Jesus Christ Kobe .... didn't we just begin to forget all the terrible adulterous illegal things you did awhile back ... now you have to piss off the gays. What's next? Shall you find a stranded kitty clinging to a tree and punt it across a parking lot?

During a game Tuesday night, Kobe received a technical foul - putting him in the dangerous position of being suspended should we have gotten another one - and apparently Mr. Bryant felt that the ref's call was unfair. So much so that Kobe's usual pissed off antics of throwing shit around wasn't enough, oh no. He instead felt that he had to call the referee a "fucking faggot". I don't feel the need to censor myself in this blog or awkwardly and vaguely refer to the phrase "fucking faggot" as a gay slur. To top off this already ridiculous situation is that just as he was calling the referee a "fucking faggot" the camera decided to do a close-up on him eliminating all ambiguity about what had just happened. Here is a link to the youtube videoof the incident. The NBA, who as of late has been trying to create a more gay friendly image, fined the basketball star $100,000. In response to the fine Bryant had this to say

"The comment that I made, even though it was not meant as what it's perceived to be, is nonetheless wrong"

Let us just take a moment to unpact this statement. Well I'm glad that Bryant at his age can differentiate between right and wrong - especially after someone slaps him with a fine. However I a little concerned - how can the phrase "fucking faggot" mean anything other than ... well ... "fucking faggot". I'm sorry that my perception is that you're a homophobic asshole, who got caught being a homophobic asshole, and you're trying to convince everyone that you are not a homophobic asshole by saying it all about interpretation. Fuck that! Also, Mr. Bryant is appealing the file which shows us that he DOES NOT believe what he did is wrong ... or at least not wrong enough to warrant a paultry fine of $100,000.

Ironically, Kobe's statement occurred on the same exact day that the NBA was planning on unveiling their new public service announcement campaign with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). This would be a part of og GLSEN's "Think Before You Speak" campaign and the PSA was set to air during the NBA Finals. Former Detroit Pistons hottie Grant Hill is featured in that PSA.

What's really funny ... and by funny I mean kind of devastating ... is the public reaction to this event. People are attempting to exonerate Mr. Bryant while others are labeling athletics as an institutionalized system of oppression.  Critics chastize Bryant because he is an athlete and role model and is not taking that responsibility seriously - REALLY what gave that away. Others are excusing his behavior relating that basketball games are high pressure situations with tensions running high and therefore its excusable and permissable that he said it - kind of like how murderers would use the gay panic attack to absolve themselves from guilt and punishment. Some say he has learned his lesson - live and let live - while others feel that his punishment is not servere enough.

Regardless, it happened and everyone is looking to see what is going to happen next. If Kobe would have delivered a sincere apology and then joined Grant Hill in the PSA I probably would already be over the situation. However, his inability to grow up, own up to his actions, and endure the consequences makes him look childish and dumb. IT'S 2011 PEOPLE let's get with the picture.