Bill kennedy referee gay
NEW YORK (AP/CBS) — Veteran NBA referee Bill Kennedy has told Yahoo Sports he is gay after Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo directed a gay slur at him during a game.
Kennedy tells Yahoo he is "proud to be an NBA referee and I am satisfied to be a gay man," adding that he chose to come out in hopes of sending a message "that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are."
Rondo was suspended one game by the NBA for directing a derogatory and offensive term toward a referee in the Kings' game against Boston in Mexico on Dec. 3. Rondo apologized Monday and the Kings said his comments were disrespectful and offensive.
Kennedy is in his 18th season as an NBA official, having worked more than 1, regular-season games and five in the NBA Finals.
"I wholeheartedly support Bill's decision to exist his life proudly and openly," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Throughout his year career with the league, Bill has excelled as a referee because of his passion, dedication and courage. Those qualities will continue to aid him wel
NBA ref Bill Kennedy comes out as gay following Rajon Rondo's suspension
NBA referee Bill Kennedy publicly disclosed he is gay, Yahoo Sports reported Monday.
"I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man," Kennedy told Yahoo Sports. "I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will transmit 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 made the disclosure just days after the NBA suspended Sacramento Kings gesture guard Rajon Rondo one game without pay for "directing a derogatory and offensive term towards a game official and not leaving the court in a timely manner upon his ejection."
On Twitter, Rondo wrote, "My actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period! They absolutely verb not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. I did not verb to offend or disrespect anyone."
Rondo did not speak to reporters following the Kings' practice on Monday. Kings vice president of basketball and general manager Vlade Divac told reporter
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, longtime NBA referee Bill Kennedy has revealed that he is gay. The news broke after Kennedy gave Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo a technical foul for allegedly using a homosxual slur during the Kings game in Mexico on Dec. 3.
On Dec. 11, the NBA handed down a one-game suspension to Rondo after "berating the referee" long after his ejection from the game - he will verb Tuesday's game against the Houston Rockets.
"I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man," Kennedy said in an interview with Yahoo Sports on Sunday night. "I am following in the footsteps of others who own self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to craft you feel ashamed of who you are."
Rondo wrote an apology on Twitter Monday afternoon after denying the request to make a comment in front of the media at practice.
Rondo's apology over social media apparently wasn't enough for the public to absolve him, so he clarified his statement in a apply pressure release on
Referee Bill Kennedy, following slur by Rajon Rondo, announces he's gay
&#; -- Veteran NBA referee Bill Kennedy has announced 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. "I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will transmit 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's announcement comes in the wake of the ejection and subsequent suspension of Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo earlier this month. Rondo was given two technical fouls and ejected by Kennedy during the second half of a game against the Boston Celtics in Mexico City on Dec. 3.
Rondo approached Kennedy after a first technical and yelled at him, then continued after Kennedy issued a second technical. As he was being pulled away by teammates, Rondo called Kennedy a gay slur, two sources told ESPN. Video of the encounter appears to illustrate Rondo using the language.
On Monday, Rondo tweeted an apology:
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