In a post earlier today, John Karalis talked about how Kobe Bryant directed a homesexual slur at official Bennie Adams during last night’s Spurs vs. Lakers game.
In a statement, the league said Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for offensive and inexcusable comments.
“Kobe Bryant’s comment during last night’s game was offensive and inexcusable. While I’m fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated,” NBA commissioner David Stern said in his statement. “Accordingly, I have fined Kobe $100,000. Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society.”
Bryant appeared on ESPN Radio in Los Angeles to explain why he used the slur.
“It was just frustration. It was the pure frustration,” Bryant told ESPN 710. “You’re in an emotional game and in the heat of the moment you have outbursts. You say things. It doesn’t mean you mean what you say.”
• Villanueva banned
According to the Los Angeles Times, Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva has been suspended five games due to his altercation with Cavaliers’ Ryan Hollis.
Villanueva is sitting out tonight’s game against the 76ers, but since the Pistons will not be in the playoffs, it’ll be interesting to see how the league treats the rest of Villanueva’s suspension. UPDATE: Villanueva will finish his suspension at the beginning of next season. He will miss the first four games of the 2011-12 season.
