OT NBA referee Bill Kennedy reveals he is gay; Rajon Rondo made slur to him

[KingSpeed]

Rondo's a douche, glad hes ejected. I don't care what sexuality you are either. But, everyone should just keep their god damned sexuality to themselves. Can we please have some privacy back in the world? Jesus. I do think though, that if they're going to start coming down hard on players using certain words they should extend that farther, to other slurs, including (but not limited to) the word "nigga" (and its other forms).

If you're going to be offended by shit and fine people, then stay consistent across the board and send a real message.

Are you straight? Do you keep it a secret?

 

[KingSpeed]

This guy is a friend of mine. Rick Crom. Talented actor/singer and stand up comedian.

 

[KingSpeed]

Slips up as in saying the words he said. If he would of just said "fuck you" and got ejected nobody would care this much. It's not like he knew he was gay either. I highly doubt he would of chose those words to say if he knew. Faggot is a highly used word and not in the sense of putting down gay people, more so used by guys to each other.

I thinkRondo did know he was gay. According to Donaghy, it was common knowledge in the league.

 

[Pinwheel1]

This guy is a friend of mine. Rick Crom. Talented actor/singer and stand up comedian.

Interesting. I never knew where the term "Flaming" came from. Now I do.....
And to think I never thought any of you could actually teach me anything on this board.

 

[blue32]

Are you straight? Do you keep it a secret?

Well, if you're asking me if I throw a parade for my sexual orientation, the answer is "no". So whilst it may not be a secret I certainly am not putting it out there for people to know.

I believe people should keep to themselves more. Your sexual orientation is of no concern to me, and vice versa.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Rondo tries again:

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Rajon Rondo has a spectacular antique doll collection.

 

[Denny Crane]

I think this is a bit overblown. I don't know if Rondo is a homophobe or not. Unless there's some history of this sort of hurtful remarks, I'm willing to forgive and move on.

He's been on the court with these refs for years, I presume they know one another well, even who's gay or not. His explanation seems fair enough. When you know someone well, you know how to say mean things in the heat of anger.

The team handled the PR/PC bit well.

 

[blue9]

I believe people should keep to themselves more.

It's fine for you to keep to yourself - and even to believe that other people should keep to themselves - but to expect other people to keep to themselves is not okay. That's why we as a species are in a whole boatload of trouble at this point in time. You live your life according to your personally held beliefs, but don't try to impose those beliefs on others. (Not saying that you're imposing your beliefs...but by voicing your beliefs you kinda are, in a very hands-off sort of way.)

Reasons why gay people might feel like celebrating their sexuality:
they've been demonized/teased/bullied for it
they've lost family/friends over it
they've lost, or not gotten, jobs because of it
they've been denied equal rights because of it
they've been assaulted or killed because of it

It's only recently that these things are happening less frequently. And the fact that it's still happening is APPALLING. So, unlike heterosexual people, gays being able to be open and relatively safe in their openness is something to be celebrated. I'm sorry if their celebration makes you uncomfortable, but perhaps you should do something about your discomfort rather than expecting people to act according to your personal code.

 

[KingSpeed]

Well, if you're asking me if I throw a parade for my sexual orientation, the answer is "no". So whilst it may not be a secret I certainly am not putting it out there for people to know.

I believe people should keep to themselves more. Your sexual orientation is of no concern to me, and vice versa.

That's bullshit. Are you saying straight people shouldn't introduce their spouses to friends? Should one say "she's my roommate" instead of wife? Total bullshit. Do you truly wish your straight married friends would keep their marriage to themselves? Straight people are very open about their sexual orientation but when gay people do it, you say it should be "private."

 

[KingSpeed]

It's fine for you to keep to yourself - and even to believe that other people should keep to themselves - but to expect other people to keep to themselves is not okay. That's why we as a species are in a whole boatload of trouble at this point in time. You live your life according to your personally held beliefs, but don't try to impose those beliefs on others. (Not saying that you're imposing your beliefs...but by voicing your beliefs you kinda are, in a very hands-off sort of way.)

Reasons why gay people might feel like celebrating their sexuality:
they've been demonized/teased/bullied for it
they've lost family/friends over it
they've lost, or not gotten, jobs because of it
they've been denied equal rights because of it
they've been assaulted or killed because of it

It's only recently that these things are happening less frequently. And the fact that it's still happening is APPALLING. So, unlike heterosexual people, gays being able to be open and relatively safe in their openness is something to be celebrated. I'm sorry if their celebration makes you uncomfortable, but perhaps you should do something about your discomfort rather than expecting people to act according to your personal code.

