OT - Roy Hibbert fined by NBA for homophobic comments [LOCKED]
Roy Hibbert has been fined a significant amount by the NBA for saying this in a postgame interview:
I really felt that I let Paul down in terms of having his back when LeBron was scoring in the post or getting to the paint, because they stretched me out so much. No homo.
I'm 34 and had never heard of the phrase "no homo" until I started reading MGoBoard in 2011 - I'm apparently fallen out of touch with Hip Hop since my No Limit Soldier phase. I didn't even know its genesis until watching the second video embeded in this yahoo article (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/roy-hibbert-apologizes-saying-no-homo-calling-media-164648719.html).
The no homo phrase seems to be accepted on the board, or at least I've never seen any poster called out for its usage in the way someone would be called out if they used a word like "fag" or said something regarded as stupid is "gay". Curious as to the board's thoughts on why "no homo" is treated so differently than older gay slurs.
MOD EDIT: For the most part, this seemed to be going OK and that's why it was left open (last time I looked was 9:30 PM last night admittedly), but when I checked back this morning, a few comments started to stray into board inappropriate areas (such as decidedly political remarks), so this will be locked to prevent things from sliding further. LSA
You're just hanging out with the wrong people.
for letting us know you are taking a duece. I for one appreciate that type of insight.
...if Hibbert says "pause" ...is it still offensive? Is it AS offensive? Honest question. I'm enjoying this debate.
I don't really find either of the terms offensive, but it strikes me as equally (if less obviously) homophobic. You might say its homophobia is on the down-low.
He also reffered to the room full of reporters as "you motherf-----s" during the same interview - I think the fine may be a repremand for both statements.
Man, I always thought "no homo" was refering to wanting non-homogenized milk. No wonder I would always get weird looks at restaurants.
Laughing at this...+1 to you sir...
This country is so damn soft.
Why not just extrapolate to the whole universe while you"re at it?
next we will be hearing about a lawsuit.....
Well, I think the point is that when you gain understanding of something, it's no longer about worrying over potential offense, it's about no longer having the desire to use the ignorant language to begin with.
Imagine your name is John and you're invited by your hypothetical CEO to a press conference to unveil something big for your company:
CEO: "I want to first thank John here for all his hard work this year. We really love this guy."
(you lean into the mic): "no homo".
I don't think saying "I sure as hell don't want to live in a world where everyone is constantly worried about offending someone" at that point is going to save your job. You should be greatful to be hit with a fine instead.
I hope you don't constantly worry about what you're going to say. That would be sad.
I don't think saying "I sure as hell don't want to live in a world where everyone is constantly worried about offending someone" at that point is going to save your job. You should be greatful to be hit with a fine instead.
To me that's the problem. Is "no homo" really offensive? Is it termination or fine worthy? We both agree that it's stupid and childish but if the tables were turned and homosexual John said "no straight" I would probably laugh.
He probably should of just been reprimanded by the commissioner. The fine is just a PR move on the part of the league.
Yeah, but straight people haven't been vilified/oppressed/persecuted/descriminated against. It's easy to laugh at because "no straight" doesn't reinforce negative impressions of anyone's sexuality, since being straight is always acceptable in society.
FWIW I don't think "no homo" is worth a 75k fine, and we're agreed that it's a dumb thing to say, but I think comparing it to "no straight" is a bit disingenuous.
I think the takeaway is that the time spent fining/discussing/making news out of a dumb but relatively harmless could be better spent doing something actually beneficial.
Yes, the term "homo" is incredibly loaded and hurtful to anyone who is LGBT. "Straight" is not. Have you ever heard someone (or groups of people) single someone out and intimidate/threaten/bully them by calling them "A FUCKING STRAIGHT!!!?"
Maybe if you're 16. After it stopped being even remotely funny, it became clear that unless you're explicitly describing or engaging in major flesh-on-flesh contact for non-medical purposes and you're not playing a sport, it's not necessary to identify an action or phrase as distinctly NOT homo-erotic.
I'm not based off what my parents did, though they were discriminated against, nor are you.
We have EQUAL rights. This is why I can be called a "gringo" by my family, why I can be called an "Amerikaner" by my other side of my family, be called a "WOP" by my friends, be called a "Cracker" by my (stereotypically black) basketball team, and . . . laugh.
I take pride in who I am to these people. It's not ignorant for a black person whom I play b-ball with to call me a cracker, because it's a joke. A damn joke. It's a funny way of saying "you're different, but by God, I am cool with your honkey ass." Same with my Dutch and Mexican families: we're different.
. . . .
I don't know any gay rights lawyers, but if I can be paid a reparation for being called any ignorant thing I shouldn't care about by anyone I don't know, please signal that lawyer my way!
Because we're all equal. Except for those people who get to call me "cracker", or those people who get to call me "gringo", or those people who get to call me "hetero", or those people who get to call me "male", or those people who can call me "not-disabled", or "not-X".
. . . Just laugh when ignorant people say ignorant things. That's what we do when any OSU fans talk! (clearly not a biased statement of our own; we are MICHIGAN MEN!)
But the only reason "no homo" is used in the example you made is to ensure that no one could think the speaker is gay. This suggests that even a slightly possiblity of anyone thinking you're gay needs to be nipped in the bud.
why is thinking people shouldn't think false things about you wrong?
