Kobe Bryant Smacked By the Political Correctness Fairy

Uh-oh, I think I just used another one of those "F" words you're not allowed to use anymore:

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for a gay slur that commissioner David Stern called "offensive and inexcusable."

Bryant apologized Wednesday and said that his comments "should not be taken literally," but he also said that he will appeal the fine.

After receiving a technical foul during Tuesday's game against the San Antonio Spurs, Bryant stormed to the bench, hit his seat before sitting down, threw a towel and then yelled "Bennie!" toward referee Bennie Adams. Bryant then leaned back and muttered a gay slur. (NOTE: For clarity's sake, he called him a "f###ing f##got".)

The episode was caught on camera on TNT's national telecast, prompting announcer Steve Kerr to say: "You might wanna take the cameras off of him right now, for the children watching from home."

As gay and lesbian advocacy groups started to cry foul Wednesday afternoon, Bryant issued a statement.

"My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period," he said. "The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone."

Of course not. He was just telling the ref he thought he was a natty dresser with impeccable taste and a wonderfully decorated apartment.

Bryant is now doing the apology tour, something of which I've never been a fan.  Look how well it worked out for Trent Lott and Don Imus.

In reality, I'm guessing you can hear "F" words a hundred times every NBA game if you're sitting down near the floor.  In fact, I bet a lot of those "F"words are used as adjectives, such as "f###ing idiot", or "f###ing moron".  However, the idiot and moron lobby is not a protected class and don't have radio shows and special interest organizations with spokesman to whom apologies can be made.  Therefore, no $100,000 fine.

However, since he's a basketball star and a member of a politically correct protected class himself he'll undoubtedly be given quick forgiveness for this, something that would never be extended to many others, especially conservatives.  People who didn't even make a vile anti-gay slur, but simply voted to ban gay marriage in California, were hounded at their jobs or had their businesses boycotted.  I don't see this happening Bryant or the Lakers at all.

Everybody will kiss and make up.