LA Clippers Owner Donald Sterling's Racist Rant Caught On Tape

[KK]

What I can't understand is how a illegally recorded private conversation can constitute them taking the team away from him and fining him. Now if he said this out in public then so be it, I could understand. But him saying this stuff to a slut, and then being recorded without knowing, I don't think it justified. Not saying I don't think he's a POS, just look at him, dude looks like a shmuck. I just don't see how they can use an illegally obtain recording as there basis for punishment.

 

[emperus]

You know, I find this disgusting that folks are even suggesting taking away this man's livelihood because of a secretly taped, private conversation, as if we're now legislating what people can personally believe in.

I'm black, and I think that a year's suspension would have been overkill, but a life-time ban, plus a forced-sell, whew! that's true bigotry, being outraged over a person's personal view.

I was on-board personally initially, but then I realized that I'd be highly upset if someone secretly taped a private conversation I had, and then my job is being stripped from me.

Keep your mouths shut, and fall in line...do NOT DARE HOLD PERSONAL VIEWS!! Bigots are coming.

His personal views which have infected his businesses and his NBA franchise over and over and over. Furthermore, they fine players for conduct detrimental to the league, for personal views, etc. Why should the owners be any different. NBA teams also enjoy numerous public benefits. So, it is simply not a private business.

 

[dali71]

This guy gets it: http://www.creators.com/conservative/ben-shapiro/of-donald-sterlings-racism-and-the-rise-of-thoughtcrime.html

In November 2009, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling settled a lawsuit in which the Department of Justice alleged that Sterling had discriminated against Hispanics, blacks and families without children in his rental properties. The lawsuit contained testimony that Sterling had suggested Hispanics were poor tenants because they "smoke, drink, and just hang around the building," and that "black tenants smell and attract vermin." The settlement cost him and his insurers $2.73 million.

The NBA and the national media said virtually nothing. That same year, the NAACP gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2005, Sterling signed a check for more than $5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that he had attempted to prevent non-Koreans from renting in his facilities in Koreatown.

The NBA and the national media said virtually nothing.

This week, Sterling's 31-year-old girlfriend, V. Stiviano, released a tape of the 80-year-old racist being an 80-year-old racist. Sterling apparently told Stiviano he didn't want her posting pictures of black men on her Instagram account and didn't want her bringing black men to Clippers games.

The entire media establishment suddenly went insane. Colin Cowherd of ESPN idiotically called for the league to void all of Sterling's contracts with his players and agents — a violation of basic contract law. Magic Johnson declared that the NBA should force Sterling to sell his team — a violation of basic contract law. President Barack Obama, determined never to let an opportunity pass to label America racist, took to the microphones to declare Sterling's racism a symptom of America's "legacy of race and slavery and segregation."

This is, at the very least, hypocrisy. Last year, Sterling signed coach Doc Rivers, who is black, to a contract worth $7 million per year.

Chris Paul, who is black, is slated to make nearly $19 million this season. Blake Griffin, who is black, is slated to make $16 million. DeAndre Jordan will make $11 million. The coach, these players and their agents surely knew about Sterling's legacy. So did Cowherd, Johnson and Obama. They all said nothing.
But the big problem here isn't hypocrisy. The big problem is that the market is turning on Sterling not over action, but over words. Sterling's a pig, and that's been no secret for decades. But what triggered America's response? Sterling's thoughts. American society now considers expression of thought to be significantly more important than action. Sterling got away with actual discrimination for years. But now he is caught on tape telling his gold-digging girlfriend he doesn't like blacks, and that's when the firestorm erupts?

This is the thought police at work. Feelings matter more than action. Words matter more than harming others. That sets a radically dangerous precedent for freedom of thought and speech, particularly for those whose thought and speech we hate. Freedom of speech and thought matters especially when it is speech and thought with which we disagree. The moment the majority decides to destroy people for engaging in thought it dislikes, thoughtcrime becomes a reality.

Sterling's career should have been ended by public outrage based on his established patterns of discrimination years ago. To end it based not on such disreputable action but on private musings caught on tape demonstrates America's newfound disregard for the rights of those whose thought we find despicable.

 

[Retro Rob]

What I can't understand is how a illegally recorded private conversation can constitute them taking the team away from him and fining him. Now if he said this out in public then so be it, I could understand. But him saying this stuff to a slut, and then being recorded without knowing, I don't think it justified. Not saying I don't think he's a POS, just look at him, dude looks like a shmuck. I just don't see how they can use an illegally obtain recording as there basis for punishment.

