A rich Caucasian makes racists comments while talking to girlfriend over the phone about her pictures with an African-American. It sounds like a sort of interesting plot line or twist in a plot line for maybe Law and Order.
I could actually sit in my lazy boy on a lazy Saturday afternoon and get into a story like that.
The problem is this wasn’t a TV show plot it is part of the sad reality we unfortunately still live in.
This past weekend a recording of a conversation between Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling and his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, was leaked by TMZ to the rest of the world.
Normally TMZ just reminds me of the obnoxiously crazy little brother of the TV network E! and, therefore, should just be ignored but this time little brother found out disturbingly incriminating information.
In the recorded heated conversation with his girlfriend Sterling is heard making racist statements against minorities specifically African Americans.
You could tell in the conversation that he was extremely upset that she posted a picture of herself with retired basketball great Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
He did not say the N-word during the now infamous audio clip but he did utter statements such as, “Ya it bothers me a lot you want to promo… broadcast that you’re associating with black people” and “… I want you to love them-privately. In your whole life everyday you can be with them… But why publicize it on the Instagram and why bring it to my games.”
The “them” and “it” he is referring to is a whole race of people many of them not only fans of the NBA, his team included, but also coaches and players that he employs on his team.
So here we have an owner of a professional basketball team in a league that is about 80 percent black with millions of other black fans and the question is what should NBA commissioner Adam Silver do about this egregious and embarrassing situation that now casts the darkest of dark shadows over the playoffs?
I am an African American and a huge fan of NBA since I could even hold a basketball so maybe I am biased in my opinion but I believe Donald Sterling must be forced out of the league at this time.
Temporary suspension of this owner after his comments is a quick fix but this situation needs more than just a quick fix with some gum and duct tape.
It needs swift immediate action with a sledgehammer maybe even a crowbar to remove a character with the vile ideals of Donald Sterling from the ultra inspiring and obviously racially diverse NBA.
The other owners, coaches, and players must do whatever they can to communicate the message that Sterling and people like him are not welcome in their league.
I realize it is not simple to remove billionaire from a team that he has built as a contender, but if the NBA cares about the ongoing fight against racism they will openly make no qualms about getting Sterling out.
His past is now being examined more by everyone interested in the situation and a lot of stories about his mentality as seemingly a “slave owner” in his business practices but there wasn’t much factual damning proof to back up these claims.
I never thought I would give a shout out to TMZ but I will shout them out to the top of my lungs at this moment for giving the public the factual proof needed to get rid of this seemingly racist figure from the NBA.
Magic Johnson tweeted after he heard the recording that “he will not attend another Clippers’ game as long as Donald Sterling is the owner” and I’m sure other black people share his sentiment.
Even though apparently it sounds like Sterling would get his wish of “them” not being at his games can you imagine former five-time Laker icon Magic Johnson not being welcome at a LA sporting event.
The thought is ludicrous just like the idea of Sterling still being allowed to own a basketball team anywhere.
Anyone can say it is just a sport and how much does a rich white man’s comments really matter at the end of the day?
They do matter because individuals such as Jackie Robinson, Ernie Davis, Don Haskins, Roberto Clemente and every single athlete who has been a part of the fight for racial diversity and equality in sports did not fight so owners or people like Donald Sterling could still inject racist venom into a still growing league.
Chris Paul, Doc Rivers, and Blake Griffin were brilliant moves by Sterling to elevate this team from last place bottom dweller to true title contender which all Clippers’ fans and observers must salute him for from a basketball standpoint.
As big a sports fan as I am, even I realize there must come a time where we must not put sports first.
Dignity, pride, identity, and just doing the right thing must be on the agenda of a league such as the NBA in order to communicate the right message to fans.
Sterling showed his true disgustingly ugly colors to the world and now the NBA must show its true colors.
Better yet, or more to the point, they must show that color for the billionth time to any other billionaire and their legions of followers that what’s true is not the color of the skin but the person that lies within.
Damone Griffin
Sports Editor