04/18/24
June 03, 2013
Pacers' Roy Hibbert Fined for Gay Joke: The NBA fined Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert $75,000 on Sunday for using the phrase "no homo" and calling the media an expletive during his postgame press conference after Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday. Hibbert used the phrase as a joke. Asked about defending LeBron James, Hibbert referred to teammate Paul George and said, "I really felt that I let Paul down in terms of having his back when LeBron was scoring in the post or getting to the paint, because they stretched me out so much. No homo."
posted by rcade to basketball at 10:41 AM - 7 comments
Yeah, I tend to agree, especially as Hibbert seems to be fairly savvy about the whole thing, contacting Jason Collins on Twitter immediately after. On the other hand, it's not a homophobic remark to me because I think of it as an ironic Internet meme from deadspin, but 99% of people wouldn't see it that way, so it qualifies as a very bad decision.
The "motherfuckers" bit I liked though. I haven't watched the Pacers much this year and even I know he's a defensive monster, mainly because I've been reading (and loving) Zach Lowe at Grantland all season.
posted by yerfatma at 11:39 AM on June 03, 2013
This is reassuring in a way, because with so many pro athletes going bankrupt withing 5 years of retiring, we already know that Hibbert has a fabulous post-NBA career waiting for him as a spokesperson for Accountemps.
Caution: woman in heart sweater has been given deep hypnotic therapy by Ray Hudson.
posted by beaverboard at 11:43 AM on June 03, 2013
The "motherfuckers" bit I liked though. I haven't watched the Pacers much this year and even I know he's a defensive monster, mainly because I've been reading (and loving) Zach Lowe at Grantland all season.
I think it takes the mainstream media awhile to figure out a really good defensive center unless they are getting a lot of blocks. Hibbert, Tyson Chandler, Marc Gasol, Bogut are all guys who got their due as defensive stalwarts later than they should have. I think it's because defense is harder to see in a box score and it's not even always apparent watching the game live.
posted by tron7 at 01:04 PM on June 03, 2013
I don't get why the NBA is able to fine him $75K for this, but the floppers from earlier in the series can only be fined a 5K max. Are there different rules for in-game infractions as opposed to post-game interview infractions?
posted by MeatSaber at 07:13 PM on June 03, 2013
I think it takes the mainstream media awhile to figure out a really good defensive center unless they are getting a lot of blocks
True. Add rebounds to that list. Ben Wallace didn't get much pub during his time with the Wizards either (league-wide anyway).
It seems that the league as a whole has had trouble evaluating "true" big-men since 2000. There are obviously a number of factors at work there, but more than a handful of guys would have to rise to the top with such little competition. Or so one would think.
Getting back to Hibbert, David Aldridge has a pretty good Q & A with him at the end of this column. Juicy tidbits: - John Thompson, Jr (former Georgetown coach) told him, "You're going to be the tallest mailman ever." - Draft Night 2008 a lot of teams didn't even have Hibbert on their board.
posted by lilnemo at 07:21 PM on June 03, 2013
I don't get why the NBA is able to fine him $75K for this, but the floppers from earlier in the series can only be fined a 5K max. Are there different rules for in-game infractions as opposed to post-game interview infractions?
Flopping is much less likely to lose sponsors.
posted by Etrigan at 11:26 PM on June 03, 2013
A joke so bad he got fined $75K for it.
I honestly didn't know that anyone (besides comedians) was offended at the use of "no homo". It's vulgar and has never been funny but I don't see the inherent insult in it.