Kobe Bryant, :hemad:

[strahanfan92]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t84p7mcK2Pk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t84p7mcK2Pk[/ame]

It doesn't matter if it wasn't meant for our ears. It doesn't matter that NBA players might do it all the time. And it doesn't matter in the slightest that Kobe Bryant(notes) wasn't using the usual, hateful, meaning behind a homophobic slur that starts with an "f" and ends with those who are mindful of the pain and suffering that the LGBT community has gone through cringing as we hear it.

Kobe Bryant apparently called referee Bennie Adams a "fucking faggot" following both a personal and technical foul call that didn't go Kobe's way on Tuesday night (the video can be seen here), and Bryant has been rightfully excoriated for it. He shouldn't have done it on Tuesday night, he shouldn't have done it the times we haven't heard him say it, and he shouldn't ever do it again. Doesn't matter, no excuses, I don't want to hear it. There are hundreds of individual curse words to use in that situation, don't use that one.

(About to reply? To tell me to get off my high horse? To comment away? To wonder aloud about my own sexuality? Please, bring on a new zing that I'm totally sure I haven't heard 3900 times already since I started writing on the internet in 1997. I'm sure it will be a killer.)

It doesn't matter. Alone in a gym, on the bench where nobody can hear you, or within earshot of TNT's mics. Don't use that word. Not unlike another word we've effectively taken out of the lexicon, one that starts with an "n," to the frustrated cries that usually start with, "but it doesn't always have to mean …"

Appalling optimist that I am? Gay rights groups will complain, as they already have to TMZ, and Kobe gets a fine. Then Kobe, easily the most foul-mouthed on-record superstar I can recall, leaps to the vanguard of the "shut the hell up with that word and just call the guy an [rhymes with 'bassbowl']" crowd. It's a fun crowd. We still get to say dirty words. I'm saying them right now.

Kobe's fans and some of his more slavish online devotees (rhymes with "Nick Puker") have already started the "what's the big deal?" defense. John Krolik came through with the thoughtful, measured response to the incident early this morning, and his take was spot on. Now I have to come through and add exclamation marks to everything. Don't say that word. Don't. Don't care, don't care, and I don't want to hear the excuses. There's no getting around this on any meaningful level. You don't say it.

Is that simple enough?
Related: Kobe Bryant

DJ Fog, your thoughts?


Personally, I have no problem with the f words, however, did Kobe seriously punch his own teammate? That's fucked up.

[DJ Fog]

If a non-black called him a "nigger" I'm sure there'd be some outrage.

"faggot" is usually known as the most insulting gay slur around the community. Am I personally offended? No. But do I think he's an idiot.. yeah.

[killgod]

It looks odd. Definitely looks like he punches that guy, but that guy doesn't really seem to react at all.

[ralaw]

Its pretty obvious Kobe was attempting to punch the chair while his teammate Joe Smith was trying to give him a hand slap or something.


As for what he said to me its a touchy topic because at what point do the players have any sort of privacy on the court? With the media continuing to go deeper and deeper into the happenings of these games it sort of gives the viewer too much information. I'm not sure that he yelled it, because it seems as if he just mouthed it to himself. This sort of thing is said all of the time and I think the media and those listening should take this sort of thing in the context of competition. He obviously was just upset about the call and reacted. The unfortunate part for Kobe about this is that certain groups will make a big deal of this to further their own agenda, thus Kobe will have to put out some sort of generic apology. However, this is where Kobe and other athletes have to understand the spotlight that they're under and realize that the cameras will be on them...especially in Kobe's case after getting a technical foul.

[Houston]

If a non-black called him a "nigger" I'm sure there'd be some outrage.

"faggot" is usually known as the most insulting gay slur around the community. Am I personally offended? No. But do I think he's an idiot.. yeah.

but "faggot" is a weird insult because 90% of the time it's not even being used to offend a gay person.

[killgod]

good point, faggot.






















wait I did that wrong.

[DJ Fog]

but "faggot" is a weird insult because 90% of the time it's not even being used to offend a gay person.

The N word is used in many instances where absolutely no offense is implied towards a black person, but is that suppose to make it ok?


For example, I walk into a bar and say "wasssup my niggas?!" to all white friends. Am I offending anybody.. probably not, but should I do that? No.

[Juggernaut]

For example, I walk into a bar and say "wasssup my niggas?!" to all white friends. Am I offending anybody.. probably not, but should I do that? No.

If there was some random black guy who heard, would you apologize? Probably.

If you were then called a racist, and compared to a KKK member, would you argue that your intent wasn't to offend?

Kobe didn't mean to offend anyone, this is a no issue.

[Houston]

good point, faggot.






















wait I did that wrong.

No you didn't

[DJ Fog]

If there was some random black guy who heard, would you apologize? Probably.

If you were then called a racist, and compared to a KKK member, would you argue that your intent wasn't to offend?

Kobe didn't mean to offend anyone, this is a no issue.

I wouldn't do it period. So I guess I wouldn't have to apologize.

[DJ Fog]

And somewhat lengthy story:

The other day I was at a house party (with all gays) for a friend and later on during it someone had told a joke outside. It was the "Why does Beyonce sing to the left to left.... cause niggas don't know their rights".

Anywho, a guy who heard it repeated it to someone in the house. A black gay overheard this apparently and starts facebooking about 'not enjoying being reffered to by the n word'.

The majority of us from the party were at the local gay bar afterwards, where they were doing a drag show. The one black drag must have been relayed the story because between numbers he goes on a tirade about people not using the n word, and totally calling out the guy in the audience who said it. He apologized obv, but damn, if you think gay's go off about the use of faggot, just wait till you see a black gay hear the N word.

[FirstTimer]

Anyone crying over this is a faggot.

[Kuzzy Powers]

And somewhat lengthy story:

The other day I was at a house party (with all gays) for a friend and later on during it someone had told a joke outside. It was the "Why does Beyonce sing to the left to left.... cause niggas don't know their rights".

Anywho, a guy who heard it repeated it to someone in the house. A black gay overheard this apparently and starts facebooking about 'not enjoying being reffered to by the n word'.

The majority of us from the party were at the local gay bar afterwards, where they were doing a drag show. The one black drag must have been relayed the story because between numbers he goes on a tirade about people not using the n word, and totally calling out the guy in the audience who said it. He apologized obv, but damn, if you think gay's go off about the use of faggot, just wait till you see a black gay hear the N word.

Wow, the homo-negro community is pretty tight eh?

[strahanfan92]

Fined 100K.

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant fined $100,000 for directing homophobic slur at ref - ESPN Los Angeles

Ridiculous.

[Juggernaut]

Wow, the homo-negro community is pretty tight eh?