In today's reason to ignore the fans: Joakim Noah says a bad thing ((UPDATED))

This will probably be the "Big Talker" of the Internets today. Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, not known for holding back his thoughts, appears, on video to say some curse words, including a slur that Kobe Bryant got fined for using just a month or two ago.

Noah had just picked up his second foul in Sunday nights game and was headed for an early seat on the bench, he grabs some water and a towel and appears to gesture towards someone behind him and say something along the lines of #$@%! you...faggot.

Now, it's somewhat difficult to tell what the last word was, but you can pretty clearly tell what the 1st two were, the TNT Sports shotgun mic did it's job, too well.



He later said he apologized to the fan directly, though it probably will not help him avoid a substantial fine. Our pals on SportsCenter play the apology and talk about it:



PM UPDATE: From the NBA their ownselves...

Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah has been fined $50,000 for using a derogatory and offensive term from the bench during the first quarter of the Bulls’ 96-85 loss to the Miami Heat last night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Bulls Officially Fire Del Negro

((HT: WFLD-TV Chicago))

The biggest non-secret in the city of Chicago became official this afternoon as the Bulls and GM Gar Forman fired coach Vinny Del Negro after two 41-41 seasons.

Chicago Bulls executive John Paxson says he isn't planning to join fired coach Vinny Del Negro in looking for a new job. Paxson spoke to reporters for the first time since the did-he-choke-did-he-not-choke Del Negro late last month over playing time for the Bulls' Joakim Noah.

Paxson says he accepts the criticism and "people saying I should probably be fired or released." But the executive vice president also says he's not going anywhere and plans to contribute to the Bulls' organization for years to come.

Of course he does, now that his job is safe for another season...

FOSG Corey McPherrin was live at the Bulls offices to hear from Forman...
((HT: MyFoxChicago.com))

Joakim Noah keeps on talking....

We generally like athletes who don't sugarcoat things or stay politically correct and just kind of say what is on their minds. Not only is that rare, most of the mainstream media are aghast when it actually happens. They look up and start running around the room in circles with their arms raised going "AHHHHH!". Mostly because it never happens.

We've also, til now, never been much of a fan of Joakim Noah. He talks...a lot...about whatever is on his mind. We didn't care for him when he was at Florida or when he began his NBA career in Chicago. But...we are changing our opinion, mostly because again...he says whatever he's thinking.

He recently opined about Kevin Garnett of the Celtics when he got suspended, calling him a "Dirty Player". Maybe it is true, maybe it isn't...but nobody seemed to run to Garnett's defense their either.

Noah's latest stream of consciousness, railing on the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls opponent in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs. He steadfastly refused to acknowledge that LeBron James is pretty much beating the Bulls by himself, saying "Yeah, its tough, but we have to play them again and I just don't want to give LeBron all this credit". Hmmm....

Check out what he had to say about the city of Cleveland after Game 2 of the series, it's funny, and if you've ever been to Cleveland...somewhat true.

Video Courtesy: TNT/NBA and You Tube: