Kobe Bryant Fined $100k for Derogatory Comments
NBA Commission, David Stern, issued a statement yesterday (April 13), concerning the technical foul Kobe Bryant received during Tuesday’s game. During the game, Bryant directed a homophobic towards referee Bennie Adams. David Stern issued the following statement: “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. 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 also issued a statement through the Lakers. “What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone.”