Donald Sterling

I heard the entire recording today. Sterling is an idiot. She was out for revenge. She prodded and prompted him to get him to say the things he said. And he fell for it. He's not senile. How did a guy build a financial empire being this stupid? 

As a Clipper fan do you attend the games and support the players? Or do you boycott the games to show your lack of support for Sterling. Sterling ran the team into the ground for years. So I'm not sure a half empty area will affect him. Being a pro sports franchise puts him in an elite club. That's all that matters to Sterling.

PG,

The whole disgusting thing didn’t surprise me one bit, and anyone who believes bigotry in any of its ugly forms has disappeared in this country or any other is just kidding themselves. What’s really bad though, is this mutt is likely gonna be excused because he’s got big $$$$$. But what even worse is this. Even if he does somehow get “punished”, what does he care?

As we age we loose our minds and our filters.  Not that he didn't mean it, but old people say chit that doesn't make sense.  The guy is a senile old man.  There have been many that hang around past their usefulness (Marge schott, al Davis, etc.).  Time to sell the team and "retire."  

Did he break the law? I don't think so. Did he say something stupid? it sounds like he may have. Just a couple month's ago half the Country was upset about what some hillbilly in Louisiana said in an interview that had nothing to do with his show. When some idiot a thousand miles from my house mumbles something different than what I'm thinking, I will not lose any sleep over it. I wished these types of conversations had a 15 minute time limit. There is too much baseball to discuss instead of letting these conversations last. Sports radio sucks right now....every channel is talking about this crap!

Doctor,

Did it occur to you that this “crap” is more important than baseball? This “crap” is also why the number 42 has been retired in MLB. Not talking about this “crap” is what allows it to continue!

As a kid, I grew up in a place and time in this country where there was racial tension, to say the least.  I moved west when I was twenty.  I was immediately immersed into an entirely different "melting pot" world where people had a much better notion that, well, people are people.  Still involved in sports, I started developing a circle of good friends across various ethnic backgrounds (another check-mark for the benefit of sports, BTW).

Some 20+ years later, during one of my visits "back home", I experienced an impactful event.  I attended a dinner at a club with my parents where there were many of the community's more influential and well-respected adults.  Most were at or approaching their senior years.  These were the doctors and lawyers, the prominent business owners, the sponsors of youth sports, leaders of scouts, upstanding church members, the backbone of the community I grew up in.  The club had restaurant seating adjacent to a large bar.  It wasn't long before I started picking up on some very disturbing racist dialog coming from the bar and I was taken aback by how many participants were quick to join in.  These were the people I so much looked up to growing up.  How could anyone still think this way?  That will stick with me forever.  I no longer considered this place home.

As I hear more details from the Sterling case, of course, I think of this.  How much of this is a product of an environment and era one grows up in?  But how can a guy who is such a worldly businessman, living in the middle of one of the biggest melting pots (I think) not come to know better?  With awareness, answers should be simple but they just aren't.

When I first heard the story, I was prepared to be horribly offended. What I heard seemed more bizarre than offensive. The guy's lost it. I'm not sure what you do about it. We still live in a country where private personal opinions can be like this. I don't see where you officially punish what's in his putrid heart. Personally, I like what his players did last night and I like the idea of fans simply bycotting Clippers games.

I'll tell you what I took away from it. Opinions like his still exist, yet look at his actions. he still hires African-Americans in key positions. Why? Because even today's bigots understand how much society is against their way of thinking. I think it says a lot that those with his views hide them. Forty years ago he would have worn his opinions like a badge of honor. I think it's a step toward the society we want when having views like his is embarrassing. really, these days there aren't many things you can be called more offensive than "bigot."

My own parents were both juniors at Little Rock Central in 1957, so I must have known how they grew up. Still, I don't think I ever heard anything racial from them until I was 17 and a black family moved in to a house behind us and my father was worried about the value of our home falling. I was in shock. There was no hatred, just a certain ignorance.

