Hibbert Fined 75K For Remarks

[ABQCOWBOY]

Roy Hibbert fined, apologizes for slur

Updated: June 3, 2013, 3:11 PM ET
ESPN.com news services

The NBA has fined Roy Hibbert $75,000 after the Indiana Pacers center used a gay slur in one answer and a profanity in another during his news conference Saturday following Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Hibbert ended a response to a question about his defense on Miami Heat star LeBron James with "no homo."

The NBA responded less than 24 hours later, announcing Sunday in a release that Hibbert was fined for "using inappropriate and vulgar language." The fine was handed down after Hibbert issued an apology Sunday morning, saying in a statement that he sincerely has "deep regret over my choice of words last night."

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http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/201...t-indiana-pacers-apologizes-postgame-gay-slur

 

[RastaRocket]

I thought that interview was great :laugh2: .

Not very professional, but Roy it was great; just save that stuff for when your kickin it on the couch next time. "No Homo" is a very common phrase and I don't consider it offensive at all. Also, he spoke nothing but the truth with the whole defensive player of the year stuff.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It's a PC world.

 

[Idgit]

'Inappropriate' to be sure. I'd hardly call making that particular distinction anti-anything or a slur. Don't know what the actual profanity was, perhaps that was a big part of this?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

'Inappropriate' to be sure. I'd hardly call making that particular distinction anti-anything or a slur. Don't know what the actual profanity was, perhaps that was a big part of this?

While I understand the point being made, I think I have to agree with your point here Idgit. I've certainly heard a lot worse from a lot of people who should really know better. Gordon Gee, case in point.

 

[Idgit]

While I understand the point being made, I think I have to agree with your point here Idgit. I've certainly heard a lot worse from a lot of people who should really know better. Gordon Gee, case in point.

Yeah, I don't fault the NBA for coming down hard on this. That's what you have to do in this situation. And it was a dumb word-choice, inappropriate, a stupid thing to say, all that good stuff.

It's just that the word 'slur' has a really negative connotation. I'm sure there are buddies of both sexual preferences who use the 'no homo' or 'no hetero' clarifications amongst themselves regularly without offending each other. It's just that it's something that's capable of being badly misconstrued, and so public figures need to be particularly aware of the jeopardy there.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

'Inappropriate' to be sure. I'd hardly call making that particular distinction anti-anything or a slur. Don't know what the actual profanity was, perhaps that was a big part of this?

No, the profanity wasn't anything offensive at all.. just said mother humper. It was just an overreaction from a very PC world, like ABQ said.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

"No Homo" is a very common phrase and I don't consider it offensive at all.

Are you gay? If not, it's really not for you to say if it's offensive. There's a whole list of ethnic slurs that I don't find offensive, but that doesn't mean I'm not empathetic to those that find it offensive.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

if you say "**-er" on live TV, it kinda is a big deal. not sure if it was live and made it through, but if so....you can't really say that.

The question that was being asked was about his "No homo" comment.. and idgit said it didn't sound like it was very offensive and thought possibly the profanity that he used was the offensive part to homosexuals. I was just saying it wasn't relevant to that particular comment at all. Not saying its ok to swear on live television.. although it really shouldn't be that big a deal in the society we live in right now. We hear it on tv shows/movies/radio/at work/at school/on the playground/etc/etc.. its everywhere now.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Are you gay? If not, it's really not for you to say if it's offensive. There's a whole list of ethnic slurs that I don't find offensive, but that doesn't mean I'm not empathetic to those that find it offensive.

People are way too sensitive if they get offended by someone saying "no homo". I think if you're at that point, you have much bigger issues.

My .02

 

[Manwiththeplan]

People are way too sensitive if they get offended by someone saying "no homo". I think if you're at that point, you have much bigger issues.

My .02

You can say that about almost anything. In the end, if some high profile person openly refers to any group of people by what ever racial slur is used to insult them, does it really effect me, not really. Doesn't mean they shouldn't be called out on it.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

You can say that about almost anything. In the end, if some high profile person openly refers to any group of people by what ever racial slur is used to insult them, does it really effect me, not really. Doesn't mean they shouldn't be called out on it.

I would agree.. expect that i don't think what he said can be considered a racial slur and it clearly wasn't intended to offend anyone. If anything, he's guilty of using a completely stupid phrase that our society has allowed to become common, everyday speech.

 

[Idgit]

Guys, fyi, I removed a couple comments here that circumvented the language filter. I understand that the context of the thread necessarily involved the banned words, and not using them or a circumvented-version of them makes the conversation difficult, but the guidelines are the guidelines, so please take care.

