When Kobe directed his gay slur towards a referee, he was fined $100K. Joakim Noah used the same word at a fan, and the League only fined him $50K. They make it seem as if refs are more valuable than ticket paying patrons.
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was fined $50,000 on Monday for directing an anti-gay slur at a fan during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, and vowed to learn from the incident.
The NBA released its decision hours after speaking with Noah, saying the fine was “for using a derogatory and offensive term from the bench.”
The fine is only half of what Los Angeles Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant was assessed for shouting the same slur toward a referee last month, and the league said the discrepancy was because the sanction against Bryant was based on both what he said — and who he said it to.
“Kobe’s fine included discipline for verbal abuse of a game official,” NBA spokesman Mark Broussard said.
Read more about the fine at ESPN.com.