Doctor,

Are you suggesting this should be swept under the rug and ignored?  Is everything just fine so long as he didn't break the law?  It's obvious that he was set up, but what he said bothers millions of people. It's much more than a basketball issue!

There will always be people in the world with racist views.  I do believe when racists could be exposed they should be and for that I am happy the story is out, front and center for all to see and hear.  I do take this positive out of the story…  Look how far we in America have come.  Forty years ago this would not even be a story because there were a lot more people in the country with the same bigot views and those who did not have bigot views may have felt intimidated not to stand up and call a person out on it.   We have made great strides in this country with black, white and brown living together. So many no longer see color but see people. Will prejudice ever go away 100%... probably not.  But we have made so much progress and that’s why Sterlings comments are so offensive to so many of us and thank God more of us than would have been offended 40 years ago.

The problem with boycotting the games... who are you hurting most?  All the workers of the organization and at the arena, local restaurants and other businesses that cater to the fans, the local community tax base, etc.  BTW, many of these folks are  African-American and will be hurt more than Sterling. 

Is there a difference between hatred and ignorance?  On one hand racism exists because a certain group is hated for who they are.  On the other hand racism exists because they don't know any better.  I think a lot of old people today (60 years old and older) are more of the second category.  They were brought up by the group who had hatred in their heart and believed a certain way.  This group heard the hatred but had a different experience to where there isn't hatred but they repeat the things they heard as youngsters.  I'm not saying that justifies it nor am I saying that there aren't people with hatred in their heart but is there a difference?

How many people have met or know someone who will do whatever they can to help a minority yet still tell a joke or use a slur in private?  I grew up around these people in southern West Virginia.  Amazingly, there's not a lot of diversity there but my best friend in HS was black.  My dad thought the world of him and did a lot for him but he would tell jokes at black people's expense.  Obviously I'm a little jaded into thinking my dad was a good man but my best friend and other black friends thought the world of him.

Is this progress?  If it is then where do we stand today with the black / rap culture throwing around the "N" word where it ends in "A" instead of "ER"?  Is it acceptable for white kids to listen to that music and be around that culture and be OK for white kids to use n***a?  I'll be honest I have a problem with anybody using n***a because I don't think that's what Martin Luther King Jr was fighting for.  As a teacher I obviously have to be around a lot of groups and we have two black kids who live in same neighborhood that's on my way to my house so I give them rides home a lot.  One day we were talking and they said I was cool enough that I could say n***a.  I told there is no way in the world I would ever use that word because I don't think it's right.  One letter versus two doesn't really change the impact in my mind as to what MLK (and others) were trying to do.  So have we progressed and it's more ignorance than hatred? Is the culture now a step back for minorities?

Once again don't think I'm supporting what Sterling did nor am I trying to justify it.  These are my observations and ponderings.

I know people who are racist.  I actually think they like being that way.  I will still talk to them, but never respect them.  Sports has come a long way in educating people of all races.  The Sterling comments wouldn't mean a thing if they came from a KKK member.  But the owner of an NBA team? Got to be kidding!

I think the African American players, coaches, former players and even the members of the media have handled this well, so far. Maybe somehow, something good will come out of this.  

To me the biggest problem in professional sports right now is the number of off the field incidents in the NFL.  What is that all about?  It's not a racial issue, all races are involved in that problem.

this is why this CRAP is important. My granddaughter with my son, uncle Fitty to her and his biggest fan.

Stupid is as stupid does.

Agreed. Chris Paul will still get paid anyway, but not the guy or gal making minimum wage who takes your ticket or pours your beer.

I doubt that the league can compel him to sell the team, but hopefully they can ban him from operational duties like the NFL did with DeBartolo and MLB did with The Boss.

Right around the time that I was born my family left their apartment in the Bronx (NYC) and moved to a city just North of NYC, into an overwhelmingly white area (which has since been integrated by court order).  We had one African-American kid in my elementary school.  He was actually in my class.  I remember that his dad was an attorney.  The abuse that this kid took through 5th grade was horrible.  This was the early 1970's.

