I am still in shock over the racist rant of Clippers owner Donald Sterling this weekend. However, what is equally astonishing is that he was set to receive the lifetime achievement award from the NAACP at its upcoming 100th anniversary gala in Los Angeles. I am dumbfounded how someone who allegedly holds such hateful views would even maintain a basketball team in Los Angeles, but the thought that he might have received an award from the NAACP is truly otherworldly. The legal options for the NBA will now take center stage in the controversy. In the meantime, there is no conclusive proof that it was Sterling on the tapes, which is now the focus of the investigation.
Over the weekend, various sites published messages from Sterling to his girlfriend (who is part African American and Mexican) that were reportedly triggered by her posting an innocent picture with Magic Johnson. Well, who would not post a picture with Magic Johnson. Clearly Donald Sterling would not. He has been quoted on various sites as telling his girlfriend V. Stiviano that “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” (3:30) Then two hours later, he is quoted as saying “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games.” (5:15) Then two hours later (yes, there seems to be a pattern in eruptions) there is another missive: “I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.” (7:45). Then two hours later, that is “…Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.” (9:13)
Don’t bring black people to my games? He runs a team in Los Angeles where ten percent of the population is black.
The NAACP was going to give Sterling an award despite a prior lawsuit by former Clippers exec Elgin Baylor for racial discrimination (Sterling won the case but many are now reexamining the allegations for obvious reasons) What is fascinating is that this was going to be the second lifetime achievement award (I always assumed you got one per life but that is just me). The last NAACP award was given while he was being such for racial discrimination.
Sterling was born Donald Tokowitz and later changed his name to Sterling. He was born in 1934 in Chicago and graduated from California State University, Los Angeles (1956) and Southwestern University School of Law (1960) in Los Angeles. He worked as a divorce and personal injury attorney.
The team has not confirmed or denied that it is Sterling’s voice but said that it is investigating to see if anything was altered or faked. It issued a statement that the comments do not reflect Sterling’s true feelings about black fans or black people in general.
There is a call for Sterling to sell the team, though he may be less inclined to do so in a distressed position where buyers will want a discounted price.
The interesting legal question is whether the NBA can effectively move against an owner for his private racist views. If you recall, the National Baseball Association faced such a controversy with Margaret Unnewehr Schott when she was the president and CEO of Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds. Yet, only one owner has been suspended in 68 years under the NBA, though others have been fined. The rules are exceptionally vague and confidential. Commissioner Adam Silver is allowed to act to protect the “best interests” of the game. This includes the right to investigate and fine. However, trying to force the sale of a team for privately held views could raise serious legal issues. There is reportedly a power to force the sale of a team but I would be skeptical of the ability to do so without some serious legal challenges. They could clearly suspend Sterling which may be the best option if the tapes are authenticate. That would allow Sterling to keep that team and not be forced into a distress sale (and likely litigation with the NBA).
I am also curious as to how this tape was made. I believe that California is a two party consent state. The question is whether the taping violated the law. This is likely to get even messier as we drill down on these facts.
Source: USA Today
I never said or implied David Stern was a horrible man. I think he was a very good commish who took the NBA through some VERY troubled waters unrelated to this Sterling racist. I do take some relief in that the word “racist” and “bigot” are being used vis a vis Sterling properly. They are too often used cavalierly here, and elsewhere.
I have not been commenting a lot or reading a lot of the comments for a while so I missed that person (and glad I did).
Tribe can be used in either context. Only you know how you meant it. I do have to say when I read your comment my reaction was, oh boy ere we go, and I hope someone calls Nick out on this. It may not have read how you meant it to but it did come across as anti-Semitic and tribe being used as a derogatory term.
