NBA owner is a rampant racist, how should the players respond?

[Bogs]

The bucks just sold for $550 million. If sterling sold a competitive LA team with superstars like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, in a gigantic market, he would get a lot more than $612 million.

But if people do actually decide to protest him owning the team in the form of not buying merchandise or going to games (unlikely, but possible), the franchise would drop significantly in value. If Sterling stops being able to make money off of the team, he'd have to sell for a much lower price than he'd probably like to.

 

[stickski]

Something to help clarify what free speech is and isn't.

[/img]

 

[Bogs]

If his own team full of black men doesn't do it why the fuck would the fans?

Because they have a lot less to lose. The players on the team earn their living by playing. If they don't play they can't support themselves or their families. All a fan not buying a jersey or purchasing a ticket to a game would do is put a few extra dollars in their pocket.

Really, what do you think is an easier choice: one of the Clipper's players to refuse to play, or a random fan to decide not to buy a Chris Paul jersey next year?

 

[.frenchy]

Sure, shit like racism is something I dont like (who does?

 

[-benedetto]

Out of boredom and curiosity, I listened to that video. She was really really instigating him. He never really said any hurtful things. He just didn't want her posting pics on Instagram with black guys. He even said she can fuck them, just specifically no Instagram. I don't agree with racism and despise it greatly but that was like 2/10 bad. Words are only as powerful as people make them and that wasn't so bad, was it?

 

[Bogs]

If they don't play they can't support themselves or their families? Hahaha give it a rest dude. Chris paul makes $18 million a year, and in case of a broken contract, would get picked the fuck up immediately. Your point is so absurd.

Poor jobless Chris Paul, couldn't sacrifice a game because his family would surely starve without that money. Living paycheck to paycheck god bless him, waking up and working for the man just to scrape by.

Here's a question: How many Chris Paul jerseys would sell if he publically boycotted the owner and refused to play until he was canned?

Chris Paul isn't the only player on the Clippers. There are players on the Clippers who, if they decided not to play and gave up their contracts, would not be guaranteed to be picked up by another team.

Again, I'll asked: Which is the easier thing to do: refuse, as a Clippers player, to play, or refuse, as a fan, to buy anything with the Clippers logo on it, or buy tickets to a Clippers game.

 

[Bogs]

You know the answer to that question, if you can't prove your point without asking it then this isn't really a valid argument.

The average joe doesn't give a shit, that's the point. The entire Clippers team wouldn't have to boycott the owner in order to make an impact. Chris Paul could do that singlehandedly. How many average people would have to stop buying tickets to make an impact? Playoff games sell the fuck out. There would have to be THOUSANDS of people who could coordinate boycotting a sporting event, but then there would just be thousands more who don't give a shit that would fill the seats.

That's a lose-lose...

??? My only point is that I think the fans might boycott even if players don't because it's a lot easier for them to do so. That's literally the only point I'm trying to make.

I have no idea if they actually will or not, I'm just saying it's a lot easier for them to do so than the players, so it's possible that there will be a fan boycott, and that the value of the franchise will decrease because of it. Already sponsors are pulling out of their deals with the Clippers, which also makes the franchise worth less.

Not sure why or how you thought I was trying to make a different point. Hell I can't even figure out what other point you thought I was trying to make. Maybe next time you ought to read more carefully?

 

[Ski_Alot]

Why would somebody who hates black people own an NBA team?

that is all

 

[Bogs]

My original point was about players pulling out to initiate change, so I figured your point was that it would be easier for fans to initiate change. I guess you just weren't really making a point, just stating the obvious. My bad.

Why the hell would you think that when your response was to my response about the value of his team?

I was making a point, which was that, even though it seems like the Clippers should be more valuable than the Bucks, if they lose enough fan support in terms of merchandise and ticket sales, and enough sponsors drop them, they might become much less valuable while Sterling is the owner, and if they stopped becoming profitable, he'd have to sell cheap. You responded by asking why fans would boycott when players aren't, I responded by saying because it's easier for them to do so. Then I guess you assumed by that I meant it's easier for fans to initiate change, which was by no means what I meant.

So, no, I was not "just stating the obvious," you just thought I was commenting on something completely different from what I was commenting on. So, yes, it is your bad.

