The NBA recently suspended Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo for comments he made against one of the NBA’s best referees, Bill Kennedy.
The suspension was curious for a couple of reasons. The suspension came over a week after the incident actually occurred in Mexico City in which Rondo made no contact with the ref and he was just ejected for getting heated.
Now it has been revealed that the comments Rondo made were offensive towards Bill Kennedy due to his sexual preference.
Following from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
Bill Kennedy, one of the NBA’s top referees, has revealed he is gay.
“I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. “I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are.”
Kennedy declined further comment on his announcement.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver delivered a statement of support for Kennedy.
“I wholeheartedly support Bill’s decision to live his life proudly and openly,” Silver told Yahoo Sports in a statement. “Throughout his 18-year career with the league, Bill has excelled as a referee because of his passion, dedication and courage. Those qualities will continue to serve him well both as a game official and as a positive influence for others. While our league has made great progress, our work continues to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity.”
In the game officials’ report used as part of the NBA’s investigation – which includes details provided to Yahoo Sports from National Basketball Referee’s Association general counsel Lee Seham – Kennedy and fellow referee Ben Taylor described Rondo’s post-ejection diatribe as including the statements: “You’re a mother——- faggot. … You’re a f—— faggot, Billy.”
Hopefully Rondo had no knowledge about Kennedy’s sexual preference when he ripped on Kennedy during the Kings game against the Boston Celtics in Mexico City.
Congrats to Kennedy for having enough courage to come out and stand up for himself after someone tried to belittle him and come at who he is as a person. There’s a time and place for everything and a hothead like Rondo needs to learn that, especially when it comes to saying things to a person that could end up being hurtful to them.
