Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah got fined $50,000 by the NBA for yelling an obscenity toward a fan during Sunday's game against the Miami Heat. Multiple cameras caught him hurling what turned out to be an anti-gay slur.
Noah reacted angrily to something that a fan said, resulting in his rather ill-advised response. Noah has since apologized and vowed to learn from the incident. A lot of analysts expected Noah to be hit with a fine similar to Kobe Bryant - $100,000 - and probably suspended for the next game. Noah's fine is less, because he directed his remark toward a fan, unlike Bryant whose response was targeted at a game official, though not said directly toward the said official. Not saying that Noah's offense is lesser than Bryant's, but that's how it was explained after the league took action.
It is understandable whenever players lose their cool during the heat of a game. They are only human and are bound to get frustrated time after time. Emotions get high, lots of things that are often said back and forth, and players have frequently been advised to develop thick skin against the one person they can never seem to counter; the fan.
I'm not talking about the fans who just want to sit and enjoy the game, after spending their hard earned money on tickets and a few dollars more at the concession stand. I'm talking about the fans that just can't sit and do that. Fans that think they are entitled to say what they want, when they want. You know the ones who like to ruin it for everybody.
While Noah's response is inexcusable and indefensible, it's only fair that the league also starts to crack down fans who feel like they should be a part of the game. I can understand a little playful verbal jousting with no ill-will whatsoever. Floor seats to basketball games don't come cheap and for your trouble, you get to sit a little closer to the action. You'd think that after spending all that money, the least someone would want to do is enjoy the game. That is not always the case though.
Several Bulls players have come to Noah's defense, with Luol Deng claiming to have heard the non-stop verbal abuse that the fan directed towards the Bulls' bench. Deng said that the fan should have been ejected from the game. I'm sure anyone would agree with that assessment.
Since the "Malice in the Palace" in November, 2004, the league has toughened its stance with regard player/fan confrontations; barring players from rushing into the stands to confront fans, and fans from getting onto the court at anytime. Noah's incident shows that the league has some ground to cover in matters concerning fan conduct.
If players are to be held to such a high standard regarding their "on-court" conduct, then fans need to be held accountable for their conduct as well. It would be nice to see the league work with teams to ensure a more fun, friendly and "abuse-free" atmosphere.
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