Dang man, it's a joke. Have you always been so worked up about discriminatory jokes? What about fat jokes, straight jokes, white jokes, protestant jokes, male jokes? Does a joke only become discriminatory when it regards a minority? Or when the minority has been riddled with issues, such as protestants in France (should they make protestant jokes illegal; French protestants were abused much longer than American slaves), Jews in ANY CHRISTIAN NATION PRIOR TO 1920s, etc.
My list could go on for a long time. The point still stands: where do you draw the line? The idea that a minority can't be made fun of is stupid: 90% of jokes are about abnormalities whether those abnormailities be about a friend's large ear, his tiny wee-wee, or his proclivity to men.
If the cure for ignorance (and ignorant jokes) is understanding, why can't you understand that these are jokes, innocuous jokes?
which part of his quote he thinks anyone would have interpretted as he was saying that he is attracted to men.
You guys are seriously sheltered or just don't have dirty minds at all.
Hibbert played on the phrase "Lebron had me stretched out". Obviously in a basketball context he means Lebron put pressure on him to guard him while he had to stay near the basket to defend. After the words "stretched out" left his lips, he realized his choice of words could mean that Lebron, a man, could be stretching him (Hibbert) out, that is increasing the size of his anus by penetrating him anally, you know, like homos do. So he dropped the phrase, "no homo". I laughed because I have the mind of a 13 year old. It's a pity more people don't.
If the NBA is fining Hibbert for this, shouldn't they fine Jason Collins for coming out of the closet which might offend people who are against homosexuality?
They'd have to fine every single athlete who is public about their religion, since I could claim (if I was going to be that pedantic and that much of a pain in the ass) that such statements offend me.
You forgot to qualify that with a "no homo." Hibbert does not approve.
Usually when someone says "no homo," it's done in a "joking" manner, as in "ha ha, don't take what I said as being gay, tee hee wink wink"
It's rather juvenile
Hibbert was less concerned with his words being interpreted correctly than he was with being funny. He thought he was making a jokey joke, failed miserably and paid the price as a result
He should have just said "Pause" like Spike did...
sadly, this could've all been avoided had he followed it up with "...not that there's anything wrong with that!"
The problem with this is that "no homo" isn't meant as an insult. All it means is that when someone says something that could be construed as homosexual, that it actually isn't supposed to be taken that way. It's always said in a comedic way. That is opposed to something like calling someone gay, which is supposed to be an insult. I even understand a fine, but 75k? Really? That is excessive.
But the "you motherfuckers" comment couldn't go unpunished.
75k is excessive for both the "no homo" comment and the you mutha****ers, but in todays society of overreacting to everything, this type of ridiculousness is ok, as long as someone doesn't get offended. LOL. At least he didn't get suspended. He shouldn't have said either but I am more offended by Lebron pretending that he is playing for Real Madrid, flopping all over the place, than I am Hibbert for his comments. The "you mutha*******" comment was in response to a question about him finishing 10th in the defensive player of the year award. He said that you muthas never watch us play, which is 100% true, the Pacers are never on TV, and they play good ball, especially for the NBA.
That comment was also said in jest. I understand what your saying though. The combination couldn't go unpunished (even though they said the fine was more for the homophic slur), but still 75k is excessive.
I find that figure to be a little queer .... don't you ?
Go Blue!
...the phrase in HS, I told him to stop it. I equated it to "that's so gay" which, while extremely common among MS/HS kids, was verboten in our household. Common usage doesn't equate to acceptable usage, IME.
To his credit, he outgrew it fairly quickly.
Remember the NBA is a multi billion dollar corperation, its either they level heavy fines against people who make homophobic remarks or they have pro gay groups marching on their office. The choice is a easy one.
The biggest issue is some journeyman benchwarming center came out and now Stern and his boys have to kiss Collin's ass so the media doesn't jump down their throat.
LBJ used the exact same "insult" 3 yrs ago and not a shit was given. I'm sorry if you're gay who cares, it's not hurting my life and I shouldn't have to shelter what I say because it might hurt your feelings.
Good lord it's 2013 and people are still worried about words.
so with this logic i assume you use the "n word" all the time and other cultural/race/lifestyle based insults?
Tell me, do you launch racial and ethnic slurs willy-nilly if that's how you really feel? I'm sure you're a treat to be around.
Nope...but as i said, it's just words. If I'm letting words bother me then I have my own issues to worry about. It doesn't stop me from doing what I want in this life so be it. If people want to say ignorant things that is their perogative.
People need to stop trying to raise hell about every little thing and just live life. You only get one chance at it and you don't need to worry about the words people use.
Unless they are physically putting their hands on you then words won't do squat unless you allow them to.
Those are the words you'd probably have to worry about.
But that's OK. Just remember, they're only words. And they probably won't put their hands on you, although security might have a weapon on hand if you try to stay.
This is very true, but only on a personal level. An organization like the NBA can't let itself be portrayed as prejudiced or insensitive to society's issues, both for purely business reasons, and because it sets an example for young people everywhere to use those same words. It is possible to not be mortally wounded by words while at the same time calling for their correct and less offensive usage.