 

[smooter]

i feel like something like this comes around every year around this time... what was it last year it was the guy who was throwing basketballs at his players and calling them names or something . shits retarded

 

[JAHpow]

Why would somebody who hates black people own an NBA team?

that is all

Money

 

[Bogs]

You're high as fuck if you think Sterling is going to have to "sell the Clippers cheap" over this. Go take a nap or something dude, you're getting pretty cranky.

If you read my original post that started this argument, I said it's unlikely, but theoretically possible. So I will reiterate what I said there by saying I highly doubt it will actually happen, but, theoretically, it could.

But sick "you're a baby," insult. You sure got me there. Next time, though, just be a man and admit you made a mistake and misunderstood what was going on instead of continuing to insult me because you misread something and then started an argument based on that misreading.

 

[a_pla5tic_bag]

Basketball without black people is like pancakes minus the pancakes: it doesn't really exist, despite the syrupy illusion that it does.

this was the funniest thing i've read all day. i lost at syrupy illusion.

 

[cobra_commander]

At second thought, If someone wanted to pay me several million a year to run up and down a court and throw a ball through a hoop, I would be happy to overlook them saying whatever they wanted.

 

[Scaredwhiteboy]

Out of boredom and curiosity, I listened to that video. She was really really instigating him. He never really said any hurtful things. He just didn't want her posting pics on Instagram with black guys. He even said she can fuck them, just specifically no Instagram. I don't agree with racism and despise it greatly but that was like 2/10 bad. Words are only as powerful as people make them and that wasn't so bad, was it?

Seriously, what he said was mildly racist at worst. My favorite part of this whole ordeal is all the people who've come out of the woodwork claiming they've known he was racist all along. Give me a break. The guy has won awards from the NAACP for his donations. I doubt these people even knew the Clippers were a basketball team before this happened.

 

[Cambrewski]

I say we enslave all the white people for 400 years. Make them work for me for food. Kill a few now and then, maybe cut off the hands and feet of those that try to run from me. Maybe get a few pregnant and sell the kids real cheap just so they know how little power they have.

But NS, that's just my vision of a just world, how do you think the sports world (and nation) should respond to Donald Sterling's remarks?

slavery isn't the issue here. Black people are no different than white people anymore the only difference is that white racists get put on the news and black racists are looked right over by everyone....

 

[acualywasdolan]

Gato going on a rampage.

I dont know why ppl view racism as like the holocost reincarnated. Its not like the owner lynched a black person. Racist acts are bad, but i think everyone should be entitled to their opinion. Free speech does apply here.

 

[Byron_tha_gr8]

The only way they can "force" him out is to give him way more money than the team is worth, see that happening anytime soon?

Yes? They would probably settle at around 800 million. Each owner would have to cover roughly 27 million until the commissioner found a new buyer, and then they would probably be fully recouped. This worked with the Hornets.

I think the real issue is that perception is reality. Even if they don't want to buy him out, this has become a big enough issue that if they DON'T kick him out, the players, former stars, fans and of course the media would cause wellll over 800 million dollars of damage to the NBA. They are already falling more behind the NFL, they can't have another reason why people shouldn't be tuning in or coming to games. However if the DO kick him to the curb they will at least not be seen as evil, and with the modern media culture, perception is reality.

 

[Abu_Hajaar]

Who the hell cares? Why this made national news is beyond me. Also if he really hates blacks why did he have a a black mistress? I think its so funny how an entire nation can get butthurt over a comment made by 1 person. This is almost as bad as when everyone started crying about Paula Dean.

 

[theBearJew]

people are racist. There's nothing we can do about it except just ignore their ignorance. Only time to really worry is if a certain group of people are committing mass genocide.

This could be the dumbest thing I have ever read. Ignore a problem till it because millions of people dead. Then address it. Don't try to fix a problem before millions of people are dead, let them die first. Are you fucking kidding me?

Not trying to imply that this guys racist remarks can turn into a genocide. But your logic is fucking ass backwards.

THis is what I was thinking. If it really bothered them and they really wanted to send a message, either throw the game or don't even play.... turning your warm ups inside out doesn't do anything

Personally I think because it was playoffs they played the game. They want to win, they want a championship. But had it been a regular season game, I'm pretty sure they would boycott the games.

What should happens is fans, media, and anyone who can affect the team should stop supporting it. The public needs to send a message and take action for anything to happen.

