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Rondo’s in a heap of trouble for (alleged) gay slur

Chuck - Red's Army December 14, 2015 Around the NBA, Rajon Rondo 25 Comments

Remember when Rajon Rondo was ejected by referee Bill Kennedy during the Kings game against the Celtics? The league claims Rondo blasted Kennedy with a gay slur:

In the game officials’ report used as part of the NBA’s investigation – which includes details provided to Yahoo Sports from National Basketball Referee’s Association general counsel Lee Seham – Kennedy and fellow referee Ben Taylor described Rondo’s post-ejection diatribe as including the statements: “You’re a mother——- faggot. … You’re a f—— faggot, Billy.”

Seham reported that a third official, Bennie Adams, outside of hearing distance, “affirmed that Rondo aggressively pursued referee Bill Kennedy and had to be restrained by teammates and escorted off the floor by Sacramento team security.”

The three officials – Kennedy, Taylor and Adams – confirmed those reports in taped interviews conducted by NBA security on Dec. 4, Seham said.

Kennedy released a statement to Yahoo! Sunday announcing he’s gay:

“I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. “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.”

Kennedy’s sexuality wasn’t much of a secret, at least according to disgraced former official Tim Donaghy. He claims it was at the root of a long-running spat between Kennedy and Doc Rivers.

I doubt the one game suspension – which I believe is light – is the end of this story. As Woj explains, Rondo hasn’t admitted guilt. Will he maintain innocence and fight the NBA? Or will he admit guilt and make the apology tour?

I find the comments despicable and I lost a lot of respect for Rondo – a player who remains beloved by many fans including my 6-year-old son.

UPDATE: Rondo refused to speak with the Sacramento media but Vlade Divac relayed this:

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."

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) December 14, 2015

tatlıkafa

MrTroubleDouble!
KGino

I disagree with losing respect for him. Awful term yes, he should not have said it yes, but mic up players in any sport in any generation and I’m sure tons of them said awful things that have gone unreported. In todays day and age everyone hears and sees everything and its perpetuated through social media for everyone to judge until the next story comes along. Kinda just wish these stories were non-stories, really.

I’ve known for years Rondo is a head case, no love lost here.
- Gregg Futch
  
  There’s a big difference between being a head case and being a bigot.
  - KGino
    
    Using that word does not make you a bigot, that is a stretch. I’d bet my life Rondo has gay friends.
    - Curt Hays
      
      Everywhere you go, for decades, kids have been saying “that’s gay” or “don’t be gay” (and plenty of phrases that are even less PC). IT’S NOT OKAY, but what IS okay is that, recently, people have been discussing the fact that it’s not okay.
      
      Likely, Rondo DOES have gay friends, and I’d wager that he regrets his habit of using those terms as insults.
      
      I don’t know if Rondo is a bigot or not, but it is clear that he was trying to hurt Bill Kennedy. He was TRYING to get kicked out of the game. He was being a punk. He was being a complete ass.
Sean

Did anyone trash Kobes name when he did it? or Noah?
Lee in Oregon

Some guys get mad in the heat of battle and instantly go the lowest thing that pops into mind.

I’ve never met Rondo and can only know him from what I’ve seen and read. I have met quite a few pro’s over the years and some are intelligent and some not so much. Rondo’s obviously a bit of a hot-head, and he prob regrets that he’s getting bad pub for this. If he’s serious about being in the fashion industry someday, he might want to apologize.
Jason Benn

Yes it was wrong but Jesus America loosen up on the political correctness there’s way bigger fish to fry then rondo for getting mad and calling him that in the heat of the moment, and he probably meant it just as a slur without regard to the fact that he really is. I for one don’t care about this at all, until I stop hearing n this n that on the court mics then ill worry about our language, so guess what not gonna happen because this won’t ever stop. For anyone who says it is my fault it won’t stop go look in the mirror and think of all the times you definitely called anybody a derogatory term, no one is perfect
- http://www.amazon.com/author/josh Josh
  
  Would/should Rondo shrug it off if he were called the n word?
  - Curt Hays
    
    Will people ever stop using the N word if it always elicits a response?
    - http://www.amazon.com/author/josh Josh
      
      So it’s the victim’s fault for being insulted? It’s pretty easy to say someone shouldn’t be insulted when you aren’t the one insulted.
      
