Rondo's Anti-Gay Tirade Towards Bill Kennedy

[indeedproceed]

AC Green was picked on because he was a virgin, not because he was a Christian.  Maybe a little bit for his gheri curl too!

Right but his virginity was clearly an expression and major aspect of his Christianity just like Tebow. 

Kinda surprised AC didn't get the SNL hate skit like Tebow got.

I don't agree with the skit being a 'hate skit', I think the skit satirized how the media and some of his most fervent fans (and Tebow himself to a degree) had made Tebow out to be some kind of chosen son based on his faith and the unorthodox way he was winning games.

But if there was a flamboyantly gay athlete SNL would not just politely tip-tow around that. That would come up, frequently. Him and Stefan would get married in an hour-long special on a Thursday after football was over. The Ambiguously Gay Duo would be the best men and Kate McKinnon would do the service in an Ellen impersonation.

[mef730]

Kings GM Vlade Divac said Rajon Rondo told him today, "He feels bad and didn't mean to offend anyone. It was in the heat of frustration."

WOW  Did someone has said one year ban? Are you freaking serious? Is this is the first time when a player has used this kind of language and what's why you so shocked? In fact, do you mean everything seriously whatever you saying meanwhile in the heat of the moment? Okay, whatever! He apologized

He apologized? Where? Saying "I didn't mean to offend anyone" is only slightly about the ever-famous "If anyone was offended by my actions, I apologize." Heat of the moment? That's just swell. Apology? Still waiting.

Mike

[KeepRondo]

Kings GM Vlade Divac said Rajon Rondo told him today, "He feels bad and didn't mean to offend anyone. It was in the heat of frustration."

WOW  Did someone has said one year ban? Are you freaking serious? Is this is the first time when a player has used this kind of language and what's why you so shocked? In fact, do you mean everything seriously whatever you saying meanwhile in the heat of the moment? Okay, whatever! He apologized

He apologized? Where? Saying "I didn't mean to offend anyone" is only slightly about the ever-famous "If anyone was offended by my actions, I apologize." Heat of the moment? That's just swell. Apology? Still waiting.

Mike

He feels bad. What more do you want?

Should we bring out the pitch forks?

[GetLucky]

I first read about this on another website, and they (the commenters) had an interesting perspective, one that assumed Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual. After reading the NBA "report" (or whatever it's called), I got the impression that Kennedy was using this as his "coming out" moment. Was it possible that Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual, chose one slur over another for no reason, and then offended Kennedy on a deeper level than intended?

If not, Rondo sure knows how to hit below the belt with his words.

[indeedproceed]

Kings GM Vlade Divac said Rajon Rondo told him today, "He feels bad and didn't mean to offend anyone. It was in the heat of frustration."

WOW  Did someone has said one year ban? Are you freaking serious? Is this is the first time when a player has used this kind of language and what's why you so shocked? In fact, do you mean everything seriously whatever you saying meanwhile in the heat of the moment? Okay, whatever! He apologized

He apologized? Where? Saying "I didn't mean to offend anyone" is only slightly about the ever-famous "If anyone was offended by my actions, I apologize." Heat of the moment? That's just swell. Apology? Still waiting.

Mike

He feels bad. What more do you want?

Should we bring out the pitch forks?

No, but Vlade saying something to the media is a lot different than Rondo saying it.

That said, I don't think public apologies are all that meaningful. They're just so common now, it's almost like a dance that people have to do after they screw up. Caught DWI? Public apology. 2nd Dwi? Public apology, and token alcohol addition treatment. Third DWI? Well you got traded, your name is Vin Baker, and your life is a mess. Get it together, strawman.

[indeedproceed]

I first read about this on another website, and they (the commenters) had an interesting perspective, one that assumed Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual. After reading the NBA "report" (or whatever it's called), I got the impression that Kennedy was using this as his "coming out" moment. Was it possible that Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual, chose one slur over another for no reason, and then offended Kennedy on a deeper level than intended?

