Written by Hannah Jones
Photo by Crosby Ignasher
Although TMZ isn’t always the most reliable news source out there, they may have actually cracked something truly newsworthy this time. On April 25, TMZ Sports released an audio recording of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making incredibly racist remarks in a conversation with his ex-girlfriend, Vivian Stiviano.
The bit that started the recorded argument was about Sterling’s distaste for a couple of photos posted on Stiviano’s Instagram account. In one photo Stiviano was posing with Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the revered and retired professional basketball player, and in another photo with Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In the recording, after Stiviano told Sterling that she took a photo with Johnson because she admires his work with minorities, Sterling said, “I’m just saying that it’s too bad you can’t admire him privately, […] admire him, bring him here, feed him, *** him, I don’t care. You can do anything. But don’t put him on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me.”
Then the 80-year-old man had the audacity to tell Stiviano not to bring “them” to his games.
Sterling doesn’t want black people at his games? Doesn’t he know he’s got an entire team of talented basketball players who are also, coincidentally, black? Apparently he does.
Elgin Baylor, a former Clippers executive, accused Sterling of having this disturbing “plantation mentality” and said that the man thought himself to be a white southern coach training poor black players.
Sterling was even quoted as saying, “I support them and give them food and clothes and cars and houses. Who gives it to them?”
It doesn’t get more plantation owner than that. Sterling thinks he, rather than each player and their individual talent, is responsible for all of what they’ve gained so far playing basketball. Appalling.
It’s embarrassing when someone so vehemently looks down upon another race, especially when so many people of that other race work with him on a regular basis. These talented athletes help earn Sterling his money and yet he doesn’t respect them. This can’t be tolerated.
Thankfully Adam Silver, the NBA’s commissioner, feels the same way. At a press conference on Tuesday, Silver outlined the punishment for Sterling’s immensely inappropriate comments.
Not only will Donald Sterling be fined the maximum amount the league can impose, $2.5 million – a small number for any billionaire like Sterling – he is also banned from “any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA. Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices, he may not be present at any Clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team.” This ban is for life. Silver even wants to push for forcing Sterling to sell the team. I for one am all for it.
Too many times in our society do prominent, wealthy individuals get only a slap on the wrist for things like this. And while Silver may be overcompensating a bit just to show his authority – he was made NBA commissioner only a few months ago – in the end a powerful statement had to be made. In the upcoming days other NBA owners will have a vote on whether or not to force Sterling out, and Silver is confident they will stand up against the man. Here’s to hoping they put Sterling in his place.
