Oh good. Kobe made a PSA about accepting and respecting gay people.

Some other Lakers chimed in, and chipped in their couple of cents about embracing diversity.

I fail to understand why anybody would think that making a video like this would come off as even remotely sincere or meaningful. Maybe it's just me... But probably not. In cases like this, you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't. 

Kobe Bryant fined $100,000 for homophobic slur.

As I'm sure everyone knows by now, got upset about a call during April 12th's Lakers-Spurs game and was shown on camera on the bench saying "f*cking f*ggot." 

GLAAD had this to say:
"Hopefully Mr. Bryant will recognize that as a person with such fame and influence, the use of such language not only offends millions of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people around the world, but also perpetuates a culture of discrimination and hate that all of us, most notably Mr. Bryant, should be working to eradicate."

David Stern had this to say in response to the incident: 

"Kobe Bryant's comment during last night’s game was offensive and inexcusable," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement "While I'm fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated. Accordingly, I have fined Kobe $100,000. Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society."

GLAAD can be upset all they want. Kobe was wrong- he said something derogatory and hateful. But you know what, David Stern? I think you're full of crap on this one (what a surprise). NBA players are regularly candidly caught on camera using profanity. It happens dozens of times over the course of every game, because like David Stern pointed out in his statement, it's an emotional game. There's no doubt about it: 

Kobe was wrong- but he didn't know he was on camera at the time. I couldn't find a video of it to embed here, but it's widely available on the internet. If you watch it, Marv Albert even says the camera should be taken off of him because he was upset and swearing. It would be one thing if Kobe was being interviewed post game and made the conscious decision to use the phrase on live TV. But he didn't. He said it in a moment of anger that was unfortunately caught on camera and broadcast to millions. Whoever was working the camera at that instant knew that they would be catching Kobe swearing and they made a conscience decision to pan the camera on to him- probably because they wanted to get a cheap shot of Kobe throwing a temper tantrum. 

 I don't see players being hung out to dry when they use the "N-Word" or "b*tch," and both of those are hurtful, emotionally charged words, similar to "f*ggot." In an ideal world, the NBA would take a zero tolerance stance on the use of profanity and hate speech, but that's impossible. What the NBA can do is try to minimize the extent to which the use of profanity is broadcast to its viewers at home, and they could do this by encouraging cameramen to avoid purposefully catching players swearing on camera for cheap entertainment value. 

Random odds and ends: Rondo on the Pre-Game meal with Shannon Allen, the Celtics get booed in LA.

Rondo and Shannon cooked up crispy unfried chicken, cornbread, green beans, AND some sweet tea... my favorite beverage eevveerrr. You can find the recipe for it all right here, should you be interested in making any of it at home.

Also, I watched a little bit of the All-Star game last night... As I'm sure everyone knows, Kobe won MVP. I can't stand the Lakers, but I will be completely honest: I don't hate Kobe. Besides that I'm a Celtics fan by the books: I can't stand Lebron, Chris Bosh is overrated, I'll never forgive Amare Stoudemire for bashing Paul Pierce's front teeth in all those years ago in Phoenix, I hate the Heat, etc. But for some reason, I just don't have that Kobe hate in me. Say what you will about his life off the court, but on the floor it's undeniable that the guy is one of the best of all time AND is a proven winner. So anyway, he was on a mission last night to win the MVP- because he had to best Lebron James, he hears everyone doubting the Lakers and he wanted to show everyone he's not old and done. I guess he successfully accomplished that mission. I'd rather Kobe win in this type of situation than Lebron any day. Maybe that's just me.

The 4 Celtics didn't play too much. That's cool with me. They all checked in together, and which was nice to see... And nobody got hurt! That was the best part. They also got booed a lot. Hilarious!

Poor Paul! Gets the loudest boos in his hometown. Sike! You know he loves it. 

Is Kobe Bryant the new Gilbert Arenas?