As for media that has taken action already, a lot of big name companies have pulled their sponsorship with the Clippers. Companies like, State Farm, CarMax, Virgin America, Kia, and Red Bull.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/04/28/donald-sterling-costs-clippers-state-farm-sponsorship/?tid=ts_carousel

And why should you care? Because in today's society racism should not be tolerated. Yes you have the right to say and feel whatever you want. But someone in his position of power over tons of minorities should not have those types of views. Why do you think some people boycott companies who's CEO/Founder has anti-semitic views (Tommy Hillfiger)? They do it because those types of views should not be forwarded. Those types of ideals should prompt a public reaction that our society today doesn't feel that way anymore and we as humans are above those beliefs.

Sadly, from what I've read in this thread we are not above those beliefs yet. There are plenty of people who just don't give a shit and by doing that you are forwarding the belief that it is okay to think those things.

 

[Bogs]

Oh shit what if Sterling got struck by a bolt of lightning thrown by Black Zeus? Then it's like, anyone's ball game. I mean it's not going to happen but it's theoretically possible. Everyone knows that Black Zeus doesn't fuck around.

I said "my bad" two posts ago, do you want a formal letter or something? I had just mistakenly assumed that you were trying to make an actual point, not just rambling about some vague theoretical possibility that isn't going to happen. So again, my bad. From now on I will be sure to assume that your posts carry less meaning than I initially think.

I don't get why you're being so pissy. All I said was that if sponsors start pulling their deals with the clippers, and fans start not attending games or buying merchandise because of Sterling, he may sell the team for less than he would want to.

I think we can agree that your "my bad" was meant as sarcastically as possible. Or at least it seemed that way. I was making an actual point, if you can't understand that, then you're either extremely petty, or just not very smart. Your pick.

 

[Barefootin_Fiend]

I don't get why you're being so pissy. All I said was that if sponsors start pulling their deals with the clippers, and fans start not attending games or buying merchandise because of Sterling, he may sell the team for less than he would want to.

I think we can agree that your "my bad" was meant as sarcastically as possible. Or at least it seemed that way. I was making an actual point, if you can't understand that, then you're either extremely petty, or just not very smart. Your pick.

dude, chill out. i just read through this whole thread and no, we can't all agree that his "my bad" was meant as sarcastically as possible. you might have read it that way, but that's not how it came across to an unbiased person.

relax. it's just the internet.

 

[Snowgoner]

slavery isn't the issue here. Black people are no different than white people anymore the only difference is that white racists get put on the news and black racists are looked right over by everyone....

well said

 

[Bogs]

dude, chill out. i just read through this whole thread and no, we can't all agree that his "my bad" was meant as sarcastically as possible. you might have read it that way, but that's not how it came across to an unbiased person.

relax. it's just the internet.

Fair enough. My apologies, Gato.

 

[louie.mirags]

What he said isn't illegal, its just frowned upon by society.

I'm not saying it was illegal.. what I mean is if somebody does say something racist he can be fired with no legal argument defending it

 

[Rusticles]

Is sterling the most white name ever?

 

[.Hugo.]

Is sterling the most white name ever?

not even close

 

[Byron_tha_gr8]

No. Not a chance. This is one of the best playoffs the NBA has seen in the past decade. Viewership is high, and, speaking in generalities, the media's attention span is not long enough for this to remain an issue. You know that's true. In two weeks no one will really be talking about this. Maybe in lingering jokes, but not in $800 million in damages kind of talk. No one's boycotting shit. This could not have been a more fortunate time for this to happen for the NBA. You think anyone will remember this come November?

Here's how it breaks down in my eyes:

60% -People who either don't know about it or don't care at all

20% -People who know about it, think it's fucked up, but will watch playoff basketball anyway

18% -People who are OUTRAGED but had no intentions of supporting the NBA in the first place

2% -Fans who think it's fucked up and will now refuse to continue supporting the NBA

**This post was edited on Apr 29th 2014 at 4:11:35am

If the NBA lost 4% of its 5 billion dollar revenue, that would be 200 Million dollars, or roughly a quarter of the value of the Clippers. I think you underestimate the reaction the player and former player reaction to this. The media might forget, the players, coaches, and anylysts will not. If the owners don't kick Sterling out, free agents will not sign, their own stars will not re-sign, teams will not want to trade with them, and they will basically be blackballed, further decreasing their value. And by that point they would be worth something closer to 400 million, since this new evaluation is only a result of their newfound success. If that success stops, the new value does too. And what would they gain by not buying him out now? Well each owner wouldn't have to put up about 27 million (that they would get back when a new owner is found), and thats about it. There's no downside to getting rid of him, no risk of a legitimate suit, but old rich white guys (the other owners) have a habit of doing nothing unless they have pressure. Hopefully the media, the NBAPA, and the coaches and staff will apply enough pressure to get rid of him before he can make more money.