That's what I was saying. It's not like he said this with a camera in his face, well knowing the ramifications.

We're becoming a nation of fascists.

 

[berzerker60]

You know, I find this disgusting that folks are even suggesting taking away this man's livelihood because of a secretly taped, private conversation, as if we're now legislating what people can personally believe in.

I'm black, and I think that a year's suspension would have been overkill, but a life-time ban, plus a forced-sell, whew! that's true bigotry, being outraged over a person's personal view.

I was on-board personally initially, but then I realized that I'd be highly upset if someone secretly taped a private conversation I had, and then my job is being stripped from me.

Keep your mouths shut, and fall in line...do NOT DARE HOLD PERSONAL VIEWS!! Bigots are coming.

"taking away this man's livelihood"? This fine is a smaller part of his annual income than a parking ticket would be to you. He's a real estate mogul, and he's going to make hundreds of millions to a billion on selling this team if he has to.

Also, congrats on completely misunderstanding what "legislating" means. There's no government involvement here. The NBA is choosing not to do business with this guy anymore, per the terms of the contract he willingly signed with them. No one has ever has a right to be an asshole and have everyone treat him exactly the same anyway.

If you don't want to lose your job over private conversations, try not saying horrible racist shit in a "job" that has a morality clause and cares a lot about the image of the organization.

 

[Retro Rob]

His personal views which have infected his businesses and his NBA franchise over and over and over. Furthermore, they fine players for conduct detrimental to the league, for personal views, etc. Why should the owners be any different. NBA teams also enjoy numerous public benefits. So, it is simply not a private business.

Last I checked, he bought the Clipps for 25 Million, and they're worth close to a billion. Yeah, he ran that team into the ground.

 

[UberNeuman]

Well, on the upside this gives him more free to be racist.

 

[Retro Rob]

"taking away this man's livelihood"? This fine is a smaller part of his annual income than a parking ticket would be to you. He's a real estate mogul, and he's going to make hundreds of millions to a billion on selling this team if he has to.

SO the **** what? Who are you to count another man's money and tell him he has too much?

Also, congrats on completely misunderstanding what "legislating" means. There's no government involvement here. The NBA is choosing not to do business with this guy anymore, per the terms of the contract he willingly signed with them. No one has ever has a right to be an asshole and have everyone treat him exactly the same anyway.

You know exactly what I mean by "legislating". Semantics.

If you don't want to lose your job over private conversations, try not saying horrible racist shit in a "job" that has a morality clause and cares a lot about the image of the organization.

Oh shut up. You can have private conversations about whatever you want.

 

[TheSiege]

Its like attending BYU, where I live, you have to sign a morality agreement if you want to attend. Which includes, abstaining from premarital sex. Something a lot more private than a phone conversation. You can and will be kicked out if you are caught. This is no different. The NBA sets certain standards and if you don't uphold those standards than you face punishment. No one forced him to agree to said standards.

 

[werepossum]

Dude I gotta give the woman her props. If you are going to whore yourself, at least go for the target with the deepest pockets. How many 10 dollar blow jobs does a street walker have to give to get the kind of money this woman did?

This woman deserves every cent she got. It must of been a kind of hell having sex with that decrepid old man.

And yes, I believe what she did was probably illegal wiretapping or some such.

Meh. Find her guilty and fine her a dollar.

As far as having sex with Sterling, no doubt. I'd have some respect for her if she was an honest hooker - that would be doing a job Americans won't do.

Maybe it's me getting older, but, I honestly don't see the difference between this and dating (esp. a girl you're not trying to marry). You do dinner and drinks ($100 or so), pretend you care what she is saying and hope for more. At least this way you're guaranteed sex and everyone understands what it is.

Edit: Unfortunately for me I enjoy the chase and feel women should pay me for sex.

If she was a highly paid hooker I'd have no problem with her - that's honest work. And since I don't know you, I'll remain neutral on whether women should pay you for sex. Although that's good work if you can get it.

Well, not if it's the female equivalent of Sterling. That SHOULD be a job Americans won't do.

Uh, yes, those squeaky clean NBA players (and NFL players). Not all of them are altar boys but any time they do anything that could embarrass the league they get smacked with fines. http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/fines.html

"11/22/13 The NBA fined Mike Woodson (NY) $25,000 for publically criticizing the refs during a sports radio interview on Thursday.

11/20/13 The NBA fined Rasheed Wallace (Bos) $10,000 for using profanity after Tuesday's Hou-Bos game.

