16539: BHM 2024—Nike.

 

For BHM 2024, Nike is poised to release Kobe 6 Protro BHM. However, the latest edition has not yet landed at Nike.com…

14902: BHM 2020—Nike.

The 2020 Nike Black History Month collection has launched. All Kobe Bryant gear has sold out completely.

10389: Turkish Airlines Passenger Portraits.

Turkish Airlines “Passenger Portraits” feature artwork by Craig Redman.

9595: Weekend Sports Update.

Major League Baseball homerun champion Barry Bonds’ sentence for providing evasive testimony to a grand jury included 30 days house arrest. A picture of Bonds’ house is below. House arrest for Barry Bonds is fantasy vacation in the lap of luxury for everyone else.



Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, citing irreconcilable differences stemming from her husband’s alleged chronic infidelity. The Lakers guard is probably more shocked and upset over his failed hookup with Chris Paul.



In the final GOP presidential debate, Texas Governor Rick Perry said, “Let me tell you, I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses.” Of course, he’d probably forget the third-down plays.

8823: Offensive Karma In The NBA Finals.

The NBA Playoffs have been affected by a new phenomenon that bettors and bookies should note: Offensive Karma.

Offensive Karma is defined by a team’s display of offensiveness in the form of words or actions rooted in bigotry, discrimination and ignorance—which then leads to the team’s ultimate demise in the championship tourney.

For example, Kobe Bryant showed offensiveness by hurling an anti-gay slur at a referee, earning a $150,000 fine from the league. The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the Western Conference series.

LeBron James showed offensiveness with his “retarded” remark. However, James was trumped by Joakim Noah, who directed an anti-gay slur at a rude fan, earning a $50,000 fine. The Chicago Bulls fell to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

At this point, James’ offense now rises to the top. So place your money on the Dallas Mavericks winning the NBA Championship.

Unless Dirk Nowitzki suddenly reveals his closet allegiance to Nazism.

8784: NBA PSA 4 LGBT.

Advertsing Age reported on NBA players featured in new PSAs designed to stop anti-LGBT language. The campaign is officially called, “Think Before You Speak.” And unofficially called, “Shut the fuck up, Kobe.”

NBA Joins Effort to Stop Anti-LGBT Language

Ad Council Launching New PSAs in Basketball Conference Finals

By Karen Egolf


The NBA is joining the Ad Council and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network to launch a new effort targeting anti-gay language among teens. The PSAs, which will debut May 15 during the NBA Conference Finals on ABC, TNT and ESPN, feature the Phoenix Suns’ Grant Hill and Jared Dudley.

The campaign, including TV, radio, print and Web, was created pro bono by ArnoldNYC. It’s an extension of the Ad Council’s “Think Before You Speak” and GLSEN’s “Changing the Game” efforts.

Almost 90% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teens say they have been verbally harassed in the past school year, while almost half have been physically harassed, according to GLSEN’s 2009 National School Climate Survey.

The new effort tells teens that using words such as “gay” in a negative way can have serious consequences, showing that using such terms to say something is dumb or stupid is not acceptable on the basketball court or anywhere else. The PSAs tell audiences to visit ThinkB4YouSpeak.com for more information and to take a pledge against using anti-LGBT language.

“We’ve partnered with GLSEN and the Ad Council on ‘Think Before You Speak’ for several years, and while we’re proud to be able to turn our energy and talent toward changing negative behavior, there is unfortunately a lot more work to be done,” said John Staffen, chief creative officer, ArnoldNYC, in announcing the effort. “The NBA deserves big kudos for stepping up to the plate and being a part of this important dialogue.”

“Think Before You Speak,” the Ad Council’s first LGBT-themed campaign, has received more than $17.6 million worth of media exposure since its launch in 2008.

8777: The King James’ Speech.

Apparently not to be outdone by the offensive prowess of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Miami Heat star LeBron James shot his own naughty remark during a post-game press conference. Responding to a dumb question aimed at teammate Dwyane Wade, James muttered, “That’s retarded.” Bryant wound up shooting a PSA to make amends for his anti-gay slur hurled toward a referee. Look for James to counter with an appearance at the Special Olympics.

8726: Kobe Bryant Makes PSAmends.

Kobe Bryant and Lakers teammates taped a psa calling for inclusion. Wow, this thing is dripping with sincerity. Bryant declared, “Words can be hurtful. Replace them with understanding, compassion and acceptance.” And $100,000.

8715: Going Into Overtime With Kobe Bryant.

Did anyone else watch Kobe Bryant take a nasty tumble in the opening NBA Playoff game and think it was karma and/or Higher Power payback for his anti-gay slur? After bashing his noggin on a courtside chair or spectator’s knee, did the Lakers guard bark bigoted names at the team trainer or fan? Probably not—and that’s the main problem with Bryant’s earlier disgusting and discriminatory display.

As often happens during these types of fiascos, people snarled that the Kobe haters were overly sensitive, politically-correct liberals. Or worse. Of course, these condemning critics never consider the possibility that they may be revealing insensitivity, political incorrectness and Tea Party tendencies. Or worse.

Bryant entered the league in 1996. He is a professional athlete—accent on professional—who should completely understand that lots of cameras are recording his every move and mouth-off while in the stadium. What was Bryant attempting to do by hollering at the referee to begin with? Does he believe he is so entitled that officials ought to halt a game and contemplate his opinion on anything?

