PHOTO: GETTY
Did Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah use the exact same slur that Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was fined for? Apparently the basketball star yelled "F*ck you, faggot!" to a fan seated behind him during last night's 96-85 playoff defeat to the Miami Heat.
After getting called for a foul against LeBron James of the Miami Heat in the first quarter, the Bulls center starts yelling at somebody behind his team's bench at Miami's American Airlines Arena. Noah appears to use the same expletive homophobic slur that drew a $100,000 fine for Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers when he used it on a referee in April. The tape doesn't appear to be as definitive as the Kobe incident.
Noah later "apologized" at a press conference. "The fan said something to me that I thought was disrespectful, and I got caught up in the moment, and I responded," said Noah. "I was frustrated and I didn't mean any disrespect to anyone."
Joakim Noah is the son of former French-Cameroonian tennis legend Yannick Noah. In 2005 and 2006, the legendary tennis star and well-known playboy was gay-baited by tabloid media in Cameroon.
Watch and judge for yourself at :20, WHEN YOU JUMP ...
So, help me understand... how does one say to another person what Joakim said to fan WITHOUT meaning any disrespect? It's mind-boggling.
Posted by: Steve B | 23 May 2011 at 08:57
All right, since my comment was censored on Towleroad I'll make it here.
Last week on Rod McCollum's Blog it was reported that a sentence was given for one of the murderers of 4 Black Gay teenagers in Newark, New Jersey. Very few of the White Gay blogs felt these anti-Gay torture murders were worthy of continued coverage. And these murders were just as horrific as the torture murders of Matthew Shepard and Brandon Teena....but obviously not very important to White Gays.
But this bullshit from a bullshitting NBA jock is important.
Some of us Black Gays have been naive about the level of racism among White Gays. I guess I'm one....but then, a fifty-somethin' year old queen like me has learned not to trust no goddamn body--not a racist cracka' fag, and not a vicious geetchie queen either.
....stay to myself, child.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 23 May 2011 at 09:06
When will they learn?
Posted by: Isis | 23 May 2011 at 10:45
Those of us that know him did nothing but smile seeing as how he is ...........
Posted by: right46 | 23 May 2011 at 10:59
@ Derick:
What happened at Towleroad? They cut your comment?
Oh and you ain't nevah lied about the white gay racism. It is full on mode each and every time a black athlete or public figure makes a homophobic commment. They want to paint all blacks as homophobic. White Republicans in Minnesota are sending marriage amendments to the ballots and not so much anger ... and definitely not accusing all "white" people of being homophobic.
And the white gay blogs NEVER covered the Newark story iirc. Never.
Posted by: Former COGIC | 23 May 2011 at 11:26
@Derrick: Well, don't go to queerty.com. So far, they are forgiving Noah because he is so "hot."
And, I love what you said about gay racism. Truth is truth! By the way, is it naivety by some of us or straight up denial?
Posted by: Bubbalicious | 23 May 2011 at 13:36
@Steve B
I assume Noah was saying he meant no disrespect to the GLBT community. Clearly he meant something towards the person he was shouting at.
Posted by: fff | 23 May 2011 at 13:43
@Derrick. Co-sign! Ive called them on it at Outsports as well. It is usually viewed as their opportunity to drop the "N" word, you know, to make a point. Not saying black athletes shouldn't be held accountable for their homophobia though.
And as far as him being excused for being "hot"..uh whatever. Light skinned/mixed doesn't always equal hot.
Posted by: DFS | 23 May 2011 at 14:18
Yeah, I've seen those comments about Noah and for the most part folks seem to be going for the hair as opposed to the fact that he's black and reaching for the n-word.
Of course they may have fond memories of his father (who was also a bit of a hothead).
Oh, and Derrick from Philly, youy are very correct
Posted by: Chitown Kev | 23 May 2011 at 14:46
@ Derrick. Snap true!
Also, "geetchie", ah, the word takes me back to my homeland
Posted by: Honut Sinti | 23 May 2011 at 16:47
Meh, I don't care too much about these fools spouting faggot remakrs because it's no longer that shocking or unexpected. It feels more like a unwritten policy.
As for the notion about Black people being the most raging homophobes, let me ask you this: If someone does strongly believe in that, what good does it does for them dwell on the subject over and over and over again. It's becoming cliched and rather predictable.
Noah is alright but most Latin Papis I've seen, who are usually of the mixed variant, are hotter than this dude.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 23 May 2011 at 17:08
Maybe, just maybe there should be some sort of penalty for fans who taunt players to the degree this “fan” did.
Then to act applaud that Noah said something back to him was laughable.
Just because you buy a ticket to a game should not mean you then have carte blanche to do and say whatever you want to players.
p.s. It's just STUPID to judge rightness or wrongness on "Cute"
Posted by: Azzyet | 24 May 2011 at 13:01
Of course Azzyet. It's the fans "fault" for "taunting" and provoking a player. ROFL
Do you say that when gays are gay bashed? Was it their fault too? Or only when straight multi-millionaire sports players throw that word around?
How about: The NBA contract prohibits players from using verbal slurs while they're playing? Joakim is getting $7M a year. I'm sure many people are calling him names, that's sports. It's not what people say to you, it's how you respond.
SMH @ the fan's "fault". And of course it's from someone whose name I've never seen before, as usual to defend some straight millionaire brotha who uses homophobic language. Typical in our community.
Posted by: Greg G | 24 May 2011 at 13:15