Noah Apologizes for Using Gay Slur at Miami Fan

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 23, 2011 4:00PM

During the heat of the Bulls' loss to Miami last night, cameras captured center Joakim Noah shouting a gay slur at a fan as he went to the bench after picking up his second foul. NOah admitted that he said "something" akin to "fake you, maggot."

“I got caught up,” Noah said. “I don’t mean no disrespect to anybody.”

WBEZ's Justin Kaufmann wrote this morning that Noah was over the line.

C'mon, Joakim. Chicago wants to like you. But you are too over-the-top with your emotions. Did a fan really get to you on the sideline? That's what they pay big money for those seats for! You just gave the Miami Heat a reason to jack up those court side prices. "You can also interact with visiting players and get under their skin. $4,500."

Noah said he isn't sure what the fallout will be, but he should definitely expect a fine. Maybe a suspension. (Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 earlier this season for hurling the same epithet at a referee.) tHere's the video in question. See for yourself.