So now we'll have to listen to another bigot's explanation on how horribly he was misquoted or misunderstood when he opened his maw and shared his deeply genuine feelings about "the Negro," "black people in photos," and remember this one: "... hiring black waiters dressed to look like slaves at a wedding."
Do we see a trend here? Oh, and let's not ignore the loud-mouthed agitators who rushed to the intertubes to breathlessly announce that Clippers' owner, Donald Sterling, contributed to Democratic politicians, so therefore, BENGHAZI! Turns out Sterling's been a registered Republican since 1998. But who cares about facts when you can have your little "AHA! SEE?!" moment.
Scratch the surface of our sunny idea of ourselves living in a country of amber waves of grain and purple mountain's majesty crowned with "good and brotherhood," and we are forced to acknowledge the dirty little secret that lies within too many of our countrymen's hypocritical and bigoted hearts.
"[NBA commissioner, Adam Silver] promised a quick investigation into Sterling's role in the audio and will address the situation Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET in New York.
Expect Silver to penalize Sterling as harshly as possible. Silver said the commissioner's office has a broad range of powers under the NBA's constitution and bylaws, which are not public.
'The commissioner is given broad powers to protect the best interests of the NBA, and those powers extend to both the players and the owners,' Tulane law professor and sports law expert Gabe Feldman said. 'The devil is in the details, and the details are in the confidential NBA constitution and bylaws. My understanding is that the owners have given the commissioner power to discipline.'
Silver will probably use the ubiquitous "conduct detrimental the league" clause, and a suspension and fine is a potential, if not likely, outcome.
'Any more severe discipline, including a forced sale or termination of the franchise, is limited to more extreme circumstances that don't apply here,' Feldman said."
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19 comments:
Yesterday, I was watching a commentator (whose name I cannot recall) on CNN who said (rough paraphrase): “I am a woman of color, and I am raising children of color, and I have to tell you: I am sick of it. Absolutely SICK OF IT!.”
I share her outrage. I too am sick of it, sick of the covert and overt racism that refuses to consign itself to the ashbin of history. I am sick of the partisan noise machine that exhibits NO MORAL COMPASS whatsoever, deadbeats such as Billy Kristol who dismissed this outrage as “no big deal,” and Donald Trump who characterized it as an example of “bad girlfriend management,” and Rush Limbaugh who opportunistically turns every news headline into a partisan distraction.
Don Sterling is a classic sociopath with a long history of fines and court judgments against him for employment and racial discrimination. Described as “one of the worst owners in basketball” (Sporting News and New York Times), Sterling even refused medical coverage for Assistant Coach Kim Hughes’ surgery for prostate cancer. Instead, four Clippers players contributed $70,000 from their own pockets.
For once, I hope the Lady of this forum engages COMMENT MODERATION and brings the trash to the curb - where it belongs. For one day at least, I would like to express my rage unsullied by the sneers and jeers of bottom feeders who troll these waters.
the loud-mouthed agitators who rushed to the intertubes to breathlessly announce that Clippers' owner, Donald Sterling, contributed to Democratic politicians
They never want to acknowledge paternity of their own bastards. Well, if Jonah Goldberg could claim that fascism is a form of liberalism, then words have no meaning any can be twisted any way one chooses.
Black waiters dressed as slaves is a new one to me. Maybe Deen should get together with Rich Iott. Who knew right-wing cosplay was a thing now?
Does it really matter which party he contributes to. He is a bigot and will have a very difficult time keeping the team. Did you notice how long it took the incompetent incumbent to give his opinion. Maybe he can have the team and owner over for a beer.
On more pressing news is Swift Boats labeling Israel as Apartheid. Of course he just speaks for the WH position on Israel. I haven't heard obama give an opinion on kerry's bigoted statement. Maybe he can have him over for a beer as well.
skudrunner: "Did you notice how long it took the incompetent incumbent to give his opinion."
I did notice, skudrunner, that an incompetent commenter failed to report WHY the president gave his opinion: It was because at a press conference while in the Philippenes, President Obama WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS THE CONTROVERSY.
"Question to the President:
Q Mr. President, on the situation in Ukraine and the Russian sanctions that I know the United States and others may be announcing on Monday -- I guess my question is why wait on sectoral sanctions, as far as the United States is concerned? Why not do that on your own, now and sooner, rather than wait for the Europeans to get on board on this? Because aren’t you concerned that Putin is essentially using the European angst over tougher sanctions as a way to slow-walk things and buy more time and space for himself?
"Quickly, on a second topic, Mr. President, there’s a controversy surrounding some horrendous, racially-charged comments that an owner of the L.A. Clippers made. I was wondering if you care to comment on that."
Did you expect the president to tell the reporter "No comment?" or "Shut up!"? Since anything this president does brings you here to misreport and misrepresent it, I'll let this comment stand as evidence of your unending sneering and jeering.
