A Stern Warning?

Kobe Bryant was fined 100 thousand dollars for an anti gay slur he directed at a referee. Is this the NBA’s way of sending him a message they will not tolerate such acts or just their way of appeasing Gay and Lesbian groups on the eve of the playoffs?

First of all, the fine amounts to nothing more than chump change to Kobe. Remember how much he spent on a ring for his wife after his little episode in Colorado? The fine will not keep Kobe from uttering similar slurs at refs, opponents, or even team mates. At best, it may make him think twice before doing it within range of a microphone.

David Stern fined Kobe because he wants to appear to be a strong leader who will not put up with such comments but in reality he hopes this is enough to prevent picketing outside NBA arenas as the playoff arrive. To Stern, image is everything. However, there are worse messages tattooed on the arms of NBA players and the music they use to pump themselves up before a game often has messages that would make most people squirm and yet Stern could care less as long as protest groups do not complain.

Then there are the fans that pay big bucks to attend games while getting liquored up and screaming the vilest comments to players who have the audacity to do something as horrible as miss a shot. To Stern, they are just exercising free speech. So are the fans who unfurl posters of bikini clad women to distract players shooting free throws. Stern does not find these acts demeaning in any way because it’s all part of the NBA experience that keeps guys like me at home in front of the tube instead of attending games live.

If Stern wanted a clean, family friendly product, he would do more than slap Kobe with a meaningless fine. He would institute a drug testing program that would make what other professional leagues do look as though they are in the dark ages. He would clean up the off court behaviors of players who continually act in embarrassing ways with little or no consequence. He would rid the league of the “ghetto” image it carries among our youth and require players to participate in “give back” programs to those in the community far less fortunate than the players.

Instead, Stern hands down a swift fine, puts on a smile, goes before the cameras and does a little damage control before breathing a sigh of relief and hoping it is enough to avoid any protests.

With Stern warnings like this, it is a wonder David Stern has been able to remain commissioner of the NBA for more than two decades.