Kobe did what?

The NBA announced today that it is retroactively fining Kobe Bryant $50,000, or the equivalent of what he earns for making a left-handed layup, for leaving the toilet seat up in the locker room after a recent game.

Stu Jackson, NBA vice president of operations, confirmed the amount and said that this should be seen as precedent for other players in the league.

"How many times have your wives and girlfriends told you to put that dang thing down when you're done in there?" Jackson said before admitting that he himself had been guilty of Kobe's offense this morning at about 2 a.m. "We need to teach these men some proper bathroom etiquette."

Bryant declined to comment on the situation, but his agent did describe him as "flush with anger" when he heard the news.

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Okay, so that's a big joke. Kobe didn't get fined for leaving the toilet seat up.

But in all seriousness, when are the league's big brother tactics going to lighten up? I'm no Kobe fan, but this is entering the realms of ridiculous.

For those of you who haven't heard, Bryant was just retroactively assessed a flagrant foul for elbowing Kyle Korver. This season alone, he's been suspended twice by the NBA for elbowing opponents on his "follow through." On only one of the occasions, however, was he actually called for a foul in the game.

Let's face it. Kobe Bryant is a prima donna. He's a great player, but there's a lot of things not to like about him, including some dirty play here and there.

But for the sake of precedence, this has to stop. Kobe needs to be called for the foul on the court. When it happens, the officials at the game should determine if it's a flagrant foul. Then, everyone should just move on.

No fines, no suspensions, no retroactive flagrant or technical fouls. Just basketball, please.