PS. Kerry apologized for his inopportune labeling of Israel as apartheid, even if there was a lot of truth to that statement.
Sterling is an 80 year old bigot, the remarks recently attributed to him are reprehensible. Frankly I hope the NBA slams the SOB with a stiff fine, suspension from league activities and games, and forces a sale.
Nothing can stop the covert beliefs one may hold but when a person. any person, demonstrates overtly those beliefs repercussions should follow, and swiftly.
I cannot believe this jackass could possibly maintain control of his team. If he retains ownership recruiting the best talent could prove very difficult, if not damn near impossible.
Scudrunner is playing the part of an off-topic troll, hijacking this comment thread to advance his own agenda without regard or respect for the readers of this forum. If he continues this bullshit, he should get the boot.
The NBA will not (or cannot) fine Sterling enough money to make any difference. It is the fan and team advertisers who are willing to withhold their money who have influence on him. Even so, he still has a large TV contract which pays him millions.
no matter what the topic is on this blog skudrunning down his leg uses it to bash obama...skudrunning down his leg is a troll...that is all.
Skud, I'll stay on topic, something for some reason, you chose not to do...
Answering your question, no, it most certainly does not matter what party he contributes to or is registered in.
Unless you are part of the extreme right wing in this country. Those are the folks that almost without exception reported and registered their outrage when it was first, wrongly, thought that Mr. Sterling was a Dem.
We are also seeing that same thread on right wing blogs this morning as commenters puff up their chest and assert that he is a racist Dem.
Does it matter? You tell us. Until it was shown he was a registered member of the GOP, it did. Now, not so much.
Why is that?
Jerry, nothing the NBA will do is really gonna hurt Sterling.
He bought the team for 13 million and it now has a value of over 750 million.
Their best hope is to publicly shame him so much that he withdraws from public life.
I will confess to all that I am not overly comfortable forcing him out. Today it all seems so easy with overt horrible racism being an easy target.
What happens in the future if someone doesn't like one of our stands? Do we lose our livelihood?
Just food for thought.
FINAL SCORE: Banned for life, with the likelihood of a forced sale, and fined $2.5 million dollars.
Whether this outcome is regarded as harsh or not, I don't see the NBA having much choice in the matter. Any less punishment might have triggered a revolt amongst league players, many of whom belong to the group sullied by Sterling.
No doubt, however, there are wingers who will cry 'foul" but they will not get a free penalty shot no matter how hard they bellow.
Dave, your point with respect to forcing him out is a good one. Not only could it have extreme adverse impact on the livelyhood of those less capable of recovering from such action it certainly would send a message that only officially approved views are acceptable.
You are likely right, public shame may have the impact on the market and advertisers Jerry spoke of.
No doubt we'll hear the bellowers screaming about FREE SPEECH! I've heard apologists say he was speaking privately, and no one should be punished for being exposed for saying something bad when it was private speech.
Silver certainly is entitled to free speech, and those who heard what he said while exercising his right are within their rights to express anger and disgust with what he said, the players have a right to not want to associate with a bigot-owner, and the NBA organization has the right to not want people like Sterling to represent their franchises.
It's called taking responsibility and facing the consequences for one's rotten behavior (does anyone think that what he's done in the past and what we heard him say are admirable behaviors?) Those are values everyone can agree with: conservatives and liberals.
Shaw, you are spot on... Free Speech has consequences. Some good, some bad.
What some are calling for is no consequences for whatever filth comes out of your mouth.
If you are unwilling to stand up for, and accept the pain of your convictions, keep quiet.
Their heads are majorly exploding over Silver's decision. They're angry because they actually believe Sterling was punished for this one stupid "private" tirade against black people, when in reality, he's been spewing his racist crap for years.
"BANNED FROM THE NBA FOR LIFE because of some awful thing he said in privacy?
Exposed because, supposedly, the ex wife is fighting for half the $1.8 million he gave the girlfriend who's 49 years his junior? MY GOD!"
Those are the remarks of Sterling's supporters.
Yet this stiff was getting ready to accept the NAACP's "Person of the Year" award.
Now given what is known and was kind of hushed up about this low life's racism how did the NAACP come to this point?
I'm going to guess it goes something like ... you don't call me out about my business practices in public, maybe a big check finds its way to your mailbox (major tax write off for me, lol).
The disgrace is that his act got this far. What he is has been known for some time and that's the story.
Ducky: "What he is has been known for some time and that's the story.
That's the real story, Ducky, not this one incident that got all the publicity and resulted in his being banned. This bigot got away with his rancid racism for years.
Why are the wingers defending his bigotry?
The NAACP decided to give back the money Sterling gave them that precipitated the 2nd Lifetime Award they were going to give him.
Very principled!!!
Here is probably the best article I've seen on this debacle and it comes from an old Boston nemesis...
http://time.com/79590/donald-sterling-kareem-abdul-jabbar-racism/
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