I think and hope everyone can tell from context what it was that Hibbert said on live tv.

 

[Idgit]

'Offensive' is a bad word to use in discussions like this one, because it's a necessarily subjective measure. I think we all know it was an inappropriate reference to make on live tv, if for no other reason than it could be easily misconstrued. I also suspect it wasn't remotely intended to be homophobic or a specific insult to anyone's sexual orientation. The word 'slur' helps the story get attention, but it's a sensational and intentionally incendiary way to refer to a comment that pretty much directly means 'I don't intend that in a particularly homosexual way.'

Because 'no homo' is usually used for a comic effect, and because it contains the words 'no' and 'homo,' it's easy for people to find offense if they really want to find it. But the actual comment is pretty mild.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

'Offensive' is a bad word to use in discussions like this one, because it's a necessarily subjective measure. I think we all know it was an inappropriate reference to make on live tv, if for no other reason than it could be easily misconstrued. I also suspect it wasn't remotely intended to be homophobic or a specific insult to anyone's sexual orientation. The word 'slur' helps the story get attention, but it's a sensational and intentionally incendiary way to refer to a comment that pretty much directly means 'I don't intend that in a particularly homosexual way.'

Because 'no homo' is usually used for a comic effect, and because it contains the words 'no' and 'homo,' it's easy for people to find offense if they really want to find it. But the actual comment is pretty mild.

first time i heard of "no homo" was in 2008 and it was from a youtube video. IIRC the guy's name was Cal Newman, and he was the guy who i believed coined the phrase but im not 100% sure.

people get way too caught up with PC and its really annoying and even borderline stupid at times. my really good friend/college roommate was a PC **** and would CONSTANTLY correct me. Now don't get it twisted I don't go around throwing out slurs and profanity but if I said something like "being gyped" he would throw a fit because that is offensive to gypseys (SP?)

 

[Idgit]

first time i heard of "no homo" was in 2008 and it was from a youtube video. IIRC the guy's name was Cal Newman, and he was the guy who i believed coined the phrase but im not 100% sure.

people get way too caught up with PC and its really annoying and even borderline stupid at times. my really good friend/college roommate was a PC **** and would CONSTANTLY correct me. Now don't get it twisted I don't go around throwing out slurs and profanity but if I said something like "being gyped" he would throw a fit because that is offensive to gypseys (SP?)

Gypsies.

Yes, it's a careful line. On the one hand, you have a group that's constantly discriminated against, in real terms, and you understand the frustration at anything that can be perceived as a slight. On the other, you want to start thinking that we're getting past that stuff as a society, and the fact that it gets pointed out and marked as offensive or, really, a slur is yet another indication that not all of us are quite there yet.

Either way, yeah, it was an ill-advised interview, all around.

 

[RastaRocket]

Are you gay? If not, it's really not for you to say if it's offensive. There's a whole list of ethnic slurs that I don't find offensive, but that doesn't mean I'm not empathetic to those that find it offensive.

No, but I know people who are. Who cares if he said that? It doesn't mean he has anything against gay people, it's a popular phrase. People just overreact and get butt hurt too easily these days. The only issue I have with his interview was that he said it while he was at work; other than that it was just good fun.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

Poor choice of words because it cost him 75k, but it really isn't a "slur." Maybe people should start becoming offended by being called hetero.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

No, but I know people who are.

not the same, not even close

Who cares if he said that? It doesn't mean he has anything against gay people, it's a popular phrase.

I agree that it's a popular phrase (not among homosexuals though) and using it doesn't mean you have anything against gay people, but most homosexuals are offended by that phrase. Just like when people say "that's gay," really isn't an indication that you have anything against homosexuals, but reinforces negative connotations.

People just overreact and get butt hurt too easily these days. The only issue I have with his interview was that he said it while he was at work; other than that it was just good fun.

I don't think it was a huge deal and again, I believe most of the 75k was from the other word he used and then daring Stern to fine him, but to act like what he said isn't offensive is wrong and extremely condesending.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

On the other, you want to start thinking that we're getting past that stuff as a society, and the fact that it gets pointed out and marked as offensive or, really, a slur is yet another indication that not all of us are quite there yet.

I agree with the majority of what you're saying, but on this particular issue, I can't see how anyone thinks we are past all that as a society.

And as long as there's no hostility, I think bringing stuff like this to light is what helps us get there. Yes some people will just continue to use certain words/phrases that don't pretain to them, while insisting to others that the word/phrase may pretain to, that it's not offensive, but most may not realize that something they say as a joke can indeed be hurtfull to someone else.