      There are a lot of sides to this, and I respect your opinion that people are too sensitive (we probably all are). But why don’t we err on the side of respecting people? It’s not that hard to *not* say something.
      - Curt Hays
        
        Bullies use the words that they know will be the most hurtful. When those words are no longer hurtful, they are no longer used.
        
        If a player calls Rondo the N-word and Rondo walks away, the word is far less likely be used again. There’s a chance (however small) that the player would no longer use that word.
        
        Both the N-word and the word used by Rondo are utilized to describe characteristics of a person that are identifiable while implying that said characteristics are negative and wrong. To think that either being black or being gay is, per se, negative or wrong is to tell the world that you are supremely ignorant. Unfortunately, victims frequently are lead to believe that their particular characteristics are in fact a weakness.
        
        What makes Bill Kennedy’s statement so powerful is that his words are an act of opposition to the idea that there is something weak or wrong about him. He is, in effect, working to remove certain words from the repertoire of bullies and thereby empower more people to liberate themselves from the prison in which they live. He is saying that being who you are is no shameful.
        
        No, it isn’t the victim’s fault, but it is the victim’s responsibility. And Bill Kennedy accepted that responsibility. Bullies are not going to stop on their own. They have their own, real weaknesses to battle. Bill let the whole world see that Rondo is the ass and that what Rondo did is not okay. And he did it without uttering anything inflammatory.
      - Frank Aziza
        
        Relax man. Sometimes words meaning change over time. I think it’s becoming like calling someone a wimp.
      - Curt Hays
        
        Yep, word usage always changes. And it IS like calling someone a wimp, normally. Clearly Rondo didn’t mean it that way, but the point is that using a gay slur, whether to hurt someone or just in passing, is poor form and, in the end, hurtful to an entire group of people.
        
        Frank, sorry if I came across heated. That wasn’t my mood when I posted my comment. I hoped my words were perceived to be in support of Bill Kennedy’s statements and in opposition to Rondo’s.
- Frank Aziza
  
  I think it’s hysterical. I’m with u…I think over time words change , I think most people when using that word don’t relate it to gay. It’s more like meaning it as whimp. Like when we call someone a mother f****er we don’t actually mean exactly that. People need to stop going crazy over words. He was pissed off and called him a name.
Rick Rice

Heap of trouble? What are you talking about? He got a 1 game suspension! Not saying it justifies using the F word, but maybe he didn’t even know the ref was actually a homosexual.
- chuckmckenney
  
  I’m expecting a much larger public backlash. It’s happening on social media.
  - Curt Hays
    
    Certainly not seeing it on this site.
- Fitzy
  
  He knew, He played on Doc’s team when Doc did the same thing. Tim Donaghy confirmed in 2010 Kennedy was in fact gay. Many people in the league are actually surprised Kennedy was “in the closet” still.
DPR

Rondoooo!!! Hate Bill Kennedy…should not be an NBA referee…too bias and apparently holds a grudge….go figure
RedsLoveChild

Homophobia…Claustrophobia…It`s all so confusing.

Which is the one about being in a closet?
- Curt Hays
  
  I am pretty surprised that so few people on here are just kinda ignoring it. I’m not some righteousness counselor to fight for the oppressed or anything, but I really figured more people would support someone who was attacked like that.
  - RedsLoveChild
    
    Wish I could say I`m surprised, but I`m not.
    
    This fan-site is blissfully “tribal”….All they know is Ronda was once a Celtic, he didn`t blast the team or the fans on the way out, thus they feel obligated to back him no matter what.
CelticsNextGeneration

Why does ANYONE give a shit whether someone is gay or not? Too frequently gay people nowadays are using it as a “trophy”, and in some cases as a beacon for what can be perceived as added public attention. Ok, your a guy who sleeps with other guys. I’m a guy who sleeps with women. Who gives a shit? Why even make a spectacle of who your having sex with? lol, this country is filled with wusses nowadays.
BIG_HITTA1

What many of us C’s fans knew and all others should have known is that Rondo is a punk. In his final yrs in Bos he was overrated and dragged the team down on the court AND in the locker room. Danny waited too long to trade him, now his tired act (and horrible shooting) are Sac’s problem. Doubt there will be any gay folks at Rondo’s next birthday party. Bring on the Cavs!!!!

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