Filth. Sterling is one of the most despicable American alive today — whom we now know of
[Speaking Truth To Empower]
Over the weekend, the racist rants of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling became the biggest sports story in America—and many of sports biggest names denounced him for his comments that were recorded by his Mexican girlfriend.
But why didn’t the NBA act against Mr. Sterling sooner—since he apparently has a track record of racism?
The controversy started when TMZ obtained a taped conversation, purportedly, of Mr. Sterling and his former girlfriend V. Stiviano where he complains about her taking an Instagram photo with Earvin “Magic” Johnson as well as “associating with Black people.” Among other interesting remarks, the voice on the tape complains that “It bothers me a lot that you (Stiviano) want to broadcast that you’re associating with Black people.” The tape is filled with negative remarks about African-Americans and how they are perceived by the White world.
Not surprisingly, many of the NBA’s biggest personalities denounced the Clippers owner. “I couldn’t play for him,” said Laker guard Kobe Bryant. Bryant also said he should be removed as a team owner.
“If the reports are true, it’s unacceptable,” said Miami Heat forward LeBron James. “It doesn’t matter if you’re White, Black, Hispanic, whatever, all across the races. It’s unacceptable and as a commissioner in our league, they (NBA) have to make a stand, and they have to be aggressive with it…There’s no room for Donald Sterling in our league.”
Even Michael Jordan, current owner of the Charlotte Bobcats attacked Sterling harshly. “As an owner I’m obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views…As a former player, I’m completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA—or anywhere else—for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed…In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level.”
If the usually mild-as-milk Michael Jordan is speaking this way, you know you’re comments went way beyond the pale. Jordan often tends to avoid controversy of any kind. Sterling’s comments are truly odious—especially, if you listen to the extended tape. In one section he says “I support them (African-Americans) and give them food, and clothes, and cars and houses.”
Wow. Apparently, African-American players don’t make money for him by bringing people into the arena. One would think this man is some kind of Santa Klaus bearing gifts for free.
But this shouldn’t surprise us. After all, African-Americans have been making money for ungrateful White men ever since we were brought to this land. And in the American economy, far too many are just like Sterling and have forgotten how this country became and economic superpower through slave labor. Somebody should tell Sterling people come to see players—not some fool who got fat off of them.
Mr. Sterling obviously has no problem making money thru minorities—or screwing them, literally, for that matter either—but he doesn’t want to be seen with them. The hypocrisy of this man is amazing. Here is a man who was sleeping with a Mexican woman—who says she’s also part Black—but he seems to have had no problems doing this, while he complains about how inappropriate it is being seen with minorities. This reminds me of those who sexed African-American women at night—often raping them—while preaching white superiority in the daytime.
But while we should all condemn this charlatan, there’s another question to be asked here. There have been several accounts of racism on Sterling’s ledger. Why didn’t the NBA come down on this man a long time ago?
We now hear Mr. Sterling has made racist comments before according to legendary Hall-of-Famer Elgin Baylor who once worked for him. Baylor—who sued him—stated Sterling once said he wanted to fill his team with “poor Black boys from the South and a White head coach.” In that same suit, Sterling allegedly tried to force former player Danny Manning into signing a contract by saying “I’m offering a lot of money for a poor black kid.” That lawsuit also said that while Sterling froze Baylor’s salary at $350,000 the “the Caucasian head coach was given a four-year, $22-million contact.”
Mr. Sterling is the owner of extensive real estate property—some call him a slumlord—in the Los Angeles area. In a 2006 lawsuit, he allegedly said “Black tenants smell and attract vermin” and stated he didn’t want Hispanic tenants because they “smoke, drink and just hang around the building.” Sterling paid over $2 million to settle that lawsuit.
One has to wonder, did the NBA, and former Commissioner David Stern, take any meaningful action after these incidents to bring Mr. Sterling in line? This ignoramus calls Black people smelly and the NBA didn’t think that was outrageous enough for them to act—especially, when 80 percent of the NBA players are Black?
The NBA committed a flagrant foul here by not disciplining this disgrace within their midst. They owe all of Black America an apology for aiding and abetting this unrepentant racist for all these years. They should be pressured to tell us what they knew about Sterling and when did they know it?
Moreover, there’s another important reality we must face here. Many have lambasted Mr. Sterling—and rightly so. But the question we must ask ourselves is this: are his ignorant, insensitive comments that different from what many other Whites say when they are talking among themselves?
How many other NBA owners harbor similar secret sentiments about Black people? Former Cleveland Cavalier owner Ted Stepien reportedly said decades ago “I think the Cavs have too many Blacks.” How many more like Stepien and Sterling are there?
One of the major problems in America is the lack of protections for regular workers—who can often be fired for little or no reason. However, big bosses and owners can escape any punishment for the most egregious conduct. Scoundrels with money often pay no price for their misbehavior.
New NBA Commissioner Adam Silver talked about “a range of sanctions,” that the NBA could meted out against Sterling. But are “sanctions” or suspensions adequate here? What would a suspension, in this instance, look like? Could he be suspended from coming to his home arena?
How much money can he be fined for? And if he decides to challenge it, what then? Shouldn’t this bigot be put out of business, like former Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott who talked about her “million-dollar niggers”—and was a big fan of Adolf Hitler?
Sterling must pay the punitive punishment he so richly deserves. We often have no problem disciplining players. But the time comes when owners must be disciplined as well.
Many of the players are asking that he be removed as an owner. But absent agreement from other owners and pressure from corporate sponsors that prospect may be difficult. Reportedly, under the NBA bylaws Mr. Sterling can be banned for life—and if three-fourths of the NBA Board of Governors decided to do it, his franchise can be taken away. Is there any question they should do just that?
Several companies have dropped their sponsorship of the Clippers in recent days including: The Chumash Casino, CarMax, Virgin America, State Farm, Kia Motors America, Red Bull, Lumber Liquidators, Mercedes-Benz, State Farm, and Sprint.
Now is the time for NBA fans and supporters to stand up and say unequivocally that racial discrimination will not be condoned in any form or fashion—by Mr. Sterling or anyone.
