You've probably heard about it by now: midway through the third quarter of a Tuesday game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant was called for his fourth foul of the game on what he felt was a bad call by referee Bennie Adams, so he took action.
As Bryant sat down on the bench, he threw down his towel violently, picked it up and then shouted at Adams in a voice loud enough the TNT boom mic picked it up and simultaneously broadcast it live around the country.
"BENNIE!" Bryant yelled. "F**CKING F**GOT!"
Within seconds, Twitter and other social networking sites were ablast with fans and media members writing about the incident, and by Wednesday morning, it had blown up to an astonishing extent. Gay publications were responsible for a lot of the coverage, but they were only the spark -- every news source was on it by noon Wednesday.
Bryant eventually issued an apology -- but really didn't apologize, actually, being that he didn't say sorry at all and really only said that he didn't meant for his words to be taken literally.
And then the NBA fought back, commissioner David Stern announcing that the league would fine Bryant a cool $100,000. Sure, it's not a lot of money when a guy makes upwards of $20 million a year, like Bryant does, but it's significant in that the average NBA fine ranges from $5-10 thousand dollars.
Because of that, Stern showed that he placed the issue high up the spectrum of importance, and his stand was important for the NBA to take as they near an offseason of uncertainty with the impending lockout.
But what's most interesting about this whole story is this: Should Kobe actually be faulted and deemed homophobic for what he said? After all, most Americans have used a word -- or something akin to it -- in a very similar fashion as he did at some point in their lives. There's no arguing whether what he did is right or wrong -- it's clearly wrong -- but can we really say that he's a bad example of a role model as an athlete because of his use of that gay slur.
In my eyes, no. It'd be more than a little bit unfair for me to call him out for saying a word like that when I've done the same thing in my past. (Not that it makes it right. It's completely wrong. But I've still done it.) The only thing he did wrong was that he did in a public sphere. And, yes, of course there is something to be said about that, but I'm not going to crazy on him or anything.
The $100,000 fine is a good way to solve it. Bryant has been publicly reprimanded, and hopefully he and other pro athletes learn that that word should never be used, let alone in a derogatory way at a referee simply doing his job.
Hopefully the rest of us do too.
I think it's always debatable whether one should view a professional athlete as a role model or not. On the one hand their job is to play their sport but on the other hand, I am a firm believer that if you are going to be in the public eye, representing a team, you should always act professionally. Personally I think all professional athletes are role-models to young children everywhere, and they know this. I don't think many care to grasp this and thus embrace the idea that they could be a potentially positive influence in the lives of many young children that look up to them.
ReplyDeleteFor Kobe to have said this is wrong. I don't care how caught up in the moment he was. He is a grown man and he should be smart enough to recognize that no human being should be treated in such a harsh, degrading manner. There is no excuse. Not only is it insensitive, but makes light of a word used to degrade people who may be struggling with homosexuality. It's comments such as these that spark hate crimes.
The fine David Stern made Kobe is fair, although I would have had him pay more. Athletes everywhere need to learn that referees, although they do not always call the best calls in their eyes,are simply doing their jobs. Players are representing a franchise, they need to know that once at the professional level, it's business and in business respect towards everyone is key.
I can only hope more athletes will learn and begin to appreciate the opportunity they have to be a role model, and thus conduct themselves in a manner that would make their mothers proud.
I was really surprised when I heard that Kobe said this and I think that it is an issue that should be handled the way that it has been. I am a Kobe fan, however I do find that what he said obviously hurt a lot of people and only think that his punishment is deserving. I have a lot of boys in my family and know that when they are in the heat of a competitive game and in the moment, they usually say things that they do not mean. I get that, but I do still think that it is wrong to say something as hurtful and wrong as Kobe did. I know that people say it every day and it goes unpunished and unnoticed, but when you are someone like Kobe and you are in a game that is being watched by millions, you have to watch out for what you say. Yes, we all make mistakes and Kobe will bounce back for this but he should be more aware of what he says and its effects. I am happy that the GLAAD decided to get involved because they are very powerful when it comes to gay slurs and hate crimes. I think Kobe's comments have been well thought out and I think the next step is perhaps doing something positive for the gay community. I doubt that his fans will loose their interest though. The only good thing that has come out of this, is that maybe his fans which are mainly male based, will learn that this is not a term that should be used and can offend a lot of people. Hopefully they will learn from Kobe's mistakes.