If not, Rondo sure knows how to hit below the belt with his words.

I don't think Rondo not knowing is on the table. That's a pretty rosy assumption.

[Kuberski33]

Kings GM Vlade Divac said Rajon Rondo told him today, "He feels bad and didn't mean to offend anyone. It was in the heat of frustration."

WOW  Did someone has said one year ban? Are you freaking serious? Is this is the first time when a player has used this kind of language and what's why you so shocked? In fact, do you mean everything seriously whatever you saying meanwhile in the heat of the moment? Okay, whatever! He apologized

He apologized? Where? Saying "I didn't mean to offend anyone" is only slightly about the ever-famous "If anyone was offended by my actions, I apologize." Heat of the moment? That's just swell. Apology? Still waiting.

Mike

He feels bad. What more do you want?

Should we bring out the pitch forks?

His first offense too.

[BballTim]

I first read about this on another website, and they (the commenters) had an interesting perspective, one that assumed Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual. After reading the NBA "report" (or whatever it's called), I got the impression that Kennedy was using this as his "coming out" moment. Was it possible that Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual, chose one slur over another for no reason, and then offended Kennedy on a deeper level than intended?

If not, Rondo sure knows how to hit below the belt with his words.

I don't think Rondo not knowing is on the table. That's a pretty rosy assumption.

  I had the same "he might not have known" thought as well, it's not like the referee's preferences would necessarily be common knowledge among the players.

[Celtics18]

I first read about this on another website, and they (the commenters) had an interesting perspective, one that assumed Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual. After reading the NBA "report" (or whatever it's called), I got the impression that Kennedy was using this as his "coming out" moment. Was it possible that Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual, chose one slur over another for no reason, and then offended Kennedy on a deeper level than intended?

If not, Rondo sure knows how to hit below the belt with his words.

I don't think Rondo not knowing is on the table. That's a pretty rosy assumption.

  I had the same "he might not have known" thought as well, it's not like the referee's preferences would necessarily be common knowledge among the players.

I'm guessing he knew.  It seems like Doc might have tipped him off.

[GreenFaith1819]

Rajon Rondo should not have said what he said, but he's still a Celtic Great to me.

I will forever remember his prime years in Green.

And I definitely don't believe that Rajon is the ONLY guilty party here - I'll leave it at that.

[Roy H.]

I first read about this on another website, and they (the commenters) had an interesting perspective, one that assumed Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual. After reading the NBA "report" (or whatever it's called), I got the impression that Kennedy was using this as his "coming out" moment. Was it possible that Rondo didn't know Kennedy is homosexual, chose one slur over another for no reason, and then offended Kennedy on a deeper level than intended?

If not, Rondo sure knows how to hit below the belt with his words.

I don't think Rondo not knowing is on the table. That's a pretty rosy assumption.

Why?

Apparently many of Kennedy's peers didn't know.  Is calling somebody a gay slur really only used when somebody has the genuine belief that the other party is gay?  Did Rondo also really believe that Kennedy fornicates with his mother?

Insults are meant to insult, not always to be accurate.  I've heard this particular "F word" used enough to know that it isn't exclusively directed at gay people, no more than the "R" word is used toward the intellectually disabled.

[GC003332]

If the league could milk Bill Kennedy number 55 jersey sales like they did with Jason Collins when he came out they would.Referees shouldn't be bringing attention to themselves in any form, just stay in the background and do your job to the best of your ability, the paying customers don't come to see you they come to see the players.

[guava_wrench]

There are two things I'm not sure I love about it and that is that I'm not sure one has a right to go through life never being called anything bad, especially when doing a terrible job.

The other thing is that I am under the impression AC Green used to routinely get made fun of in game for being a devout Christian and I'm sure Tebow is too, and nobody really cares about that, reinforcing the notion that the league is essentially a pick and choose arbitrary league when it comes to enforcing morality.

