Kobe Bryant calls out fan for using "gay" as a derogatory term

I haven't gone back to see what the fan said, but here it is. Interesting. [quote]Just letting you know@PacSmoove @pookeo9 that using "your gay" as a way to put someone down ain't ok! #notcool delete that out ur vocab

https%3A//twitter.com/kobebryant/status/300767200803958786



• "your gay" Oh, dear.

• Uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't he once in trouble for calling someone a faggot?

• He is a changed man

• So was he calling the fans out for incorrect grammar or the use of "gay"?

• He didn't want to offend O.J.

• It made ESPN news.

  http://espn.go.com/video/clip%3Fid%3D8938200

• Accompanying article. Over 5000 comments. I'm afraid to look. Kobe Bryant admonished one of his Twitter followers for using a homophobic insult toward another fan of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard. Bryant, who has nearly 1.3 million Twitter followers, reprimanded a fan who tweeted "You're gay" to another fan. In response to the insult that was posted Sunday on his own Twitter feed, Bryant tweeted: "Just letting you know@PacSmoove @pookeo9 that using "your gay" as a way to put someone down ain't ok! #notcool delete that out ur vocab." Bryant was fined $100,000 in April for using a gay slur in a nationally televised game, an incident that NBA commissioner David Stern called "offensive and inexcusable." After receiving a technical foul in a game against the San Antonio Spurs, Bryant yelled at referee Bennie Adams before muttering a gay slur while sitting on the bench. The episode was caught on camera during TNT's national telecast. Bryant apologized a day later, saying that he did not mean to offend anyone. Following his tweet Sunday, one of Bryant's followers reminded the All-Star about April's incident. Bryant tweeted in response: "exactly! That wasn't cool and was ignorant on my part. I own it and learn from it and expect the same from others." Bryant did not address the Twitter spat following Monday's practice. The Lakers host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

  http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8937440/kobe-bryant-chides-twitter-follower-using-anti-gay-insult

• I've been all over the ESPN comments page. It's shocking. It's troll fucking central. I know it's just idiots, sort of like IMBD comments, but it's incredibly deflating to read. That said, Kobe (let's just assume he didn't rape that girl - most in the know think he didn't) is incredibly intelligent. He's a total prima donna, but a smart, smart guy. I think it's great that a male athlete of his stature is willing to do this.

• This is like anti-bullying. It's pretty cool to see. I wish it would be socially rewarded or trendy for kids, celebrities, and everyone to step in and protect those weaker than they are.

• I sorted by highest rated, R8, and those comments were actually pretty good and progressive for the most part. I don't recall seeing an ESPN article that isn't about a controversial game get so much commentary. Bound to be lots of trolls esp. since he's a lightening rod figure.

• R10, I'm the resident DL sports guy and a die hard Lakers fan. Every single article about Kobe maxes out the comments section. Gay or not gay. And, yeah, there are some decent comments, but the vast majority are pretty vile. I've been wading through them since the article was active.

  R8

• [quote]I wish it would be socially rewarded or trendy for kids, celebrities, and everyone to step in and protect those weaker than they are. I think this is the direction we are moving in, thankfully. I think it will soon be (if it isn't already) relatively unacceptable for elite athletes and famous entertainers to be vocally anti-gay. It's terrific that Kobe did this (whether he was sincere or not). He is enormously popular among a large population of people who are likely not terribly tolerant, and don't often hear these kinds of messages.

• You're a brave soul to have waded through them, R8. Any gossip about Pau Gasol? I have a weird thing for him.

• Good for Kobe.

• OK, he's good on the gay thing. Now if we could just get him to understand the difference between "your" and "you're."

• R13, gay rumors about Pau? No. He lives in Redondo Beach in the South Bay and is beloved there (my best friend is a bartender at a local haunt, Pau comes in all the time). Just a great, great guy. He is very good friends with the smoking hot Rafa Nadal, however...

  R8

• Another good article about the situation. Glad ESPN is publishing this.

  http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8942055/los-angeles-lakers-kobe-bryant-response-homophoic-slur-twitter-welcome