The use of anti-gay slurs has become the standard form of insult in sports.
Although they are displayed more in the professional sporting atmosphere, they range to local levels in all sports. Whether it's pick-up basketball, a flag football game, or even a game of pool, anti-gay brands are thrown around constantly.
Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for yelling an anti-gay insult at referee Bennie Adams during an April 12th game against the San Antonio Spurs. Bryant apologized for his actions and since then the NBA has attempted to make strides in eliminating those slurs from the league.
Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash released a public service announcement supporting same-sex marriage, and Suns president Rick Welts talked about his homosexuality on ESPN shortly after.
New York Rangers left winger and "league bully" Sean Avery also released a P.S.A. supporting same-sex marriage. Other leagues have shown their acceptance of the gay community around the world.
Apparently Joakim Noah did not get the message.
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was caught on camera directing a derogatory homosexual slur at a fan in Miami during Sunday's Eastern Conference Final match up against the Heat. Noah was fined $50,000 for his actions and apologized after the game.
Now, how exactly is this fair? I know athletes make insurmountable amounts of money that most people in the world will never see in their lifetime. However, if Noah and Bryant were punished for the same offense, how did Noah get half of the fine that Bryant did? Way to go, David Stern.
The actions of both men were inexcusable, and they sent a poor message to the kids watching at home that it is perfectly fine to slander another person with such paltry language. Having said that, both players should be punished the same amount of money. In a business like the NBA, or any other professional sports league for that matter, hitting an athlete in the wallet is down right insulting. Between salaries and endorsements, of which Bryant and Noah have, is a petty fine really going to get the message across? Definitely not.
Noah makes a little over $3,000,000 a season, while Bryant makes a shade under $25,000,000 a season. Based on the annual percentages it's clearly more of a blow to Noah who loses 1.6 percent of his annual salary, while Bryant loses only .4 percent of his annual salary.
The punishment needs to be regulated based on the severity of the issue, not the offenders' income. If one person makes a mistake and is punished, then whoever makes the same mistake afterward should face the same punishment.
If Ray Lewis is slapped with a $50,000 fine for a helmet-to-helmet hit, should a lesser-paid linebacker only be fined $25,000 for the same offense simply because he doesn't make as much money? There is no logic in that.
I thought the punishment was supposed to fit the crime, not the size of the wallet. But then again, I forgot that these are no longer games, these are businesses. And as long as money makes the world go 'round, there will never be any stability or fairness in these leagues. And they call themselves professionals.
Elena Lyons Brooke Burns Lena Headey Ali Larter Angelina Jolie
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