Clippers owner under investigation for racist comments

[SoF'nAwesome]

Sterling, who has owned the franchise for nearly three decades, made the comments in a 10-minute argument he had with girlfriend V. Stiviano on April 9, according to TMZ, which posted the audio late Friday.

"In your lousy f**ing Instagrams, you don't have to have yourself with -- walking with black people," the man says.

"If it's white people, it's OK?" she responds. "If it was Larry Bird, would it make a difference?"

"I've known [Magic] well and he should be admired .... I'm just saying that it's too bad you can't admire him privately," the man on the recording says. "Admire him, bring him here, feed him, f**k him, but don't put [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."

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/26/us/nb ... t-remarks/

Reacting, Johnson told TMZ, "It's a shame that Donald Sterling feels that way about African-Americans... He has a team full of amazing African-American basketball players that are working to bring a championship to Clippers fans. The Clippers also have a strong minority fan base."

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2042 ... &hpt=hp_t2

[NovU]

He indeed is a stupid man but it's just his stupid opinion and I don't know why he should be investigated for exercising freedom of speech right especially in what was supposed to be a private conversation.

[benji]

He's being investigated by the league, so his freedom of speech isn't being touched.

The funny thing is how this is blowing up when Sterling has said and DONE far worse things in the past. But this is supposed to be so out of line?

Anyway here's his lady:

[NovU]

I realize it's the league that's investigating. I just find it stupid why should anyone bother what was said in private conversation and possibly find a way to punish him. Yeah, it's also stupid how this is blowing up to be a news now.

[SoF'nAwesome]

It will take about 3 more decades for racism to completely fade from the US. Europe will never be racism free. That's a fact.

I wonder how much the gold digging hoe got from TMZ though

And private or not, when it's a personality under the spotlight, it will get extreme. And he will go through the worse that can happen to him for doing something he used to do regularly without a sweat.That's how it is.

[shadowgrin]

Sterling has a point, it's not even a (mostly) racist reason.
He has those Lakers banners removed and covered during Clippers home games, why should one of the most recognizable Lakers player be brought to Clippers home games by that gold diggin' ho.

[NovU]

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/obama-says-co ... 43076.html

[Andrew]

Disgraceful remarks. He may have said and done worse, but if this is the catalyst for the NBA finally investigating a man who has brought friends and associates into the locker room and openly talked about black players as though they were livestock, so be it.

[Patr1ck]

That entire recording and the validity of the conversation is questionable, imo. Perfect volume levels. Not sure if it was a phone call because it seemed like there were parts in the recording that indicated that they could see each other.

Assuming it is valid, Sterling needs to reconsider his association with the "people" who call him and tell him about his girlfriend's activities. Regardless of his positions on race and culture.

Edit - Extended 15 minute version released, here are the last 6 minutes

http://deadspin.com/exclusive-the-exten ... 1568291249

So they were in a room together and not on the phone, like some reported before.

[chicagoRAW]

Freedom of speech is in regards to the government. It has nothing to do with a privately owned business. You can say what you want, but you are subject to the consequences.

[NovU]

People need to realize that there is no such thing as thought crime. You can say whatever you want to especially in a private conversation. Investigation? Sterling to be dealt with? Adam Silver's first big challenge? President speaking up? Wtf are we doing here.

It's more about media hyping it up that's promoting actual unnecessary anger and call for the action. There's no real news here for somebody expressing his opinion in a private conversation. Sterling being a racist bigot is nothing new anyway.

[Patr1ck]

I think people are overlooking the intentions of whoever recorded and leaked this video. They are focusing on Sterling's prejudices, which have been clearly documented over the years. What's the motive?

[chicagoRAW]

Just because it's nothing new and hasn't been dealt with in the past doesn't mean it should continue to go without consequence. Sometimes you need public outcry to push the arrow in the right direction. In the end, image is a big part of the NBA, on top of it being a predominately black league. So Unless the league wants to be known for allowing racism and bigotry, as long as the rich white man forks over the money for the team, they'll finally get rid of that clown. Better late than never.

[NovU]

Just because it's nothing new and hasn't been dealt with in the past doesn't mean it should continue to go without consequence.

What exactly has to be dealt with?

[benji]

[Leftos]

Just because it's nothing new and hasn't been dealt with in the past doesn't mean it should continue to go without consequence.

What exactly has to be dealt with?

I'd ask the Clippers players and Doc Rivers. They seemed to take issue with his comments. Maybe they were forced to overreact, just like everyone else, by the media, peer pressure, eh?

