the past. Is this right? No. But hopefully the league can understand this reality and see that Kobe is not a homophobe. In an apology statement, Bryant said "What I said last night should not be taken literally," Bryant said in an apology issued late Wednesday. "My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do not reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were not meant to offend anyone."   I’d like to see the NBA reduce his fine to five or ten thousand, instead of the inordinate sum he currently owes.