The recent "alleged" comments made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling
(above) have quickly circulated throughout the NBA and amongst
basketball fans. By now you have no doubt at least heard of the
tape of Sterling that was released by TMZ,
alleging that in conversations with his girlfriend (V. Stiviano, on
Sterling's left), Sterling asked that she not bring African Americans to
Clippers' games. He even asked that she not bring Magic Johnson to
their games. In response to the polarizing comments, many NBA owners,
former and current players, and even President Obama have spoken out in
protest. Current Clipper team members had a silent protest by turning
their jerseys inside out (so that the name of the Clippers would not be
seen) and they wore black socks when they played.
The alleged comments by Donald Sterling reveal what ESPN's
Scoop Jackson (2014)
believes to be deeper issues, not just in the NBA but in all of sport.
We have talked about some of these issues in previous Sport and Gender
classes. And we have also discussed whether professional athletes should
take a stand on political issues. In this case, we can see that many
already have. Even the usually reluctant Michael Jordan expressed his
views as an owner and former player, saying that as an owner, he was
"completely disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such
sickening and offensive views" (Terrill, 2014, para. 18). As a former
player, Jordan said that he was "completely outraged" (Terrill, 2014,
para. 19). Magic Johnson spoke out to say that Sterling should not be
allowed to own a team if the comments can truly be attributed to him.
The
deeper issues outlined by Jackson (2014) provide even more compelling
evidence that racism is alive and well in sport. We would like to
believe that in 2014 we have come much further than this - and yet,
there is evidence in every major professional sports' league that racism
persists. Among the evidence that Jackson points out: (1) He asks how
is it that in a league that is 80% black, "there is only one majority
black owner of an NBA franchise" (para. 6); (2) In MLB, where Jackie
Robinson crossed the color barrier to open doors to African Americans,
only about 10% of the players today are African American; (3) In the
NFL, it takes the Rooney Rule for owners to be encouraged (by threat of
punishment) to even interview a minority candidate as a coach; and (4)
in 2011, in the NHL Wayne Simmonds (below) was rattled by someone throwing a
banana on the ice in front of him.
This
is 2014! Racism is supposed to be over. Yet, all of this evidence
indicates that it is not. What will it take? And what should these NBA
players (on the Clippers, in the League, and the other owners) do to
combat the hateful words spun by Sterling? What should the new
Commissioner Adam Silver do? Better yet, why hasn't he said something
already? How long does it take to confirm that the tape reveals Donald
Sterling?
Earlier today, Dan Patrick asked Bomani Jones
to finish this sentence: "In a year from now, if Donald Sterling is
still the owner of the L.A. Clippers, it will be__________________."
Bomani completed the sentence by saying... "business as usual." Let us
hope that is not the fate of the NBA, or of our society. Let us hope
that enough people express outrage so that something changes
dramatically.
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