In my teens, neighborhood kids (some who were, at the time, friends) would physically attack any minorities who came into "our neighborhood".  This was the late 1970's.

At 17, early 1980's, I joined the Marines.  This raised the level of racial insensitivity that I witnessed to a whole new level.  I enjoyed my time in the Marines, but some of those Southern boys were still fighting the Civil War.

Mid 1980's i started my 25 year in law enforcement in a predominately African-American city that borders NYC. Wow, to sum it all up.  There were still cops on that job that came on in the 1950's and 1960's and they had an absolute hatred, a hatred for African-Americans.  It was a very, very tough environment for a while.

But eventually, I've seen people be more accepting of other races.  But personally, like roothog66 said, they still feel it.  They just don't wear it like a badge of honor anymore.

It's not news Donald Sterling is a racist. That's been known for along time. There have been lawsuits. He tries to cover it up with charitable donations. The news is he got caught in a recording. Now a lot of people who knew and said nothing have to react.

Like the LA Chapter of the NAACP that was about to give him a second lifteime award?

Ridiculous that he got the first one.

Wasn't the first time he got the award when his GM - Elgin Baylor - had a civil rights case against him?

Just after he filed the lawsuit against him.

Coach, I agree with you.  I hate hearing that word used in music (if it can be called music)

I think both races have come such a long way in my life time.  But there is still a lot of room for improvement.

Not to start into politics, but we do have an African American President.  Elected by the people!  Some seem to think he is a bad president.  I can live with that if the reason they think that way is because of something other than him being black.  In some cases maybe the detractors have a legitimate reason for this hatred.  However, in many cases I'm afraid that hatred is based on nothing more than his race.

I actually think it is great that we have an African American President.  It wasn't that long ago that it would have been impossible.  I think it shows how far our society has come. I think it shows strength and intelligence.  Whether you like the job he is doing or not is another matter. Every human being should be judged as an individual.  

PGstaff, What I am suggesting is that his comments do not warrant the shock value that it receiving. What a goofy looking dummy A$$ owner said to his free loading girlfriend in a stupid dispute (set up) means nothing to me...consider the source, when I hang out with my Eskimo friends they talk about fish!

 How is it that a judge can let a repeat child molester out of jail to commit more crimes against kids and it does not get 5% of this kind of attention. But two grown adults with no sense can dominate the media all spring?

Doctor,

Must admit, you have a point.  However, this is a big story right now.  Donald Sterling and the girl, are just playing a part.  The real story is much bigger than either of them.

I know what you mean....but I guess I just don't feel the shock that I am hearing and seeing on the TV and radio. You would think that none of these guys have ever heard a rap song or hung out with their cuz by the way they are talking about it.

I am not surprized of hardly anything anymore.

There is a big point to this whole thing.

The league owners are upset because he has had a losing team and the league has helped support this team for years.  So saying that he has supported these players and put food on their table is in itself is an insult too many.

If I were a player I wouldn't care to work for this man, and I am not a black American. Is this a modern day slave owner?

Some people are just plain stupid, he let his girlfriend manipulate him so he really deserves whatever he gets for not keeping his mouth shut. 

It should mean something to everyone.

oldmanmoses,

Great pic!  Good looking boy, really cute granddaughter.  They are awesome together.

wow, an 81 year old white man is a racist, what a surprise. . Has anyone ever thought about the fact that someone just bugged a man's private phone call and released it to the public. We all have personal opinions, Its instilled within human nature, that's why at the end of the day, almost 90% of human beings end up being surrounded with people of their own ethnic race. The man had an opinion that he privately expressed to his girlfriend and she illegally invaded his privacy and released it to the public. There is nobody in this world that has not made a racist remark or had racist thought. Where is it written that every person has to like every person?  So what if he does not like black people, I'm sure black people do not like him either.  that's life...  There are some black people I do not like, there are white people that I do not like.I'm sure some do not like me....  that's life... yes he's is a a**.... but has he broken any laws?

