Donald Sterling: Reader Discretion Advised, offensive and disturbing contents included
Donald Sterling is the
“owner” of the NBA team the “Los Angeles Clippers”. It has been long stated
that he is a known racist but his recent statements have caused a necessary
uproar in the NBA. A female took a picture with Irvin “Magic” Johnson and posted
to her Instagram page.
On an audio recording he said:
It bothers me a lot
that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you
have to?...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…I’m just
saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself
with, walking with black people...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.
Many are justifiably
appalled by what he said. The comments are degrading, rude, offensive, obscene,
profane, disgusting, inappropriate and upsetting. We have come too far in
America to allow such statements to be made without any consequences. The term
“owner” contains negative connotation but after these statements, it causes
everyone to consider in what manner Sterling applies it. To say that racism
doesn’t exist in 2014, solely due to the fact that we have stopped cleaning the
white house and now run the white house does not defeat racism. In instances,
where minorities have reached high places, it encourages the rest of minorities
to strive and achieve higher ground. The negation of this is to say that when
we succeed as a people, the “entitled” majority does not see where we deserve
to be included on the same standing as them.
As a business man and
owner of an NBA team, he should have known that these statements (even if he
genuinely believes them) should not have departed his lips. He should have been
aware that this is beyond bad timing and that he is about to embark on a
decline of supporters, not only of minorities but also Caucasians who don’t
wish to associate themselves with such thoughts and actions. This behavior is
inexcusable and should embarrass not only the majority but the NBA as a whole.
As an owner of a team, he has African American players, who generate revenue
for his team, increasing his bank account, yet he wishes to discriminate
against African Americans from attending Clippers games. Luckily for him, the
Constitution doesn’t enforce discrimination of private actors, or this would be
a HUGE law suit.
Many people would think
that it’s necessary for the players to strike, boycott, or something of the
like, but we must consider that at the end of the season, they still have an
obligation to perform to the best of their abilities, in good faith. Once the
season ends, each player may seek to become a free agent or traded to other
teams. This statement should not be supported in any way shape or form.
The end result should
not be a ban of Sterling from a few playoff games, an excessive fine or
suspension; instead he should be forced to sell the team for the greater good
of the NBA because failure to do so would result in the appearance of the NBA
condoning such behavior.
Queen Tut