However Rondo certainly has no right to go through life like this consequence free either, and it being their league the NBA can do what it sees fit, and protect the image of their league as they see fit.  Personally I don't think this holds a candle to what Sully was accused of, but that's just me.

Have you ever looked around at U.S. professional sports and noticed how many players praise God after winning ball games and making big plays?  I highly doubt that professional athletes get ostracized and treated with bigotry and hatred for being Christian.

Pounding your chest and pointing at the sky doesn't exactly make you Christian any more than having a high pitched voice or wearing pink makes you gay. I will agree to disagree with your assertion.

Honestly, I have no idea what makes one Christian, but I am convinced that Christians aren't a discriminated against group in U.S. professional sports or in general U.S. society for that matter.

Perhaps if you knew what makes one Christian you would think differently. I mean I'm not very aware of black culture and I can say all day I'm sure they aren't a discriminated against group...but I wouldn't do that realistically.

Black people are, and have historically been, a discriminated group in the U.S.  I didn't actually think that was arguable.

Christians have been the dominant religion in our society for a couple of centuries.  Lately, we are becoming a much more secular society than we ever were in the past.

It seems to me that there are people who mistake that secularization as discrimination against Christians.  To me, that's a ludicrous notion, and one that completely misses the point on what discrimination actually entails.

No. It's like this. If Rondo had gone after Kennedy's perceived Christianity/Catholicism (just guessing from the name Kennedy) and been like "You're such a f ing Bible thumper Bill. Go to confession and tell them all about your theft. Your mom should have aborted you to keep you out of purgatory you Pope loving piece of shiit"  then the NBA wouldn't have cared and people probably would have laughed about it a little. Or he would have gotten a game but for being mean to a ref. People wouldn't talk about it as a borderline hate crime. It's just the double standard of the times we're living in, and currently Christianity is the only group anyone can do that to.

I'm not saying for one second that what Rondo did was ok or that I feel bad for him or anything like that.

In the mean time this is a league that isn't exactly respectful to Christianity. They use basketball as a metaphor for church to sell sneakers and nickname their star King James the Chosen One.

Realistically this is the way it is now. On St. Patrick's Day we get drunk to honor the Irish patron saint and think nothing of serving corned beef and hash. Gee, us Catholic/Christians are so honored.

The NBA is by no means the only place this happens. Christians are used to this.

Ugh. Certain Christians and their victim mentality, despite regularly being the ones trying to push their theocracy.

And to mention James and 'the chosen one' is just ridiculous. There are all sorts of chosen ones out there in literature besides the Bible. The term transcends one's holy story of choice. And it is the Catholics getting drunk on St. Patrick's day as much as anyone else.

Complaining about these just sounds like being self-centered.

[guava_wrench]

Kings GM Vlade Divac said Rajon Rondo told him today, "He feels bad and didn't mean to offend anyone. It was in the heat of frustration."

WOW  Did someone has said one year ban? Are you freaking serious? Is this is the first time when a player has used this kind of language and what's why you so shocked? In fact, do you mean everything seriously whatever you saying meanwhile in the heat of the moment? Okay, whatever! He apologized

He apologized? Where? Saying "I didn't mean to offend anyone" is only slightly about the ever-famous "If anyone was offended by my actions, I apologize." Heat of the moment? That's just swell. Apology? Still waiting.

Mike

He feels bad. What more do you want?

Should we bring out the pitch forks?

Heat of the moment is crap because it usually just means that he couldn't withhold his bigotry. No different than a white guy in the middle of an argument drops an n-bomb.

I am all for fans bringing out the pitch forks, but I am not for the league doing so. A short suspension is fine. He is just a player. He isn't the in a position of power. Suspend him for his lack of professionalism and being an embarrassment, and then him play and let him live with the aftermath in the press and media.

[SHAQATTACK]

I believe he called Rondo a no count homophobe first .....