If you follow the NBA at all you’ve probably noticed there’s been a lot more talk about an old bigoted slug-like creature rather than the amazing basketball that’s transpired thus far. But, if you don’t follow the NBA at all – it’s cool, I get it, sportsandstuff – let me bring you up to speed.
TMZ recently released audio recordings of an alleged conversation between current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, and his former girlfriend, V. Stiviano. During the recording, Sterling makes several racist remarks – here are a few highlights …
V: I don’t understand, I don’t see your views. I wasn’t raised the way you were raised.
– “Well then, if you don’t feel – don’t come to my games. Don’t bring black people, and don’t come.”
V: Do you know that you have a whole team that’s black, that plays for you?
– “You just, do I know? I support them and give them food, and clothes, and cars, and houses. Who gives it to them? Does someone else give it to them? Do I know that I have – Who makes the game? Do I make the game, or do they make the game? Is there 30 owners, that created the league?”
And while there’s little arguing these quotes are completely out of context, there’s virtually no argument under the sun that could provide appropriate context – especially when you happen to preside over a major component, the Los Angeles Clippers, in one of the most popular spectrums within the public domain, the National Basketball Association.
As surprising as these comments seem, perhaps the only thing more surprising is the time it took to bring Sterling’s true character to light. This man has a history of verbal diarrhea.
So, to summarize, instead of talking about this — we’re talking about this.
The comments (allegedly, but c’mon) made by Donald Sterling are ugly and have no place in the sporting world, particularly a league so heavily populated by young black men. Forget about baseless context, forget about ‘very bad girlfriends’ and conniving setups – literally, just shut up about all of that. The bottom line is Sterling’s confounding rhetoric – fueled by logic not unlike that a plantation owner – is an unsightly blemish for basketball, a sport that has increasingly become an international game. If you have a player like Magic Johnson publically boycotting your games, you fucked up bad.
Once again, instead of talking about this — we’re talking about this … thing.
Which really brings me to the point of this soapbox editorial – the NBA will always exist in some capacity without individual team owners – in Sterling’s case, it would clearly be better off – it’s the players that make this league.
Nobody is lining up to buy your jersey, Donald Sterling – no matter how great you are at owning a team. This is what makes the league …
Like most sports, what makes basketball so amazing is that it transcends trivial things like a person’s sexuality when the ball is in play. The reason I love the NBA is because it’s all inclusive – there’s always room for everyone. But in the words of King James, “ … there’s no room for Donald Sterling in our league. There’s no room for him.”
