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
Paul,
Trust me. I know anti-Semitism. And those few words that were found in the clout post were exposing the author’s anti-Semitism.
You don’t have to catch someone ranting about “blood libel’ to have them qualify as an anti-Semite. Very often it is more subtle, more insidious, more coded. If you hear it said of someone that ‘he’s a Jew, for what it’s worth’, he is not being complimented.. It is: wink – wink… you know what I mean?’,…a sneer. It is all that a blood libel implies, but cleaned up so it can be said in refined company. Or what passes for refined.
Same goes for the way ‘tribe’ was used today. If you want to say someone is Jewish – say it. That’s probably fine (context matters). I wouldn’t try it in a diverse crowd of acquaintances.
These are not intended as “orders’. Just observations for someone who has (maybe) not known many Jews.
Backing and hoeing there. Won’t do you any good. Damage has already been done.
Byron, forgot to add that I wasn’t bothered by the slugger joke. But neither did it cause me to go – heh.
Paul, As you might imagine the smell of wood is incredible. They have to have misters spraying water into the air[like outdoor restaurants in your climate], just to keep down the fire hazard and put some moisture in the air.
Byron,
I did not make any mention of the Slugger joke. My ‘heh’ was a quiet chuckle. I thought the short exchange between you two was funny. Lord knows we need funny.
Byron, I’ve taken the Louisville Slugger tour. It’s not a big place and you actually talk to the people working the different stations. They have a computerized lathe w/ the specs for all the pro players they have under contract. The day I toured they were making pink MLB bats for the Mother’s Day games. You can buy bats w/ your name inscribed w/ your favorite team’s logo. Real nice gifts for fans.
Nick – now I am jealous.
feynman:
I knew what you meant, RTC was just taking a cheap shot at me.
I did not insult any posters, I made a lewd statement about Sterlings former girlfriend. It implied she was rather loose and used a sports metaphor in keeping with the thread, although not basketball related.
It had to do with “wood” and Louisville Sluggers.
I probably could have said “she has seen more wood than a lathe operator at the Louisville Slugger factory” and been within the bounds of decency.
RTC and Byron
Heh.
But I meant I have no idea of which note went “poof” so how does that help me to build an understanding of boundaries?
Worse, if Prof Turley deletes one of mine, how does one know which one? I can hardly remember what happened two minutes ago; is it expected that I will remember what I said at 3:42?
Oy! This is hard.
Oy vey, you are such a kvetch!
Paul,
Obviously, you have NO idea of what qualifies as anti-Semitism nor any idea about the use of foreign phrases.
Please advise when credentials are required.
Thanks
Well, I know that you don’t know what qualifies as anti-Semitism, so I was concerned if you were trying to be a comic or anti-Semitic.
In that case, we’ll designate him to explain it to you. God knows the rest of us have tried
RTC:
feynman is a very smart person, he/she wont have any trouble understanding what I write.
feynman: “Here’s my problem.
I have no idea what Byron said.”
—————————————-
You’ll get used to it.
Paul,
It would have been helpful if, instead of saying ‘someone’, you had simply said you had an objection.
I guess you’ll have to take my word for it then. In my world, no one would ever, ever, ever, object to it’s use.
It is a Yiddish exclamation of dismay. No doubt other languages have similar expressions but I don’t know them. ‘Oy’ always worked for me.
You said no one, I replied some one. And since you made such a big point yesterday to accuse first Nick and then myself of Antisemitism, I felt is was only politically correct to check if you had the right credentials to use the phrase.
The objection was mine.
Paul, I missed the objection. Will you give me a name or time posted so that I can see what was said?
swarthmore mom.
I was glad to read that his wife said it was his voice. Otherwise, though I found him scum, I would have thought it a rush to judgement. Even so, they had to act in order to get the mob to disburse. .Much damage was being done to all the Very Important People.
Paul,
In this particular instance, I actually believe you are entitled to an answer.
I used “oy” because I grew up in a world where nobody would ever, ever, ever question its use.
That is not true, is it. Someone did question its use. You may want to reevaluate your world.
Why didn’t Stern take action?
How about………
Rich guys hang out together. They probably had shared drinks and nice dinners.
Unfortunately, some think it was because Stern and Sterling are both Jewish.
Take your pick.
.Mr. Spinelli, an Italian, once went roller skating.
or how about this….
Mr. Malik, a Muslim, likes oranges.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Does that help explain the problem with pointing out someone’s religion.?
Here’s my problem.
I have no idea what Byron said. That makes it very difficult to understand the boundaries.
What is civility? I think it is uncivil to use ethnic slurs. It’s probably not very civil to call someone a fool. (even when hoisting someone on his own petard.)
And what is tit for tat? Isn’t debate tit for tat? How does ‘diverse opinion’ fit?
Think Buckley. Think Mailer. Think Hitchens. Those were some tit for tatters.
Yes, I have heard some Oxford debates that are perfectly civil. Sadly, l am not that expert.
I think I know incivility when I see it. “Elfie” comes to mind. But should I assume that I know what Byron or Annie or Al Zeimer let alone Prof. Turley, thinks is not civil?
Nobody wants to even RISK becoming whatever blog it is that is so obnoxious. And it’s a wonderful thing that this is a place that is interesting, diverse, and smart.
But, oy, sometimes it hurts my head soooo much.
Rock I am obviously more informed on Sterling than you, that’s what my sport’s knowledge and venue has to do w/ it. As I said on the new thread, this guy was coddled for too long. There is a reason for everything. My profession honed my deductive skills. There’s no place for PC is seeking truth, because the truth is often very ugly. The new commish, a Jew, came down really hard although this offense was not as egregious as previous offenses. Do you have any theory as to why it took this long to shitcan this guy. I put my thoughts out there, you took offense, but what are your thoughts on the much more important issue, why so long?
I am surprised that someone is not making the claim that the NBA is anti-Semitic because Sterling is Jewish.
If you would only act like Bill Buckley then things would lighten up some. He had a sense of humour and liked to needle people on occasion. Mailer was a verbal brawler. Hitchens depended on the subject.
Now using “oy,” is that okay because you are Jewish or anti-Semitic because you are making fun of Jews?
Spinelli,
I happen to be a sports -esp. basketball – fan, too, in a family full of sports fans and guess what? My own father is, like me, Jewish and was a champion HS roundball player who could’ve gone to WVA to play. So maybe, by your stellar logic, I know Stern and basketball even better than you! (Oh, wait, no one knows more about anything than you, as I’m sure anyone around here for a while has noticed.) But, in any case, to answer your question why so long to come down on Dirtball Don if not simply b/c Stern wished to protect a fellow Jew – the only explanation you claim to have been able to come up with – the first and most obvious reason that occurred to me is that members of billionaire boys’ clubs tend to protect each other (as I think Feynmann already explained to you). But, hey, again applying your ethnic-types-stick-together thinking, maybe it’s b/c they’re both white guys. (Meanwhile, so sorry Silver blew up your theory. Hmmm, maybe he’s just a “convert” or something…) OK, I’ve now wasted the last three minutes I’m gonna waste on your arrogant and, yes, bigoted remarks.