ReplyDeleteFirst, it's hilarious that Kobe is used as an example of an athlete being used as a role model considering his past. But I guess that's tangential if you consider that such public outbursts using gay slurs is in fact wrong no matter what kind of role model (or lack thereof) the particular athlete is. I'm glad the NBA sanctioned Kobe. To a certain extent I'm also glad they fined him a hefty amount to prove a point that such behavior would not be tolerated by the league but I wonder if it were another athlete who had done the same thing that athlete would have received the regular fine of $5-10 thousand dollars. Probably because Kobe is such a controversial (and glorified) player, the league thought about a) damage control and b) how to make a statement. Plus, I'm sure they were banking on the fact that Kobe would simply dish out the money and shut up. I'm not saying what he did was remotely justifiable but I do wonder if such disparate treatment is just a little questionable. Yes, it's okay to take a stand but do so in a clearly biased manner is a slippery slope.
ReplyDeleteI also was really surprised when I heard that Kobe said this. I am definitely a Kobe fan, however I do find that what he said was reckless and thoughtless in a way and probably had negative effects on a lot of people. So for that reason I think that he is deserving of his punishment. I do, however, take into consideration that things often are said in the heat of the moment especially in a competitive professional spot, but I do still think that it is wrong to say what he did. Obviously the “f word” is used by people on a daily basis in a casual way sometimes but that does not make it ok. At the same time when you are a star athlete, especially someone as far in his career as he is there is just no room for slip ups like this. He is more than aware that he is watched and even looked up to by millions of fans who are young and old so he really needs to watch out for what he says. Of course, there are worse things, and he is only human. Humans make mistakes. He will bounce back from this, and especially after the involvement of GLAAD you can be sure that his publicist is setting up some kind of charity work for him to get involved in with the gay community. Hopefully he learned his lesson, and others in his same position will be sensitive to this issue as well in the future.
ReplyDeleteI am not a Laker fan, or Kobe fan, so I was 100% ok with him getting fined for using an offensive term like that. It was smart of the NBA to take such a harsh stance on offensive language and using Kobe as a model. Do I think it will prevent other professional athletes, or the public in general, from stopping using hurtful terms? Nope. It's a societal issue that needs to be addressed starting at the earliest of ages. I actually intern at GLAAD but I was surprised that his outburst was such a big deal. I don't think Kobe is a homophobe, I think he was frustrated and released his anger in an inappropriate way much like every person in the world does from time to time. The "f word" is bad but so is the n-word and other dehumanizing words like b*tch. They have become so commonly used that people don't realize they are hurtful and use them as everyday words. People need to be taught early on that such language is not OK and to use proper vocabulary to express themselves. I've always thought those who swear excessively are simply uneducated and unable to come up with the correct word they are searching for.
ReplyDeleteI would tend to agree regarding the fact that any comment I make would certainly sound as hypocritical. Ultimately, I know and understand the worst to be offensive and generally ugly, yet I still say it, not often but I do, especially in moments like the one Kobe found himself in the other night: in frustration or in times when I simply am speaking without thinking. The reality of our times is that words like this one, and other slurs, have seeped into every day speech based on the fact that a whole generation of people has seemingly forgotten how hurtful these terms can be.
ReplyDeleteWhile groups and parents tend to blame popular culture, and rappers such as Eminem or other hip-hop stars, I tend to blame the way we communicate these days. It is easy to use words like those, and in turn let them sink into our everyday vocabulary, when the person speaking is hiding behind a screen and never looking the other party in the eye. Offensive comments are easy, and heck sometimes even fun, when you can say them hiding in a basement somewhere under the hash tag “Anonymous.”