Even though he didn't commit any actual crime, it's up to the players, staff and other executives to decide whether they want to keep associating themselves with a person that thinks like that (and has acted in the past with those thoughts as guidelines, and seems to still be). Yes, he's been like that forever. "EVERYBODY KNEW" is what I keep hearing. And now he was exposed again, and people are reacting to his "thoughts".

Even if it comes down to an issue of "image" for the Clippers, and whether Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan want a person who thinks like that to sign their checks, I'm glad this got out in the open and that people are reacting. Even if it's not news to you and you feel everyone's overreacting, I, for one, am happy this is going on. Even now, "decades" too late, on a "well-documented thing".

He can't be convicted for saying stuff. He can sure as hell pay the price (yet again, and hopefully on a bigger scale) of being a racist, bigot, hypocrite of an owner.

P.S. The timing sure sucks, as this might be fucking up the players' and coach's emotions and focus right now. Yes, I'd be interested to know if the timing was calculated, as well. But would I rather not have this exposure? Sure not.

[NovU]

That didn't answer my question at all.



I openly hated Sterling(and Heisley) in this forum from long ago. It's not Sterling I was defending, at all.

[Leftos]

What will be dealt with is whether the people associated with him want him to be the owner or not.

Whether that exactly "has" to be dealt with or not, is up to anyone's opinion.

[NovU]

That's how Sterling will be dealt, on personal level. I'm fine with that.

[[Q]]

I think people are overlooking the intentions of whoever recorded and leaked this video. They are focusing on Sterling's prejudices, which have been clearly documented over the years. What's the motive?

That's a really good point considering the recording and how it was made and the intent of the person recording

[benji]

phpBB [video]

[SoF'nAwesome]

Still no word as to what will happen to him. It's still on the "drawing big criticism" phase.

[volsey]

After listening to the full recording, I'm hopelessly confused as to Sterling's point of view. He doesn't come off so much as a pure white supremacist, but more of a person living in the 50's, afraid to come forward as a racially unbiased person . I'm not so sure he's aware that it's 2014. I read quotes from Jordan saying that Sterling's comments were "hateful" toward minorities, and honestly while taken out of context, yea they are, but Sterling also says he loves everybody, has the utmost respect for Magic, no problem with black people etc. Really I'm just baffled, anyone else who listened to the whole thing feel this way, or am I oblivious? Obviously either his comments are a little sickening.

Anyways I see this as a plot by the GF. There's no way that was an accidental recording. At times she's kind of baiting him as well, not that it's hard to bait an ignorant racist, but still. As for the leagues reaction, probably blown a little out of proportion. Magic's responses in particular seem a little extreme, however understandable seeing as part of it is directly about him.

[TOP BIN]

Judging someone opinions is a pitfall path, a very dangerous way of dealing with someones life. This is not a joke or even funny, this is a very serious stuff. Worth of a second and third thoughts.

First step, investigations;
Second, investigations;
Third, investigations.

I live in a place full of every single kind of human being (from the poorest to the richest), and also i am used to human race plurality on its truest form (black people, indian people, caucasian, asian, etc, etc, etc...), so based on that experience (IMO) WE ARE ALL EQUALS, PERIOD.

If we get a close into this opinion to an outside knowledge of law and society, every single regulation from sports to civil, military or any other type of law field passes thorughout this single understanding: Equality between races. That's the right of being equal to your next. And that... Can't be questionated. That's a fact, period.

Although every country has their own society and laws to regulate their own way to deal with non equality social aspects, distinguishing people by their colors is a very poor, strange, and disrespectful act, also surely a racist behaivor.

So two points are fundamental here, first: Why a privaty conversation clearly about prejudice comes out to all media knowledge? And where your privacity ends and where the neighbors rights begins? In other words, where your rights ends and where your next ones begins?

Privacity against prejudice topic? It sounds a typical juridical battle, but NBA must focus on racist statements, that's why, imo, Raw pointed the subject perfectly.

Freedom of speech is in regards to the government. It has nothing to do with a privately owned business. You can say what you want, but you are subject to the consequences.

Any act submits you to a consequece, and the new NBA comissionare got to be very focus on investigations.
To assure himself about the fact properly with idoneity, and guarantee that any type, form or shape of racism or prejudice will not be tolerated.

Like a trial, being convicted here, imo again, should be a matter of time, and if the judge "calls" it guilt, the punishment must be not only severe, but maximum.

Otherwise we are going to open a dangerous field for deceiving and weird interpretations about the issue... That simply can't be tolerated.
Sports can't be maculated by such types of bahaivors.

[NovU]

Would you guys like your private conversation with your partner investigated?

Better yet, would you guys like to live in a world with thought crime law?