I agree with you, however, why does a person expressing their own opinion, as a person, mean you have to pay a price? How many people going to NBA games would go if they thought the NBA was a gay friendly venue? All this guy did was to be honest, so what? All people in the group may or may not share his views. I don't disagree with you, I am just saying, why is it so? Just thought food. What effects this idea that there has to be any punishment at all? Who decides this and why?
When he appears on a sports talk show, he isn't just expressing his own opinion as a person. He is representing the NBA whether he likes it or not.
What effects this idea that there has to be any punishment at all? Who decides this and why?
The NBA decides when it deems its image to have been damaged by the guy's comments.