Bizarre, Society

Clippers Owner Will Not Receive NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award

200px-Los_Angeles_Clippers_logo.svgNaacplogoI 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

225 thoughts on “Clippers Owner Will Not Receive NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award”

  1. Byron, I was in Detroit about 10 years ago. It’s like Thunderdome. Dems did a great job there.

  3. Has anyone heard anything about the white guy who got the living crap kicked and beat out of him after he hit a young black boy with his car? Apparently 3-5 black men jumped him and beat him very badly.

    I am thinking a rich white guy who says a couple of racist things to a former girlfriend really isnt that big a deal in the scheme of things.

    It is like worrying about a pimple on your a$$ when your femoral artery has been cut.

    If anything, this man is guilty of moral cowardice.

    1. Byron – that incident was not reported here. Although I think I heard that after much pressure Jesse Jackson said they shouldn’t have done it. He hasn’t offered to pay the medical bills, but hey, he has a wife and mistress to support.

  6. Don Sterling, registered Republican. Supported 2 Dems 25 years ago: Bill Bradley and Gray Davis. If Max-1 is a young man he may not even know who they are.

    Interesting note…..Bill Bradley played basketball. Maybe Don just supported him because he had met him one time or another.

    Oh yes. Billionaire Don was a regular George Soros. He gave some Dems (unspecified) six (6) thousand dollars over the course of a couple of years in the early 90s.

    Not that any of that matters.

  7. Which is Anti-Semitic? I have several links on here, so I have looked at all I can find and cannot find the one you are complaining about.

  8. Max, I know Mr. Turley is a very busy man. To do a full background piece on this guy would take a lotta time. Many times a post is made and Mr. Turley relies on his commenters to complement the post w/ other facts. As you can see, leej picked up where Jonathan left off and provided some excellent background. A good teacher motivates their students to learn on their own. That’s what happened, no conspiracy, teamwork.

  9. That people have to, HAVE TO, defend bigotry with a myriad of excuses including partisan politics screams agenda…
    … That’s why I stopped posting here.

    Far too much apologia sans honest facts.

    Was there a reason Mr Turley omitted Mr Stirlings past racism?

    And Paul.
    Why defend racism by making it a political distraction?
    Can’t we discuss the auto itch of what was said? Period?

    1. Max-1 – we are making it political because for all of yesterday these same people were beating the bloody drum over Cliven Bundy and his Republican supporters. Now there is a Democrat, or at least a RINO, who is a worse racist that Bundy, who has been supporting Democrats. And we one or more commentors who are fixated on the fallacy of symbolic racism, but this time it is on the other foot.

  10. Oh god, Paul. Read your own stuff.

    And damned if I know why it is important if he gave $50 milion to the Democrats. You’re the one who seemed that is was important to have a level playing field or something. To even it up for poor Mr. Bundy. Or something.

  12. Annie,

    The blog gods shine brightly upon you. Elaine, too, but she is semi divine already.

  13. Sorry Feynman, You used up your question quota for the next few months.

  14. And Elaine and Annie…

    Are you guys rehearsing again? I hate it when your timing is so perfect.

  15. Mr. Spinelli, I’m so glad you’re here. Paul S has posted something by an anti-Semite. Perhaps you can take a moment to tell him how you feel about anti-Semitism?

    Thanks.

  17. Paul’s source, (the one that wasn’t anti-Semitic) said the man gave $6K to somebody (he did not specify which party) and said Sterling was known to have supported Bill Bradley and Gray Davis TWENTY YEARS ago. Further, their report was just some D-list guy writing it up. It was pure crap.

    Ipse Dixit.

    Further, anyone who posts a link whose author is anti-Semitic, should OWN it and apologize for doing so.

    1. Which site was anti-Semitic? And what does that have to do with whether he gave the money to Democratics or not?

  20. Fairness would require US to condemn the NAACP for not only awarding him one lifetime award but getting ready to award him another. We should be condemning the NBA for allowing him to purchase a team, the City of Los Angeles for allow him to operate there and the State of California for the same reason. I am wondering what tax breaks each of these last entities gave to the Clippers?

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