 

[Byron_tha_gr8]

If their own current team isn't going to do anything then why do you assume any of this other stuff is going to happen?

because the current team is in the playoffs and want to win rings, and they legally can't do anything while the other owners can. They have too much of a stake in what was a great season to just quit, the rest of society doesn't.

And trust me, if that team could get rid of Sterling they would.

 

[penguiin]

Adam Silver about to have a news conference on ESPN. Needless to say ESPN is acting as if this is worst thing to ever happen in sports. Interesting to see what comes of this.

 

[cobra_commander]

the NBA Commissioner is a skinny motherfucker.

- banned for life, and fined 2.5mil, which will be donated to 'anti-discrimination' organizations. Going to push to force him to sell the team.

 

[forrest-cole]

holy shit sterling just got hit by a major shiticane.

 

[cobra_commander]

I already think the NBA is fucking stupid, but I am firmly against promoting a culture where people are punished based on sharing opinions that others disagree with. I understand the league, as a private organization has their own bi-laws, that all agree to.

 

[theBearJew]

- banned for life, and fined 2.5mil, which will be donated to 'anti-discrimination' organizations. Going to push to force him to sell the team.

Good.

 

[Scaredwhiteboy]

And I thought Stern leaving would be good for the NBA. Boy how wrong was I.

Silver lining is that maybe he'll sell the Clippers to Seattle or St. Louis. There was never any point in having two teams in the same city.

 

[Scaredwhiteboy]

And I thought Stern leaving would be good for the NBA. Boy how wrong was I.

Silver lining is that maybe he'll sell the Clippers to Seattle or St. Louis. There was never any point in having two teams in the same city.

 

[Barefootin_Fiend]

So he's banned from participating in any NBA anything yet he still owns the team. Wonder how long he's going to try and hold out before he sells. That's like owning a restaurant you're not allowed to eat at. Pretty crazy shit, didn't even consider that a possibility.

"...he (sic) will not be allowed any role in the operations of his team or be able to serve as one of the league's governors, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced at a news conference in New York"

so he's should still be allowed to attend games. Pretty sure they can't ban him from those. So it'd be more like owning a restaurant and having zero say in the menu, hours of operation, companies to order food products from, etc.

 

[Lé.Skiing]

"...he (sic) will not be allowed any role in the operations of his team or be able to serve as one of the league's governors, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced at a news conference in New York"

so he's should still be allowed to attend games. Pretty sure they can't ban him from those. So it'd be more like owning a restaurant and having zero say in the menu, hours of operation, companies to order food products from, etc.

correction they have banned him from attending any games and the was fined $2.5 million

article: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/29/nba-la-clippers-donald-sterling-lifetime-ban-racist-comments

 

[Bogs]

correction they have banned him from attending any games and the was fined $2.5 million

Good article. Apparently they CAN force him to sell the team:

"Silver said that he would also do everything in his power to force Sterling to sell the Clippers. Doing so would require approval by a vote of three quarters of Sterling's fellow NBA owners, the commissioner said."

Didn't know that was possible. Assuming it happens, it will be interesting to see who buys the team. There have been rumors that Magic Johnson will try to, but who really knows.

 

[Scaredwhiteboy]

Good article. Apparently they CAN force him to sell the team:

"Silver said that he would also do everything in his power to force Sterling to sell the Clippers. Doing so would require approval by a vote of three quarters of Sterling's fellow NBA owners, the commissioner said."

Didn't know that was possible. Assuming it happens, it will be interesting to see who buys the team. There have been rumors that Magic Johnson will try to, but who really knows.

I doubt Magic can afford to buy it outright. It would be cool if the team became publicly traded.

 

[Bombogenesis]

The president of the United States of America is black. You fucking idiot. The only person advocating any sort of prejudice against a certain race in this thread is you.

I 100% mean this.

Black people are more racist in general today than white people.

K thanks bye.

 

[Bogs]

I doubt Magic can afford to buy it outright. It would be cool if the team became publicly traded.