Thank you.

 

[blue32]

That's bullshit. Are you saying straight people shouldn't introduce their spouses to friends? Should one say "she's my roommate" instead of wife? Total bullshit. Do you truly wish your straight married friends would keep their marriage to themselves? Straight people are very open about their sexual orientation but when gay people do it, you say it should be "private."

That is not what I said, but feel free to jump to conclusions I suppose. I am not even talking about encounters like that.

It's fine for you to keep to yourself - and even to believe that other people should keep to themselves - but to expect other people to keep to themselves is not okay. That's why we as a species are in a whole boatload of trouble at this point in time. You live your life according to your personally held beliefs, but don't try to impose those beliefs on others. (Not saying that you're imposing your beliefs...but by voicing your beliefs you kinda are, in a very hands-off sort of way.)

Reasons why gay people might feel like celebrating their sexuality:
they've been demonized/teased/bullied for it
they've lost family/friends over it
they've lost, or not gotten, jobs because of it
they've been denied equal rights because of it
they've been assaulted or killed because of it

It's only recently that these things are happening less frequently. And the fact that it's still happening is APPALLING. So, unlike heterosexual people, gays being able to be open and relatively safe in their openness is something to be celebrated. I'm sorry if their celebration makes you uncomfortable, but perhaps you should do something about your discomfort rather than expecting people to act according to your personal code.

I think you misunderstood what I meant when keeping to oneself.

To both you and King -- I am talking about these events where people parade their sexuality in front of everyone in the world to see, and have these pressers to 'announce' their gay. Just fucking be gay and shut it, or be straight and shut it. Stop giving a shit about what others think about you and stop trying to parade it around in others faces (both straight and gay). In other words, stop publicizing your sexuality like its Lebrons "the decision".

@blue9 I have a gay Aunt, which is already giving to much info on here, but since you inferred I was homophobic, you couldn't be farther from the truth.

 

[DUB]

I am talking about these events where people parade their sexuality in front of everyone in the world to see

Not a fan of the Sydney Mardi Gras then?

 

[BBert]

Introducing someone as your husband or wife, whether gay or straight, or introducing your child, whether gay or straight, is not even remotely the same as someone holding a press conference to tell the world that they are gay or straight. People who do so really need to get over themselves, IMO, and I for one don't give a shit either way. Of course, when someone is intensely emotionally involved in an issue, like the oppression they perceive due to their sexuality, I suppose they are going to react emotionally rather than rationally to others not giving a shit. C'est la vie.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

If you don't care if people come out, then just don't care in private. I don't see why some people have to parade the fact that they don't care out in the public and shove it down everyone's throat.

 

[blue32]

If you don't care if people come out, then just don't care in private. I don't see why some people have to parade the fact that they don't care out in the public and shove it down everyone's throat.

I agree. But we are talking about the Rondo situation , the ref and his public gay announcement, etc.

So realistically we would have never had this discussion had a gay man not gone and announced it to the press , etc.

 

[dviss1]

If a player gets in a refs face and calls him "nigga" whether the ref is white or black I'm willing to bet he will get a technical. There is no double standard on words that will or won't get a player a technical or ejected.

Yep that's worth a T.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

So realistically we would have never had this discussion had a gay man not gone and announced it to the press , etc.

So realistically we would have never had this discussion had Rondo not gone and called the guy a faggot.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

If you don't care if people come out, then just don't care in private. I don't see why some people have to parade the fact that they don't care out in the public and shove it down everyone's throat.

I have so many things I could say right now that are 3ra1n1ac worthy

 

[blue9]

@blue9 I have a gay Aunt, which is already giving to much info on here, but since you inferred I was homophobic, you couldn't be farther from the truth.

Actually, I didn't infer it - but I can see how you could read it that way. So, sorry for the vagueness of that statement about doing something about your discomfort. I don't equate general discomfort to homophobia.

However, it's also disingenuous to say that what is standard behavior for straights should also be standard behavior for gays. Straights have never been persecuted for being straight. There's a huge difference between "announcing" that you're straight versus announcing that you're gay. While I personally would never call a press conference to announce something like my sexuality (or anything!), I can understand why some might.

