Times wires
Monday, May 23, 2011
MIAMI — 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 final and vowed to learn from the incident.
The NBA released its decision after speaking with the former Gator, saying the fine was "for using a derogatory and offensive term from the bench."
The fine is half of what Lakers star Kobe Bryant was assessed for shouting the same slur toward a referee last month. The league said the sanction against Bryant was based on what he said and whom he said it to.
"Kobe's fine included discipline for verbal abuse of a game official," NBA spokesman Mark Broussard said.
Noah has a $60 million deal through the 2015-16 season. Some of his teammates, including Taj Gibson and Luol Deng, said the fan went too far with persistent heckling.
"Honestly, I felt like jumping in the crowd and hitting him," Deng said.
Bulls center Carlos Boozer said fans have a right to say what they want to, and "unfortunately sometimes, for us, we just have to sit there and take it."
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Human Rights Campaign, major advocacy groups, called upon the league to sanction Noah and further educate players on the topic.
"The fan said something that was disrespectful towards me (teammates said it involved Noah's mother)," Noah said. "And I went back at him. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings. Anybody who knows me knows that I'm not like that. I'm an open-minded guy. I said the wrong thing, and I'm going to pay the consequences — deal with the consequences — like a man. I don't want to be a distraction to the team right now."
"We know what business we are in," said Heat forward LeBron James, who this month was not fined after referring to a reporter's questions as "retarded."
"Emotions get played," James said. "I don't think it was right what he said. But emotions do get said over the course of the game. We know there's going to be microphones. We know there's going to be cameras around. You just have to be cautious about what you say and just try to control your emotions as much as possible."
Blazers: General manager Rich Cho was fired after less than a year on the job. "The chemistry just wasn't there, and we didn't feel it was going to get any better moving forward," president Larry Miller said. A disagreement about disciplining All-Star guard Brandon Roy was not a factor, Miller said. Cho wanted to suspend Roy over comments he made during the playoffs about lack of playing time. Allen did not agree, and Roy was not suspended. Chad Buchanan, director of college scouting, will serve as acting GM.
timberwolves: Kurt Rambis appeared at a predraft workout of prospects in Minnesota despite not knowing if he will return as coach next season. The Timberwolves are hosting dozens of scouts, executives and coaches around the NBA over the next three days to get a look at players who will be considered in the draft next month. Rambis was a surprise appearance because president David Kahn has not said if he will be back for a third season. Rambis and Kahn were not available for interviews. Kahn said through a spokesman that no decision has been made on the coach.
Conference finals
East
Heat 2, Bulls 1
Game 1: Bulls 103, Heat 82
Game 2: Heat 85, Bulls 75
Game 3: Heat 96, Bulls 85
Tonight: at Miami, 8:30, TNT
Thursday: at Chicago, 8:30, TNT
Saturday: at Miami, 8:30, TNT *
Monday: at Chicago, 8:30, TNT *
West
Mavericks 2, Thunder 1
Game 1: Mavericks 121, Thunder 112
Game 2: Thunder 106, Mavericks 100
Game 3: Mavericks 93, Thunder 87
Monday: at Oklahoma City, late
Wednesday: at Dallas, 9, ESPN
Friday: at Oklahoma City, 9, ESPN *
Sunday: at Dallas, 9, ESPN *
* If necessary