Kobe vs Noah, Fan vs Ref, and the profanity of the NBA

So just over month ago, Kobe got hit with a $100,00 fine for calling a ref a gay slur. Yesterday Noah said the same thing to a fan and got hit with a $50,000 fine.  Now looking at it from a salary point of view it does take a higher percentage from Noah's salary (1.6% compared to Kobe's 0.4%.)  But I see this as no different, if I get pulled over for a traffic violation it will cost me same as much as anyone else no matter how much more or less money they make.   The NBA generates its money from ticket sales, tv and ad revenue, all which come from or are for us, the fans.  We buy the tickets, we buy the products that we see on the commercials.  In my opinion, Noah directed his comments at a fan which should hurt the NBA more than Kobe yelling at a ref, who is an employee of the league.  But by fining Noah half as much as Kobe they are putting more effort in protecting the refs and not the fans.  In February, Chris Paul was fined $15,000 for verbally abusing the ref after the game. (http://bit.ly/lQPyl2) The difference is this was on the court disputing a call after the game.  Kobe and Noah were only caught because of the tv cameras.  It just comes down to protecting the fans and their families.  In a move like this the NBA is  not doing that.

The NBA wants to promote a family friendly environment, but they need to realize that the players are what promote that image.  I feel like a lot of things that are said on the court should not be said.  While watching ESPN today I saw Durant yell a choice word out after missing a three pointer.  To me this happens a lot more than than the slurs or at least is caught on camera a lot more.  I feel that if Kobe and/or Noah had said something different without that term they would have received little or no punishment for it.  I see a double standard here.  One side is protecting a group of people while the other is hurting families and little children.  Another view can be made that while the word is most definitely inappropriate it was directed at the person because of their sexual orientation, it was meant more along the lines as stupid or idiot.  But the fines and apologies come because groups are up in arms that they are being singled out by the players.  I'm pretty sure Kobe and Noah were not doing this when in happened. All in all the NBA needs to clean up the players act and make them responsible for what they say on and off the court.  This will serve both the fans, their families and the groups that are offended by what is said.