Just Dessert
So often we are offended. We are almost programmed to find fault in everything. Is there anything more American than the perception of injustice?
Donald Sterling, owner of the LA Clippers set the sports world on its ear this past week with his comments. Some for some ridiculous focused on how those sentiments were revealed. I couldn't care less. He may have been scheduled to be honored by the NAACP. He may not have realized that his feelings made him a racist. But the truth is unequivacal that his feelings about African Americans make him a racist.
Some would enjoy seeing him beaten senseless, others refuse to defend him all while barking harder at how his transgressions were revealed than about his character and ignorance.
The bottom line is that the NBA did a solid job in their actions (I won't call them a punishment, because punishment rarely leads to improved behavior). Not so much the money because he has plenty of that, but because until we start making sense in the face of foolishness, until we start addressing ideas intelligently to help change the way people think, rather than punishing tham for what they think, these incidents will continue to pop up under our noses. The NBA in implementing a lifetime ban acted quickly, severely and justly in this case.
I am not much of a basketball fan, but they should be louded for their efforts
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The day my private phone calls at home are made public, I may lose my business', my house and my pets...For me this is more of the high price of a trophy wife. To think we will ever live in a non racist society is ridiculous.
Let's start taking away or fining ppl that do not like gays, Jews, Catholics etc...enough already. What is said between he and his albeit minority girlfriend is not my business.
He is not treating his players unfairly...last I looked everyone benefited from the Clippers franchise.
Joe Paterno's misdoings make all of this less important.
In my personal opinion Adam Silver was premature in his actions. I hope he fares well in the future....
I don't agree with what was said, just take a long look at ourselves and think if on our worst day....should we lose so much over a private conversation?
#nofilter
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With that being said, I have to agree with my pal Cindy. This was a private conversation which someone, other than Sterling, taped and leaked to the press. And let's not forget that the other party to the conversation (who is the only party to the conversation who could have taped it), has a financial stake in Sterling's demise as she is currently being sued by his wife. I think we are walking down a very slippery slope when we fine people for private conversations-as offensive as they may be-in dubious circumstances such as these.
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Cindy, I think your sentiments are very fair and your concerns are extremely important. I am certainly not saying this near prostitute shouldn't go to prison if it can be proved the she violated the law.
It is important for people to understand the difference between a business entity acting in their best interests (in this case) and society's judicial arm imposing its will on its citizens. The clauses that allow the commissioner to take this action and other NBA owners to force the sale of private property are put in place by the team owners for exactly this reason.
While I think most feel as you do about our rights to privacy, the truth is, regardless of how this happened, him continuing as owner would be an untenable position. No player with any other options would ever play on this team again. Sponsors and fans would boycott. The team would finish last in the league and then the top player coming out of college each year would be forced to sign with them (which could conceivably initiate legal action) or leave the country to play basketball. The ripples would continue for years and would significantly damage the NBA brand.
This way, he probably will barely lose any money on the sale of his team. We should really study the sentiments he expressed, understand what is actually wrong with them and try to make those who trail in this cultural conversion understand why they aren't seeing what so many others are seeing.
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I am deeply, deeply troubled that anyone could be recorded within their own home, during a private conversation. To me, this is every bit as disturbing as the comments themselves. So, Donald has gotten his due; I very much hope that his sleazebag "girlfriend" gets her due. No, it's not a tit-for-a-tat (yes, I'm afraid the pun is indeed intended). Rather it's two entirely separate issues that must be dealt with. Neither party should be given a pass.
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