Help Help Help the spam monster ate me.
leej, My MANY comments here regarding Jews prove I am not of that ilk. There was an anti-Semite here within the past month or 2 who went after Jews in general and I called him on it. And, if you read my comment I state clearly I do not know it’s a conspiracy. I again refer to my 2 year tenure here defending not only American Jews, but Israel. I stand on my record, leej. But, if you understood how bigoted and racist other major pro sport ownership is, and how inclusive the NBA is, you might reconsider. Certainly you understand that “tribe” is historical and noble, not derogatory?
Sorry Nick, I agree with Feynman. It reminds me of a Brazilian woman I knew. wife of a very well respected Brazilian journalist, they would eat at the President;s house so they traveled in fairly good circles, were not dumb people and yet she insisted that the “jews own all the banks in the world”. Regardless of the proof she was wrong she persisted in this racist anti-Semitic stereotype.
Per your posting: 2 men who may be jewish does not a jewish conspiracy make.
Paul Schulte
Simms – I think the NAACPs reaction to the Sherrod video was the disturbing audience support Sherrod got when she admitted she had discriminated against the white farmer. That is what they apologized for, and rightly so.
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I know this is off topic but, my point was that they only watched a brief, truncated clip. If they had only watched a couple of minutes on either side, it would have been obvious that Sherrod was using an age old preaching technique with which the NAACP was completely familiar. Sherrod did not admit to discrimination.
And context is important. It certainly wasn’t being used in the historical sense. It was connecting one really horrible man to another horrible man by a snide reference to their shared religion.
To me it sounds like …….”two old Jews protecting one another. Known about it for years”.
Followed up by Flop Rule. Unbelievable.
Mr. Spinelli,
Had it occurred to you that I may have some personal experience in the matter? It is snide. And this is not a comedy club where I expect to see Don Rickles.
Stupid is as stupid does…no matter how wealthy.
Paul
You’re not seriously trying to equate an emotional reaction from a player to the disgustingly overt racist comments of the Clipper’s owner are you? Really?
Rcampbell – an emotionally racist reaction from a player matches an emotionally racist reaction from an owner. Yes I am equating them. I think they are both racist trash.
They have the “flop rule” in the NBA. That is because too many players would fake being fouled and flop on the floor, in a cheating ploy. Last year the NBA said, “basta,.” Now there are penalties for pretending to be fouled. I have said here several times previously, the Turley blog could use a flop rule. That would reign in people who constantly take faux offense and try to create fouls when there are none. The flops in the NBA destroy the flow and integrity of the game. They do the same here.
“Sometimes Karma takes a long time.”
And what about when bad things happen to good people?
(And I’m not saying that the folks highlighted in this posting are good people. I’m just posing the question.)
Good, it couldnt have happened to nicer guy. Sometimes Karma takes a long time.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have an assertion made with something more than hot air? Why do people expect others to do their googling for them? Ipse dixit.
Jews call themselves being of the same tribe. If you socialize w/ Jews you would know that. Hell, if you listen to any of the many great Jewish comedians use the term “tribe” you would know. Plus, it is a historical reference. Google it.
I guess I’m thin skinned, but I find using “tribe” in describing the shared religious affiliation between Sterling and Stern very offensive.
A better sound quality, and almost twice as long copy has been acquired by a site that provides this:
(Deadspin). The site then says: Remember that these aren’t the unfortunate offhand comments of an old man. These are expressions of a worldview that Sterling has acted upon time and time again, with real effects on real people, with little to no response from the NBA or its players. The difference in this case is the visceral effect of actually hearing him say these things out loud and oh so matter-of-factly. It’s enough for even an actor as careful as LeBron James to feel empowered to take a flamethrower to Sterling, saying, “There is no room for Donald Sterling in our league.”
The battle in the court of public opinion has been fought and Sterling lost.
Now the technical battle about the veracity and legality of the taping will have to risk making it worse.
Donald says: Blacks and Hispanics steal?
Full tape: Listen to Don and girlfriend.
@Waldo-Fair point. If Sterling consented, then it’s a completely different story. I’m sure we are only scratching the surface in this case. Thanks for the link.
nick, Seems like all the owners have impunity regardless of ethnicity.