NBA: Pacers’ Hibbert fined for anti-gay remarks

Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert reacts during the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Miami Heat in Indianapolis, Saturday, June 1, 2013. AP

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana— The NBA slapped Indiana center Roy Hibbert with a $75,000 fine Sunday for his post-game tirade after the Pacers’ game-six playoff victory over the Miami Heat.

Hibbert was disciplined for “inappropriate language” after he used a gay slur in one answer and swore in another during a press conference following the Pacers’ 91-77 win over defending champions Miami on Saturday night.

Asked about his defense on Miami superstar LeBron James, Hibbert ended his response with the phrase “no homo”.

Hibbert apologized, but league commissioner David Stern wasn’t going to let him off that easy.

“While Roy has issued an apology, which is no doubt sincere, a fine is necessary to reinforce that such offensive comments will not be tolerated by the NBA,” Stern said.

The issue of homophobia in pro sports team locker rooms has been at the fore in recent weeks, with veteran NBA center Jason Collins going public with the fact that he’s gay in April to become the first active player in a major US men’s pro league to do so.

Collins, a free agent after playing with the Washington Wizards last season, hasn’t played since sharing his sexuality publicly, but former US national team footballer Robbie Rogers, who announced he was gay and retired from football in February, this month returned to the game playing for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy.

Hibbert tried to limit the damage Sunday morning, apologizing in a statement issued by the Pacers for “insensitive remarks”.

“They were disrespectful and offensive and not a reflection of my personal views,” said Hibbert, who had already reached out to Collins via Twitter asking for a private discussion with his fellow player.

“I used a slang term that is not appropriate in any setting, private or public, and the language I used definitely has no place in a public forum,” added the player, who had defiantly said during the news conference he didn’t care if the league fined him for his frank— and profane— opinion on why he finished well down in Defensive Player of the Year voting by the media.

“Y’all mother-fuckers don’t watch us play throughout the year, to tell you the truth,” Hibbert said. “That’s fine. I’m going to be real with you. And I don’t care if I get fined.”

The Pacers and Heat are tied 3-3 in the best-of-seven series and will battle for a place in the NBA finals in the decisive game seven on Monday.