 

[KingSpeed]

The reason an announcement that one is gay matters is because a 10 year old gay basketball player in Utah gets to hear another voice say I'm gay and it's okay. His parents may be anti-gay, his church may be anti-gay, he may be totally alone, but when a guy like Bill Kennedy COMES OUT, it makes a difference for this 10 year old boy. It lets him know that he is not alone and that he can be open about himself and still be successful. Every star athlete who is gay should come out and make the announcement for the sake of this 10 year old boy and all the other young gay men and women who are ashamed of who they are. This is what you are missing, blue32. And that's also why parades are important. Gays didn't begin to get rights until they came out and said "See? We're real people. We're your friends, neighbors, and relatives, and we're proud to be who we are. We are not going to hide." Such parades and public announcements are VERY important. One day, it won't matter. That day has not arrived.

 

[BBert]

The reason an announcement that one is gay matters is because a 10 year old gay basketball player in Utah gets to hear another voice say I'm gay and it's okay. His parents may be anti-gay, his church may be anti-gay, he may be totally alone, but when a guy like Bill Kennedy COMES OUT, it makes a difference for this 10 year old boy. It lets him know that he is not alone and that he can be open about himself and still be successful. Every star athlete who is gay should come out and make the announcement for the sake of this 10 year old boy and all the other young gay men and women who are ashamed of who they are. This is what you are missing, blue32. And that's also why parades are important. Gays didn't begin to get rights until they came out and said "See? We're real people. We're your friends, neighbors, and relatives, and we're proud to be who we are. We are not going to hide." Such parades and public announcements are VERY important. One day, it won't matter. That day has not arrived.

Good enough.

 

[KingSpeed]

Good enough.

Thanks.

 

[blue32]

The reason an announcement that one is gay matters is because a 10 year old gay basketball player in Utah gets to hear another voice say I'm gay and it's okay. His parents may be anti-gay, his church may be anti-gay, he may be totally alone, but when a guy like Bill Kennedy COMES OUT, it makes a difference for this 10 year old boy. It lets him know that he is not alone and that he can be open about himself and still be successful. Every star athlete who is gay should come out and make the announcement for the sake of this 10 year old boy and all the other young gay men and women who are ashamed of who they are. This is what you are missing, blue32. And that's also why parades are important. Gays didn't begin to get rights until they came out and said "See? We're real people. We're your friends, neighbors, and relatives, and we're proud to be who we are. We are not going to hide." Such parades and public announcements are VERY important. One day, it won't matter. That day has not arrived.

I understand this and I see where maybe it could help. I don't agree that every single person needs to do this to the world. But that's just my opinion. It doesn't mean I dislike gays or am uncomfortable around them, or a bigot, or what-ever-the-fuck some may have assumed here. I just disagree with this and I think people would be better served to stay more private, maybe its because in my world, like you said there, "one day it wont matter", to me, my life outlook "it doesn't matter" right now.

More importantly, I respect your opinion, and I hope you understand I am not trying to bash you at all. Just debating each others opinions, etc.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I think this is a bit overblown. I don't know if Rondo is a homophobe or not. Unless there's some history of this sort of hurtful remarks, I'm willing to forgive and move on.

He's been on the court with these refs for years, I presume they know one another well, even who's gay or not. His explanation seems fair enough. When you know someone well, you know how to say mean things in the heat of anger.

The team handled the PR/PC bit well.

He's not a homophobe. He's a sociopath.

Although, there's probably a significant overlap in that Venn diagram...

 

[Denny Crane]

He's not a homophobe. He's a sociopath.

Although, there's probably a significant overlap in that Venn diagram...

No doubt his intent was to basically assault the ref. Hence the penalties.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

The reason an announcement that one is gay matters is because a 10 year old gay basketball player in Utah gets to hear another voice say I'm gay and it's okay. His parents may be anti-gay, his church may be anti-gay, he may be totally alone, but when a guy like Bill Kennedy COMES OUT, it makes a difference for this 10 year old boy. It lets him know that he is not alone and that he can be open about himself and still be successful. Every star athlete who is gay should come out and make the announcement for the sake of this 10 year old boy and all the other young gay men and women who are ashamed of who they are. This is what you are missing, blue32. And that's also why parades are important. Gays didn't begin to get rights until they came out and said "See? We're real people. We're your friends, neighbors, and relatives, and we're proud to be who we are. We are not going to hide." Such parades and public announcements are VERY important. One day, it won't matter. That day has not arrived.

Very well put KAJS.

 

[dead247]

Mods, please move thread to OT

 

[Jade Falcon]

 

[MARIS61]

Wait a minute here. This is a lot to absorb in one thread.

Does this mean Rondo isn't gay?