"Kobe Bryant's comment during the game was offensive and inexcusable," NBA Commissioner David Stern said. "While I'm fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated.
"Accordingly, I have fined Kobe $100,000. Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society."
About an hour later, Bryant said he was hoping to meet with gay groups. "It's our responsibility to turn it into a positive and raise as much awareness as we can to say that it is not okay to...insult and disrespect," he said in an interview with ESPN radio. While he said he was taking responsibility for his actions, he would appeal the fine as a matter of protocol.