Remember, the arrogant All-Star didn’t merely utter an anti-gay slur. It was preceded by the F-bomb, which Bryant should also know is a big no-no during broadcasts. Please don’t insist that the proposed penalty is too excessive. As the man earns about $25,806,250 per season—and tons more in endorsements—the $100,000 fine is like Joe Public dropping a few dollars into the company swear jar.

Bryant is fluent in multiple languages. Plus, he is extraordinarily articulate for an athlete. He picks his words carefully. The superstar has joked about cussing at refs in Serbian. He had a wide variety of naughty phrases at his disposal, yet his ultimate selection mirrored the eruptions of Michael Richards, Don Imus and Mel Gibson.

Yes, Bryant has a reputation for arguing with officials. But no one has ever suggested he attend anger management training like, say, teammate Ron Artest. The presumption is that Bryant is in control. He’s aware of what he does and says.

Bryant responded in ridiculous fashion after causing the initial stir. He said, “The comment that I made, even though it wasn’t meant in the way it was perceived to be, is nonetheless wrong, so it’s important to own that.” However, he’s appealing the $100k fine.

Bryant added, “The concern that I have is for those that follow what I say and are inspired by how I play or look to me as a role model or whatever it is, for them not to take what is said as a message of hate or a license to degrade or embarrass or tease. That’s something I don’t want to see happen.” Um, hurling vulgar slurs at an official is disrespect—which could fall into the same category as degradation, embarrassment or teasing.

And like it or not, with his choice of curses, Bryant appeared to show latent homophobia. You don’t need a referee to call it.

8705: Batteries, Bumbling, Bigots & Blacks.

Enhancing the news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Sears is suing the maker of a sexual enhancement spray for trademark infringement. The sex spray company calls its product Die Hard, which Sears insists is too similar to its DieHard car batteries. Actually, Sears could spike sales by offering a promotional tie-in—a free can of sex enhancement spray with every new battery.

• A spokesperson for the Rev. Jesse Jackson denied charges that a man was pushed out of his job at Rainbow PUSH Coalition because he’s gay. The ex-worker also accused the civil rights leader of forcing him to perform “uncomfortable” tasks like escorting women to hotel rooms to rendezvous with Jackson. “The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., unequivocally deny [the] false claims of harassment, retaliation and discrimination,” said the PUSH spokesperson. “We are fully cooperating with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations and expect to be fully exonerated.” In the meantime, Jackson should avoid being seen courtside at the NBA Playoffs cheering on Kobe Bryant.

• If Kobe Bryant loses his appeal and pays the $100,000 fine for directing an anti-gay slur at a referee, the money should be donated to a pro-LGBT organization. Like the WNBA.

• Donald Trump loves the Blacks—like Omarosa and NeNe Leakes.

8703: Apps And Ass.

Late-Breaking News in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Apple is hyping the upcoming release of the White iPhone 4. Sure, the company can’t meet iPad demands, but there’s no problem delivering the White iPhone.

• Kobe Bryant will officially contest his $100,000 fine for directing an anti-gay slur at a referee, saying the appeal is “standard protocol.” Well, Bryant better hope the judges don’t go to the replay to make the final call. Bryant also said, “The comment that I made, even though it wasn’t meant in the way it was perceived to be, is nonetheless wrong, so it’s important to own that. … The concern that I have is for those that follow what I say and are inspired by how I play or look to me as a role model or whatever it is, for them not to take what is said as a message of hate or a license to degrade or embarrass or tease. That’s something I don’t want to see happen. It’s important for me to talk about that issue because it’s OK to be who you are, and I don’t want this issue to be a part of something or to magnify something that shouldn’t be.” Don’t worry, Kobe, the public has always known you’re an immature prick with a mean streak.

8700: Kobe Bryant’s Foul Language Call.

From The Chicago Sun-Times…

NBA fines Kobe Bryant $100,000 for gay slur

NEW YORK — Kobe Bryant has been fined $100,000 by the NBA for using a derogatory gay term in frustration over a referee’s call.

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced the disciplinary action Wednesday, saying the distasteful term used by Bryant should never be tolerated.

TNT coverage showed Bryant using the slur when he couldn’t get Bennie Adams’ attention as he came to the bench after getting hit with a technical foul during the Lakers’ 102-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Bryant punched his chair before taking a seat on the bench and threw a towel on the court near his feet in frustration after picking up his fourth foul in the third quarter. He got his 15th technical of the season for arguing the call. If he gets another technical foul in the season finale at Sacramento on Wednesday, an NBA-mandated, one-game suspension would be for the first game of next season.

“What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period,” Bryant said in a statement issued through the Lakers on Wednesday. “The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone.”

Gay-rights groups issued statements denouncing Bryant’s actions.

“What a disgrace for Kobe Bryant to use such horribly offensive and distasteful language, especially when millions of people are watching,” the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay-rights group, said.

Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said in a separate statement that slurs have no place on or off the court.

“Professional sports players need to set a better example for young people who use words like this on the playground and in our schools, creating a climate of intolerance and hostility,” Barrios said. “The LA Lakers have a responsibility to educate their fans about why this word is unacceptable.”