NBA referee Bill Kennedy has “revealed he is gay,” and Commissioner Adam Silver yesterday “delivered a statement of support,” according to Adrian Wojnarowski of YAHOO SPORTS. Kennedy's announcement "comes in the wake" of the NBA's one-game suspension of Kings G Rajon Rondo, who game officials, including Kennedy, heard unleash a "torrent of anti-gay slurs following his ejection from a game on Dec. 3." Kennedy on Sunday said, "I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man. I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are." Silver in his statement yesterday added, "I wholeheartedly support Bill's decision to live his life proudly and openly." Wojnarowski noted Rondo is the "third NBA player to be punished for the use of anti-gay slurs, but the first to be suspended" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/14). In Boston, Andrew Mahoney notes Kennedy worked last night's Jazz-Spurs game, receiving "applause from fans when he was shown on the videoboard with the officiating crew and his name was announced." Spurs coach Gregg Popovich "criticized Rondo’s comments before the game." Popovich: "It’s unfortunate. It’s disgusting, because Billy, he is a great guy. He’s been a class act on and off the court. And as far as anyone’s sexual orientation, it’s just nobody’s business. It just shows ignorance to act in a derogatory way toward anybody in the LGBT community. It just doesn’t make sense." Mahoney notes the NBA "took more than a week to investigate the issue." Rondo initially "denied making the comments although another official said he heard what Rondo said to Kennedy, and two independent investigators reviewed tapes of the incident and also confirmed the referees’ accounts." Rondo yesterday tweeted, "My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period! They absolutely do not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not mean to offend or disrespect anyone" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/15).
SPEAKING OUT IN SUPPORT: Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban said of Kennedy, "I don't think it's been a secret for a long time, but I'm proud of him." Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle added, "I have great respect for him both as a referee and a person. ... I respect him for making public his situation. I think that it's great" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/15). Cuban said that he has "certain rules in place for his players that they must adhere to in regard to treatment of game officials, or else they will be issued a fine by the Mavs." Cuban: "Our players, we do have a specific decorum. You can show emotions, but there’s certain words you can’t use" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/15). Kings coach George Karl said, "I respect all sides. Bill Kennedy is a good referee. ... I feel the league is a good leader (on) social issues, and discrimination against gays is something that cannot be tolerated, and I’m happy the league is strong in that case. But in the same sense, I have to prepare the team and support Rajon in this season in a positive way." Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive in a statement said, "Rajon’s comment is not reflective of the culture of the Sacramento Kings organization or the world we want to live in. He’s apologized, and has been suspended by the NBA" (SACBEE.com, 12/14).
JUDGE & JURY: In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin writes the one-game suspension "certainly can be argued -- too long, too short, too much." But Rondo "doesn’t deserve a pass," as this is "not a trend the league wants followed." Rondo yesterday had an opportunity to "stand up and lead," and had a "chance to publicly apologize." He made his statement on Twitter, but the "incident and its aftermath are damaging on so many levels" (SACBEE.com, 12/14). ESPN's Scott Van Pelt said this is an "interesting moment" for Silver. Van Pelt: "Not sure what Silver could have done differently, but this was the first unwinnable PR issue he's had" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 12/14). HBO's Bill Simmons tweeted, "Did some recon on Rondo's 1-game suspension. Not a PR mistake as much as a PR pickle. NBA had never suspended player for language before" (TWITTER.com, 12/14).
WAS PUNISHMENT ENOUGH? FS1's Petros Papadakis: "The punishment fits the crime. ... The NBA did the right thing" ("Fox Sports Live: Countdown," FS1, 12/15). In DC, Clinton Yates notes Rondo was forced to "forfeit a game check, roughly $86,300." But while Silver "commended Kennedy’s announcement, he has not publicly condemned Rondo." Perhaps the league "doesn’t want to draw more attention to the incident, but considering that Rondo’s act was almost certainly more outlandish" than one from Lakers G Kobe Bryant in '11, that number "seems light" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/15). But ESPN's Israel Gutierrez, who came out in September, said Silver "should do more" to punish Rondo. Gutierrez: "Flip the script a little bit and have it be a referee saying something ... and see what happens to that person" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 12/14).
