- Apr 16, 2007
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MIAMI -- Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was fined $50,000 for directing an anti-gay slur toward a fan during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
That's half the fine that Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers received for using the same slur when yelling at a referee last month.
Noah apologized again for the comment, while two major advocacy groups called upon the league to sanction Noah.
Noahand NBA officials met Monday morning. Noah said he emerged from thattalk prepared to "pay the price" for what happened when he returned tothe bench with two fouls midway through the first quarter of Sundaynight's game against the Miami Heat.
"Thefan said something that was disrespectful towards me," Noah said. "AndI went back at him. Got it on camera. I don't want to hurt anybody'sfeelings. Anybody who knows me knows that I'm not like that. I'm anopen-minded guy. I said the wrong thing and I'm going to pay theconsequences -- deal with the consequences -- like a man. I don't wantto be a distraction to the team right now."
[h4]Eastern Conference Finals[/h4]
The Bulls and Heat face off with the Eastern Conference title on the line. Follow the matchup from Day 1 on ESPN.com's series page.
• Bulls blog | ESPNChicago.com
• Heat Index | TrueHoop
• NBA playoffs | Schedule
Television camerascaptured Noah saying an expletive, followed by the slur. Noah said hedid not realize the gravity of the situation until he was questioned byreporters after the game Sunday, adding that he meant "no disrespect"to anyone.
Noah's actions come after Phoenix Sunspresident and CEO Rick Welts revealed he was gay last week, a rareacknowledgement for someone holding a prominent position in men'ssports.
"We know what business we are in," Heat forward LeBron Jamessaid Monday. "Emotions get played. ... I don't think it was right whathe said. But emotions do get said over the course of the game. We knowthere's going to be microphones. We know there's going to be camerasaround. You just have to be cautious about what you say and just try tocontrol your emotions as much as possible."
The Heat won Sunday's game 96-85, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Tuesday night in Miami.
TheGay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, said itreached out to the NBA and the Bulls on Monday "to discuss next steps,"and called upon the league to reiterate to its players that anti-gaywords should not be tolerated in the game.
"Last month the NBAsent an important message about how such slurs fuel a climate ofintolerance and are unacceptable," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios saidin a statement. "These anti-gay remarks, coming so soon after,demonstrate how much needs to be done."
GLAAD said it has starteda partnership with Bryant and the Lakers following the April incidentin Los Angeles. Also Monday, the Human Rights Campaign called Noah'suse of the slur "just plain unacceptable."
"At a time when theNBA and a growing number of pro-athletes are publicly standing up forequality, it's too bad Mr. Noah worked against their efforts lastnight," HRC President Joe Solmonese said. "That said, we're pleased hequickly realized the error of his ways and apologized."
Some ofNoah's teammates stood up for him Monday, saying that the fan went toofar in whatever comments were directed toward the Bulls' bench.
"It wasn't just one time or two times," said Bulls forward Luol Deng,who declined to say what comments the fan may have made. "He just keptgoing and it became really annoying. He just lost his temper."
Bulls forward Carlos Boozer said he was not aware of exactly what took place in the bench area, but noted it happens somewhat regularly.
"That'sa part of the game," Boozer said. "Fans have the right to say what theywant to say after they buy their tickets. Unfortunately sometimes, forus, we just have to sit there and take it. Unfortunately, that's partof sports."
Noah repeated often Monday that he was apologetic forthe incident. He said he would "learn from my mistakes," andacknowledged that being frustrated over picking up his second foul didnot excuse his words.
"I'll remember," Noah said. "I'll remember it for a long time."
That's half the fine that Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers received for using the same slur when yelling at a referee last month.
Noah apologized again for the comment, while two major advocacy groups called upon the league to sanction Noah.
Noahand NBA officials met Monday morning. Noah said he emerged from thattalk prepared to "pay the price" for what happened when he returned tothe bench with two fouls midway through the first quarter of Sundaynight's game against the Miami Heat.
"Thefan said something that was disrespectful towards me," Noah said. "AndI went back at him. Got it on camera. I don't want to hurt anybody'sfeelings. Anybody who knows me knows that I'm not like that. I'm anopen-minded guy. I said the wrong thing and I'm going to pay theconsequences -- deal with the consequences -- like a man. I don't wantto be a distraction to the team right now."
[h4]Eastern Conference Finals[/h4]
• Bulls blog | ESPNChicago.com
• Heat Index | TrueHoop
• NBA playoffs | Schedule
Television camerascaptured Noah saying an expletive, followed by the slur. Noah said hedid not realize the gravity of the situation until he was questioned byreporters after the game Sunday, adding that he meant "no disrespect"to anyone.
Noah's actions come after Phoenix Sunspresident and CEO Rick Welts revealed he was gay last week, a rareacknowledgement for someone holding a prominent position in men'ssports.
"We know what business we are in," Heat forward LeBron Jamessaid Monday. "Emotions get played. ... I don't think it was right whathe said. But emotions do get said over the course of the game. We knowthere's going to be microphones. We know there's going to be camerasaround. You just have to be cautious about what you say and just try tocontrol your emotions as much as possible."
The Heat won Sunday's game 96-85, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Tuesday night in Miami.
TheGay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, said itreached out to the NBA and the Bulls on Monday "to discuss next steps,"and called upon the league to reiterate to its players that anti-gaywords should not be tolerated in the game.
"Last month the NBAsent an important message about how such slurs fuel a climate ofintolerance and are unacceptable," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios saidin a statement. "These anti-gay remarks, coming so soon after,demonstrate how much needs to be done."
GLAAD said it has starteda partnership with Bryant and the Lakers following the April incidentin Los Angeles. Also Monday, the Human Rights Campaign called Noah'suse of the slur "just plain unacceptable."
"At a time when theNBA and a growing number of pro-athletes are publicly standing up forequality, it's too bad Mr. Noah worked against their efforts lastnight," HRC President Joe Solmonese said. "That said, we're pleased hequickly realized the error of his ways and apologized."
Some ofNoah's teammates stood up for him Monday, saying that the fan went toofar in whatever comments were directed toward the Bulls' bench.
"It wasn't just one time or two times," said Bulls forward Luol Deng,who declined to say what comments the fan may have made. "He just keptgoing and it became really annoying. He just lost his temper."
Bulls forward Carlos Boozer said he was not aware of exactly what took place in the bench area, but noted it happens somewhat regularly.
"That'sa part of the game," Boozer said. "Fans have the right to say what theywant to say after they buy their tickets. Unfortunately sometimes, forus, we just have to sit there and take it. Unfortunately, that's partof sports."
Noah repeated often Monday that he was apologetic forthe incident. He said he would "learn from my mistakes," andacknowledged that being frustrated over picking up his second foul didnot excuse his words.
"I'll remember," Noah said. "I'll remember it for a long time."
