Dave Zirin at The Nation places Joachim Noah’s words in context — linking them to other recent NBA/LGBT collisions, some good and some bad — and reminds us the Noah is one of the NBA’s more progressive players.
That Noah “got caught up” and shouted an anti-gay slur in the heat of the moment only shows how endemic the problem is in the league. Homophobia is the norm, not the exception.
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| Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen |
In the context of a massive budgetary shortfall, the governor and his party push several huge tax breaks for upper-income folks and corporations. But $7.45 million in family planning — no dice, the GOP says.
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| Sen. Linda Greenstein, D-Middlesex/Mercer |
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| Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex |
A Senate vote today on S2899 — sponsored by Democrats Loretta Weinberg, Linda Greenstein and Joe Vitale — elicited some interesting responses from Republicans, who accused Democrats of by-passing process (will they make the same argument if the governor defies the state Supreme Court?) and supporting a group (Planned Parenthood) that, in Sen. Gerald Cardinale’s words, “supports abortion at every turn.”
“This bill is not about women’s health, it’s about partisan politics,” he said.
He is right, of course. The bill was as much about drawing clearer lines between the parties on two key issues: abortion and the budget. The GOP — or at least the governor and a majority of GOP senators — is willing to toss out funding for poor women’s health to limit abortion services for poor women, even as they hand over cash to those who need it least.
Sen. Greenstein offered this statement:
“The simple fact of the matter is that the Governor’s cuts to family planning and women’s health services have left women at a disadvantage in receiving basic health care,” said Senator Greenstein, who serves as a member of the Senate Budget Committee. “With unexpected revenues coming into the State, I think it’s fiscally wise and socially conscientious to reverse cuts to women’s health care. When you consider the total savings to the State from federal matching funds, there’s simply no fiscal argument you can make against investing this money in programs that make a difference in people’s lives.”
The Democrats know that Gov. Chris Christie is going to veto the bill. They have 26 “yes” votes, one short of overriding a veto — but either way, they will have made their point. Will it matter at the polls? Probably not for the governor. But the entire Legislature is up and I suspect it will help a handful of Democrats in an election that likely was going to favor the party anyway.
http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf
“I just got caught up.”
Joakim Noah offered his apology, saying he “just got caught up.” That, of course, is nonsense. We all say things in anger, but not all of use slurs like the one Noah used — or others harmful to other groups.
For a word like that to pop out of Noah’s mouth in anger means it is part of his working vocabulary. He needs to own up to that and not just apologize for saying it.
But this post is not just about Noah’s comments and apology. It also is about the quick shift made by ESPN’s hosts, who focused not on what Noah said but on his possible lack of focus. He shouldn’t have let the fans get to him — which may be true, but it is beside the point here.
Noah — and Bryant and the 358 others who play this kids’ game for a living — need to look at themselves and ask themselves why words like those used last night by Noah come so easily to their lips.
The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement about two hours ago that shows that not all NBA players are callous homophobes.
NBA legend Steve Nash has partnered with HRC in a new video for the group’s New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign. In the video, Nash talks about the growing number of professional athletes who are speaking out in support of marriage equality, saying, “I’m proud to be one of them.” The video can be viewed at www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.
Nash stands out from the rest of his league for his progressive impulses — which he has never shied away from. As much as Kobe Bryant and Joachim Noah deserve the opprobrium sent their way, Nash deserves gratitude and respect.
In the macho culture of American sports, it’s apparently OK to shout homophobic slurs. I don’t mean that it is approved or condoned by the league — $100,000 fine to Kobe Bryant shows where the league stands on it — but just one month after the Bryant incident comes one involving Bulls power-forward Joakim Noah.
The exchange occurred after Noah was whistled for his second foul with more than six minutes remaining in the first quarter. Noah was whistled for an over the back call after attempting to tap in a Carlos Boozer miss. Noah came from behind Heat forward LeBron James to tap the ball near the cylinder and made contact with his body. After briefly arguing the call, Noah headed straight for the Bulls bench and began barking at someone seated behind him and to his right.
Noah then appeared to yell a string of profanities and finished with what appears to be the exact phrase that Bryant was fined for using. The only difference: Noah was not addressing one of the officials.
The league has a problem, whether it wants to admit it or not, and fines are not going to be enough to fix it.
