The National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver
on Tuesday banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life following
racist comments he made in private that were recorded. He was quoted as
telling his MGW (Mistress/Girlfriend/Whatever) that he did not want her to
bring "black people" to his games and that he more or less did not
appreciate her hanging around "them". While reading the
transcripts and listening to what audio I could listen to, this man is
appalling in every sense of the word. However, I am somewhat confused of
what has transpired over the past few days.
On Sunday, the day after the audio was
released, it is reported that Sterling has a long history of racial
discrimination including charges in the NBA and that nobody should be surprised
by this. On the panel discussing these charges was National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People Interim President and CEO
Lorraine C. Miller. The NAACP Los Angeles chapter was planning to honor
Sterling for a Humanitarian Award, which has since been rescinded.
Sterling was honored by NAACP once before in 2008. If Sterling has
a history of this behavior, is a well-known racist and nobody should be
surprised by this outcome, how in the world can an esteemed organization such
as the NAACP not only honor him once, but almost twice. I guess money can
buy just about anything. This is obviously a mistake by the NAACP and I
would hope they review their high end donors and honorees after this debacle.
To quote Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban
when interviewed about the possibility of forcing a sale of the Clippers by the
league "it will be a slippery slope" and it most likely will not
happen overnight. This all goes back to the "history" of this
man's behavior, why now? When he was evicting colored people illegally in
rent controlled housing it wasn't an issue? It wasn't an issue when the
Department of Justice brought discrimination charges against him and he was
quoted as saying that the reason he did not like to African-Americans
was "Black tenants smell and attract vermin." and that Hispanics
"smoke, drink and just hang around the building,"? Mark Cuban feels
that forcing a sale will open a Pandora's Box from special interest groups to
pressure league officials into action when people aren't aligned with their
views, and he could be right.
The question of the players being able to
opt out of contracts because of this was brought up during the press conference
and I must say that is not an option. It comes down to two things.
First, and I keep going back to it, is the history of Sterling, if the
agents of these players did their homework rather than go after the biggest
contract they would have known this. Second, when you sell your soul to
the devil you live with the consequence. The NAACP learned that the hard
way and they reportedly returned the money Sterling donated. Will the NBA
players wishing to opt out do the same thing? Unlikely!
Donald Sterling is a vile human being.
He is married with a mistress, OUT IN THE OPEN. When asked about his actions as a landlord his quote was
"I own the building, so I can be racist". He just doesn't care
and that compounds the issue. He was also quoted as saying to an emplyee that reported a request for repairs and refund due to damage "I'm not going to do that, just evict the bitch"
If you have been following this story and
are celebrating the decision keep in mind this does not solve the problem.
The players still "play" for Sterling, he still signs the
checks. What does forcing the sale of the franchise do to Sterling? He stands to make a 480% profit on his investment, just on the sale. That's showing him. He will still be a racist, just a half of a billion dollars richer. While the courts haggle over the sale of the team, and they will, does that mean his "ban" mean he doesn't have to pay the bills? The punishment at this point is on the surface. This is far
from over.
The NBA needs to tread lightly here on how
they react to public discourse. They have opened the door, now it is a
matter of who they let in to voice their issues. Leading to a "slippery
slope".
3D
If you don't take it from me, ask my wife
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