Yeah, he probably can't. MJ is the majority owner of the Bobcats, but I think even that is part of a partnership, and I assume Magic isn't worth as much as MJ.

I wonder if they can force a price too. I don't see how that would be legal but there must be provisions for it somewhere in their NBA contracts. Seems like it would be hard to keep that objective from a legal standpoint, what's a "fair-market" price for the L.A Clippers?

Who knows. It definitely doesn't seem like it would be legal for the NBA to set a price on the team, but it also doesn't seem like it would be legal to force Sterling to sell a privately owned team, but apparently it is. There's probably all kinds of random shit the NBA puts in their by-laws in case things like this happen.

 

[Scaredwhiteboy]

I 100% mean this.

Black people are more racist in general today than white people.

K thanks bye.

I'm not sure they're more racist, but they're definitely more likely to perceive racism where none exists.

 

[stickski]

I doubt Magic can afford to buy it outright. It would be cool if the team became publicly traded.

Google tells me he's worth about 500 million, so sole ownership probably isn't possible but part ownership definitely is.

 

[yeahno]

Being that the players make 1,000,000's a year they should do nothing

This so much. Buncha whiny bitches

 

[Lé.Skiing]

Who knows. It definitely doesn't seem like it would be legal for the NBA to set a price on the team, but it also doesn't seem like it would be legal to force Sterling to sell a privately owned team, but apparently it is. There's probably all kinds of random shit the NBA puts in their by-laws in case things like this happen.

they might be able to set a price so he doesn't make any money from being forced to sell his team. I feel the main reason He is being forced out is the newer laws they have been enforcing to abolish discrimination. Link Here.

It's 2014 and discrimination shouldn't be an issue but apparently some hard heads die hard.

 

[Scaredwhiteboy]

Google tells me he's worth about 500 million, so sole ownership probably isn't possible but part ownership definitely is.

I don't think net worth and liquid assets are the same thing. Nor do I trust those net worth websites. For example, these two websites have wildly different guesses for tori black's net worth:

http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/models/tori-black-net-worth/
[URL]http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/celeb/actress/tori-black-net-worth/[/url]

 

[Bombogenesis]

I'm not sure they're more racist, but they're definitely more likely to perceive racism where none exists.

I think you'd be surprised but I DEFINITELY agree with part two of what you said.

 

[Phil-X-]

I think its bullshit they can ban him AND demand 2.5million. I understand the ban, but I would be going to court over the 2.5million.

It blows my mind that so many of you are willing to degrade freedom of speech over a lousy situation like this.

"The political right to communicate one's opinions and ideas using one's body and property to anyone who is willing to receive them....The term "offence principle" is also used[1] to expand the range of free speech limitations to prohibit forms of expression where they are considered offensive to society, special interest groups or individuals. For example, freedom of speech is limited in many jurisdictions to widely differing degrees by religious legal systems, religious offense or incitement to ethnic or racial hatred laws."

He was asking her, not forcing anything or creating hate or inciting violence.. grow up. He didnt say black people cant come to the games. He didnt say she cant be seen with black people. She sat there willing to listen, very well knowing of what she was doing, recording the entire thing to sell to TMZ.

 

[penguiin]

I think its bullshit they can ban him AND demand 2.5million. I understand the ban, but I would be going to court over the 2.5million.

It blows my mind that so many of you are willing to degrade freedom of speech over a lousy situation like this.

"The political right to communicate one's opinions and ideas using one's body and property to anyone who is willing to receive them....The term "offence principle" is also used[1] to expand the range of free speech limitations to prohibit forms of expression where they are considered offensive to society, special interest groups or individuals. For example, freedom of speech is limited in many jurisdictions to widely differing degrees by religious legal systems, religious offense or incitement to ethnic or racial hatred laws."

He was asking her, not forcing anything or creating hate or inciting violence.. grow up. He didnt say black people cant come to the games. He didnt say she cant be seen with black people. She sat there willing to listen, very well knowing of what she was doing, recording the entire thing to sell to TMZ.

I thought I was the only one...

Everybody is talking about how hurt the players, coaches, and previously players but it was no personal attack on them.

Was it wrong of him to say what he said? Yeah, of course, it is "racist". Was it bad enough to force a man out of a 600 million dollar company? Hell no, c'mon. That's like saying any player that says a derogatory term should be banned from the league.