Someone didn't learn a lesson from the $100,000 fine Kobe Bryant had to pay for using an anti-gay slur toward a referee last month.
The Associated Press reports that Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has met with NBA officials and expects to "pay the price" for the language he used during Sunday's third game of the Eastern Conference finals against Miami.
Midway through the first quarter, cameras caught Noah hurling an expletive, followed by the slur, toward a fan.
All this, just when it seemed like people were starting to get it. Kobe apologized for his outburst. Last week, Phoenix Suns President and CEO Rick Welts revealed he was gay, as did former Villanova player Will Sheridan. And Charles Barkley gave an interview last week that made homophobia in sports seem like the most ridiculous thing ever.
And now, here we go again. Noah has apologized for getting "caught up" in the exchange, adding that he meant "no disrespect" to anyone. But whether you think homophobic slurs are always meant to offend, or believe they can be used as general insults that aren't actually anti-gay, the league just released a public service announcement warning about the dangers of homophobic speech, so no one can claim ignorance. "Caught up" or not, we expect more from professional athletes.
Read more at the Washington Post.
In other news: Where Are the Black Characters With Speaking Roles?
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