Remember when Gilbert Arenas got served child support papers at half time? Click here if you don't. Well, the blogs are all abuzz that Kobe Bryant has walked down a similar path. Kobe is infamous for his philandering ways... And is also famous for the 4 million dollar ring he got for his wife as a consolation prize for his cheating  as an apology. He is now making headlines for apparent off the court behavior yet again. This video has surfaced on the internet:

And now, Terez Owens reports that people are speculating that the mysterious package he was handed in this video were child support papers:


Here’s what we’re being told, “Right around the time Tiger Woods was involved in his whole affair mess , a girl Kobe was mixed up with earlier in the year gave birth to his ‘alleged’ child…Kobe paid for her to live in Italy for the last year..She’s returned to the states and is now seeking legal rights.” This sounds plausible, Kobe has cheated on his wife Vanessa in the past…Haven’t these guys learned to keep their hands by their sides when exiting the court.

Oh jeez. I don't know how reliable the source is. It could be true, but it could just as easily be completely false... And "haven't these guys learned to keep their hands by their sides when exiting the court?" Who says that? Not for nothing, but you can be served anywhere, and it's just a weird thing to say. It's not like people are continually standing their trying to put things in to their hands. Most of the time its just screaming fans trying to get a high five. 

It's panic time in LA!

And not just because things aren't going well on the court for the Lakers, as some of my favorite bloggers at Reds Army so eloquently explained here and here. Trouble is now brewing off the court in Laker land as well.

Here's what I gather the scoop is, from my blog browsing: Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Kardashian Odom have scored their own reality show, as I previously talked about here. Apparently this news has not set well with Mrs. Vanessa Bryant (Kobe's wife):

Vanessa has wasted no time throwing around her weight to make life that much harder for Khloe. She's completely banned Kobe from making any cameo appearances on the show and has already managed to get E! cameras completely banned from the Lakers' locker room.

According to an insider:
"Vanessa and Khloe have been longtime rivals. Vanessa has been pitching her own reality series, with no success yet, and she hates that rival Khloe is impinging on what she considers to be her territory." (source)

Maybe that's why Kobe decided to take things in to his own hands on Sunday. He didn't want Lamar getting any of the glory... Teeheehe... But Probably not.

Kobe Bryant 2009 NBA Finals MVP

Kobe Bryant can smile this time. With his leading, LA Lakers grabbed the 2009 NBA title in Game 5 of NBA Finals against Orlando Magic on Sunday. Scoring 30 points, six rebounds, five assists in Game 5 and averaging 32.4 points for the series, Bryant was named NBA Finals MVP.




Kobe Bryant has four championship rings now, and he won the fourth without Shaquille O'Neal as a teammate. "Felt like a big, ol' monkey was off my back," said Bryant, "I don't have to hear that idiotic criticism anymore." All this time he has been tired of hearing people said that he cannot win another NBA title without O'Neal. LA Lakers, making their 30th NBA Finals appearance, had not won NBA title since 2002, the last of three consecutive championships — all with O'Neal as the starting center.

Kobe Bryant's LA Lakers: 2009 NBA Finals Champions

Kobe Bryant led LA Lakers past Orlando Magic 99-86 in 2009 NBA Finals Game 5 on Sunday night, giving Los Angeles Lakers its 15th NBA title. Lakers coach Phil Jackson won his record-breaking 10th NBA title, surpassing the nine Boston legend Red Auerbach won from 1950-66.




The championship came one season after LA Lakers lost to Boston Celtics in NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant since then committed himself to give Los Angeles NBA champions title, and showed a renewed intensity throughout NBA playoffs to get it done. Bryant said his children called him "Grumpy" because he was so serious about winning an NBA title.

And now, at last, Kobe Bryant delivered the championship without Shaquille O'Neal, and he didn't have to be spectacular to do it. He scored 30 points in Game 5.

Orlando Magic, Kobe Bryant's Monster

Kobe Bryant seems to understand now how dangerous Orlando Magic can be at their Amway Arena. Bryant has seen Magic, who shot an NBA finals-record 62 percent from the field—75 percent in the first half—in their Game 3 victory, turn into a monster.