The issue, to me, is not that he is inherently racist. The issue is that he is in a position of power that enables him to have an impact on the economic well-being of others, and by the very nature of his comments, it is evident that his beliefs will (and have) impacted lives in a negative way. As a business owner that has such power, racism spills over into the workplace. And that, to me, is unacceptable.

I see your point, and I'm sure he will pay the price for what he said, but he has the right to say it .

I don't think it was a phone call, I think she hit voice record on her phone, they were in the same room.

Donald Sterling has been accused of racism in the workplace several times. The people on the other end took a financial settlement and walked away. The NAACP has been very happy to take Sterling's financial donations until this time where his racism became a national story. Wouldn't it be just as much the fault of the people who took a settlement rather than stand on their principles and run him out of ownership in past? Anyone who has followed basketball in LA since the 80s knows the guy is a racist. This can't be a surprise to Magic Johnson.

Unless the NBA has a franchise owner code of conduct Sterling violated he's going nowhere. He's been an embarrassment for thirty years and gone nowhere. The alternative is for fans to refuse to go to games until he sells. Anyone want to take odds on that over the period of time it would take (a season)?

Doesn't matter under California law. It's still illegal (a law with which I disagree, but that's an entirely different conversation.)

likely so, but it was a personal conversation, she set him up, he was too stupid to know it.  I think the guy is nuts but he has a right to his  views.  I do not see where this particular incident would be considered in the work place.

backdoor, I wonder if you know what today is.If you don't its what is called Yom Hashoah. Holocaust Remberence Day. Its those kind of "private" opinions that if you don't jump all over them when they are exposed lead to what today is about for some of us. To almost sound like you are excusing the man because it was a private conversation is ludicrous. JH has it right. This man is in a position of power and when people in positions of power have thoughts like that that's when bad stuff happens. It happens with impunity when they are exposed people just shrug it off. Go back and check out my previous post. Look at that little girl. If I ever heard of someone saying she wasn't welcome because of the color of her skin I would just lose it. And never mind me , that young man holding her would go berserk. Remember, this is not an abstract legal argument. It is real and real people are hearing this.

oldmanmoses,

I do not agree with what the man said, I mentioned that earlier, please do not pick the parts that suit your reply.. So since he is a position of power he is held to a higher standard than any other person with these thoughts? 

Do you not feel that he has the right in his own home to speak freely without being secretly recorded? Does he not have the right  to express his feelings be they wrong or right, whether you agree or disagree?  

Just so you know,I feel  the man is a racist, I in no what condone his behavior  BUT I feel he has the right to say what he wants in his home without it being public knowledge.  Now if he brings these views into the work place that's a different matter.

That's really not too far from the argument used to keep blacks or jews out of country clubs.  It's not a policy. It's not prejudice.  We just don't like that guy.  That's life.

bacdoor,

he isn't charged with violating any laws. He is being judged within the bylaws and Rules of the billionaires club known as the NBA, just like players have been punished for transgressions of the rules of MLB, NFL and NBA. Similar to the situation with Marge Schott, it is an issue whether he followed or violated the rules of the NBA.

Of course it is also for advertisers to measure whether they wish to put their advertising $$$ in the pockets of this owner, whether fans will pay to put $$$ in the pockets of this owner and how the Court of public opinion will support or denounce him.

So far, he has expressed a repugnant prejudice about members of a certain race, including Magic Johnson attending games, along with a comment which sounds much like a slave owner might say when it comes to the players.

No one is suing him and no one is saying his use of his free speech rights violated any laws.

Rather, what is happening is others are exercising their free speech rights to denounce his words and views and clearly placing the billionaire private club in a position  of major economic consequences if they ratify or condone or excuse the message.