Sacramento Kings point guard Rajon Rondo was suspended for one game for directing homophobic slurs at a referee and will miss Tuesday night's game against the Houston Rockets. The ref Rondo directed the slur at was Bill Kennedy who has just announced that he is actually gay, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
"I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man. 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," said Kennedy.
The NBA has really cracked down on players for the use of homophobic slurs on the basketball court as Rondo is the third player to be punished for it but the first to ever be suspended. In 2011 Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for directing an anti-gay slur at a ref and that same year Joakim Noah was fined $50,000 during the playoffs for directing a slur at a fan. The NBA will clearly not stand for this anymore as Rondo will miss a game and lose out on $86,300.
All three officials in the game agreed that they heard Rondo use the word faggot multiple times in his rant towards Kennedy after receiving two consecutive technical and being ejected from the game. Rondo had to be restrained by teammates and escorted off the floor.
As for Kennedy's decision to use this time to come out, NBA commissioner Adam Silver was extremely supportive of the 49 year old referee.
"I wholeheartedly support Bill's decision to live his life proudly and openly. 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," said Silver.
Kennedy is the second NBA official to reveal that he is gay as female referee Violet Palmer did the same last year after getting married to her longtime partner. Kennedy is considered one of the best refs in the league and he has officiated 1,056 regular season games and 68 playoff games in his career. Kennedy is the only referee to have ever worked the NBA All-Star game, the NBA Finals and an Olympic game in the same calendar year.