"This team can stay hot for weeks. They can get hot and stay hot. When that happens, you’re dealing with a monster." Bryant said Wednesday.

Orlando Magic were clicking again during their 108-104 victory in Game 3 after losing the two first games in LA's Staples Center. It was Orlando Magic’s first finals victory in franchise history and one they absolutely had to have.

LA Lakers Takes a 2-0 Lead in NBA Finals

Kobe Bryant proved himself to be an NBA star again as LA Lakers grabbed an 101-96 overtime victory against Orlando Magic to take a 2-0 lead in 2009 NBA Finals. Kobe led Lakers with 29 points but they failed to repeat the domination as they did in Game 1. Pau Gasol, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds, scored seven of the Lakers' 13 points in the overtime to key Lakers' victory.




Both Lakers and Magic had chances to win the game at Staples Center in regulation, Kobe squandering an opportunity when his short jumper with 0.6 seconds remaining was blocked by Hedo Turkoglu. Orlando could have won in regular time had Courtney Lee's layup at the buzzer not missed.

The best of seven series now moves to Orlando's Amway Arena for the next three games, if necessary. Game 3 is on Tuesday, June 9.

Kobe Bryant: Game 2 Won't be the Same

LA Lakers are convinced they will not see the same Orlando Magic team in Game 2 of NBA Finals. Magic was outplayed, out-hustled and out-coached in Game 1, a 100-75 blowout by Lakers, and Lakers star Kobe Bryant said a repeat performance was unlikely to happen.


Orlando Magic used deadly accurate shooting from the outside to oust LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers in Eastern Conference finals but lost that touch against LA Lakers. Magic All Star center Dwight Howard dismissed the notion that the Lakers won because they had more big game experience.

LA Lakers Won Game 1 of NBA Finals

Orlando Magic made a comeback to NBA Finals for the first time in 14 years and soon learned the biggest star in Hollywood right now is Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant welcomed back Orlando Magic to their first NBA Finals since 1995, scoring 40 points to lead LA Lakers to a 100-75 rout in Game 1 of 2009 NBA Finals at Staples Center.




They fed off his talent and tenacity to overwhelm Orlando Magic in the second half after taking a 10-point lead at intermission, building the margin to as many as 28 points with a 29-15 third-quarter display. Magic star Dwight Howard struggled to even get shots and make shots, finishing with just 12 points on only 1-of-6 attempts.

Kobe Bryant Took Lakers to NBA Finals

Los Angeles Lakers are back in NBA finals for the second straight year and the 30th time overall. Lakers closed out Denver Nuggets with a 119-92 victory in Game 6 of Western Conference finals on Friday night to win the series 4-2. Lakers star, Kobe Bryant, gave his best performance and delivered 35 points and 10 assists in the game. Kobe had many scoring help from team-mates Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom as Lakers shot 57.3% from the field to avoid having to play a Game 7 back at Staples Center. The NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, at Los Angeles if Orlando Magic wins, and at Cleveland if Cavaliers prevail.

Showtime for LA Lakers and Denver Nuggets

Los Angeles Lakers won the semifinal series against the Houston Rockets, and now Lakers had to prepare for the Western Conference finals against Denver Nuggets. Kobe Bryant and his team-mates will be trying to get back to the NBA finals for the second straight year while the Nuggets will be trying to get there for the first time.

Kobe Bryant Great NBA Player

Kobe Bryant led LA Lakers to win NBA league three years in a row from 2000 to 2002. During the 2009 NBA All Star Game, Kobe Bryant was chosen All Star Game co-MVP with former teammate Shaq O'Neal.

Kobe Bryant All-Star Shooting Guard

Kobe Bryant was awarded the regular season's Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in the 2007–08 NBA season after leading his team to the 2008 NBA Finals as the first seed in the Western Conference.