Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers watches play while biting his jersey against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center on March 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Getty Images)more pics » 
Kobe Bryant (Getty Images) Kobe Bryant has spent the last few years trying to rebuild his image after he was accused in 2003 of sexually assualting an employee at a Colorado hotel. He didn't help the process last night when a technical foul call led Kobe to fire out what appeared to be the words "F***ing f***ot" at a referee.
Lately, things had been going great for the LA Lakers star, who in the last two years has led his team to back-to-back NBA titles. Shouting homophobic slurs at a referee in the second-to-last game of the regular season is probably not the best way to keep things moving in a positive direction.
It's not yet known if the NBA will take any action against the Black Mamba, but a rep for the league has said an investigation is underway. Meanwhile, TMZ is
reporting that Gay Rights group, Human Rights Campaign, is calling Kobe's actions "horribly offensive," and "a disgrace."
Should Kobe face some sort of penalty for his actions?
Check out more pictures of Kobe Bryant here:
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers watches play while biting his jersey against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center on March 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Getty Images)more pics » 
Kobe Bryant (Getty Images) Kobe Bryant has spent the last few years trying to rebuild his image after he was accused in 2003 of sexually assualting an employee at a Colorado hotel. He didn't help the process last night when a technical foul call led Kobe to fire out what appeared to be the words "F***ing f***ot" at a referee. 