Ultimately though, I think the 100,000 dollar fine was sort of ridiculous. We expect our sports stars to act differently from us, to live up to their standard as idols, yet the truth over the last decade is that time and again they have proven to have the same faults, same vocabulary and often-same drug habits as everyone else in America. When they react in anger during a moment of intense frustration using a word like that, it is despicable yet not something we should find unexpected or horrific. There should be a fine and an apology is certainly warranted; yet the intense fighting and arguing that surrounded it seemed, at least to me, to be another example of exaggerated expectations for members of our society who have proven time and again that they do not deserve it.
While I have also used this word as have many others who went to my public schools back at home, I also agree that this incident was unacceptable. Did he deserve such a large fine? No, probably not, but it was probably a good way to teach him a lesson and set an example for the rest of the league. basketball players on such a large stage should be more careful about the way they represent themselves and the rest of the league.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, I came to learn that using gay slurs such as this one does not really mean that you think they are gay or making fun of them for being so. The word instead takes the place of other words such as loser, jerk, or any other word with a bad connotation. Some may say that this is worse as it associates being gay with being a bad person and it's hard to argue against that, but I never thought it to be that malicious.
The reason why I was first shocked about this story is that I had heard that the NBA referee in the story was actually an out of the closet homosexual. If this is truly the case (I may have heard wrong) than I am actually disgusted and this story has a whole new meaning...
Freedom of speech.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do not agree whatsoever with using Kobe's statement (hell, I don't agree with most of what is Kobe Bryant and his propensity for sexual assault), or the usage of that language, I cannot justify punishing him or any adult for expressing their emotions. In particular, this is in athletics, where most players leave everything on the court or field. Competitive emotions run high, and expressing them verbally seems like a good alternative to expressing them physically on others.
That said, if the NBA wants to fine Kobe $0.1 million, and set a good example for all the young kids watching the game, sure I'll agree with that. If police officers start handing out tickets for overhearing this word used by any joe schmoe in a public venue, well then, Houston we have a problem.
I think that the punishments against Kobe Bryant are more than reasonable. Athletes are not only models to their younger sports players, but additionally to anyone that watches them. This indicates that for children, it is incidentally appropriate to use "F**CKING F**GOT!" as a means for putting someone else down. How are they supposed to know that it is wrong or that it is demeaning in multiple ways? Not only does it affect adolescents, but it also perpetuates the use of the obscenity in everyday life. I will not say that I have never said something to the extent, but continued use, particularly in a widely viewed public setting, only worsens the situation and its effects. Considering he is an internationally known athlete, his mistake is magnified and makes the issue more significant.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to qualify what I have to say by starting out with the assertion that the term Kobe used is disgusting. I think its something we all take for granted, just saying "Oh it's wrong, we shouldn't say it, my bad" and not thinking about just how hurtful it might be if someone actually DID mean it in the way it is actually intended. We'll never know what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes, but I imagine it hurts in about the same way as, speaking as a girl, being called a b***h by someone with real hate in their eyes and voice.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the term f*ggot has become a throwaway to a lot of us who consider ourselves educated and above gay slurs. The pattern usually goes like this: we use the term, or anything derogatory towards anyone like it, immediately realize our mistake, feel bad for a second, take it back, feel better about ourselves for being so awesome as to know it's wrong, and then go about our day. This is exactly the mentality that allowed Kobe to shout that phrase without thinking about it and without meaning it. Yes, he deserves a fine, but no, this is not enough to label him a homophobe. We can't rule out the possibility, of course, but everyone is innocent until proven guilty Mel Gibson-style.
I agree with you that Kobe was just doing what a huge percentage of the population does on the daily, and the scandal was only magnified due to a boom mic and a prior rape charge. What we should focus on is the need to change the mentality that allows Kobe and the rest of us to even make the mistake in the first place.
I think the punishment against Kobe is more than reasonable. Besides the fact that he used a gay slur, he yelled profanity at a ref during a game and if i am not mistaken that is considered unsportsmanlike conduct. The NBA should be concerned more with the fact that it was unsportsmanlike of Kobe to do what he did. The fact that he used the specific term f*ggot has more to do with wether he takes his position as a professional athlete to also be a role model for children (something i think is inherit in the business of athletes) and his personal character. The LGBT community has a right to be upset that this term was used.
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