11/15/13 The NBA fined J.R. Smith (NY) $25,000 for directing hostile and inappropriate comments towards Brandon Jennings (Det) on Smith's twitter account.

11/13/13 Orlando fined Glen Davis an undisclosed amount for an off the court incident where he damaged a computer at a hotel.

11/6/13 The NBA fined Caron Butler (Mil) $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during Friday's Bos-Mil game."

etc. They take the league's image pretty seriously.

As they should. Your reputation is all you have.

 

[emperus]

Last I checked, he bought the Clipps for 25 Million, and they're worth close to a billion. Yeah, he ran that team into the ground.

I think, the value of the team had less to do with what he did and the fact that the value of the NBA as a whole increased. The lowest team is worth about 400 million, the highest 1.4 billion. The clippers are worth 575 Million.

 

[berzerker60]

SO the **** what? Who are you to count another man's money and tell him he has too much?

SO the other owners of the NBA don't have an obligation to continue being associated with Sterling, per the terms of the contract he willingly signed. I don't have a say in whether he's removed, THEY do, and if they do, he won't be robbed of anything.

You know exactly what I mean by "legislating". Semantics.

It's not semantics. Legislating what people can think would be a serious issue. That's not at all what this is. It's the free market reacting against racism.

Oh shut up. You can have private conversations about whatever you want.

Yeah you can. You have a right against government interference in your private conversations. You don't have a right to immunity from social consequences for what you say in private. Nor do you have a right to say anything you want if you've signed a contract that you'll act according to certain moral tenets and uphold the reputation of an organization. If you don't want that voluntary restriction on your life, don't sign a contract with a stipulation that you can be forced to sell if you do.

 

[Retro Rob]

Its like attending BYU, where I live, you have to sign a morality agreement if you want to attend. Which includes, abstaining from premarital sex. Something a lot more private than a phone conversation. You can and will be kicked out if you are caught. This is no different. The NBA sets certain standards and if you don't uphold those standards than you face punishment. No one forced him to agree to said standards.

What "standards"?

Not the ones where players can break the law and still have jobs? These aren't standards...just outright bigotry, and its sad that the black community can lobby for a private conversation to be used to cost a man his team, but be totally silent on other blacks that threaten women with guns.

 

[Retro Rob]

Yeah you can. You have a right against government interference in your private conversations. You don't have a right to immunity from social consequences for what you say in private. Nor do you have a right to say anything you want if you've signed a contract that you'll act according to certain moral tenets and uphold the reputation of an organization. If you don't want that voluntary restriction on your life, don't sign a contract with a stipulation that you can be forced to sell if you do.

Ok, so if you don't like Islam, and work for a Muslim owner, I can bait you to say something bigoted about Muslims, tape it (without you knowing) and take that to your boss and have you fired.

And you'd go quietly, and not fight for your job on the grounds that it was a private conversation?

I don't think so.

 

[moonbogg]

Banned for life..erm he's already got one foot in the grave anyway. That bitch was ugly BTW. Also, fuck this guy. Also, screw basQuetball.

 

[werepossum]

You know, I find this disgusting that folks are even suggesting taking away this man's livelihood because of a secretly taped, private conversation, as if we're now legislating what people can personally believe in.

I'm black, and I think that a year's suspension would have been overkill, but a life-time ban, plus a forced-sell, whew! that's true bigotry, being outraged over a person's personal view.

I was on-board personally initially, but then I realized that I'd be highly upset if someone secretly taped a private conversation I had, and then my job is being stripped from me.

Keep your mouths shut, and fall in line...do NOT DARE HOLD PERSONAL VIEWS!! Bigots are coming.

I agree that a lifetime suspension is overkill - hell, I even agree that the man has the right to have whomever he wants in his booth - but it isn't our call. The NBA has the right and the responsibility to assess the penalty it thinks is fair and necessary. Sterling has an absolute right to say what he wishes, but he has no inherent right to be a member in the NBA. And if what he wishes to say is morally repugnant to society and to his league, then if it comes out - no matter how it comes out - then he must face the consequences. Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from consequences.

Hopefully other racists will take this as a warning, considering that the NSA has every single racist thing anyone says on the phone kept for prosperity, and keep such feelings to themselves. I don't particularly care either way, but it would be nice if the younger generations are not exposed to such views.

 

[Retro Rob]

I agree that a lifetime suspension is overkill - hell, I even agree that the man has the right to have whomever he wants in his booth - but it isn't our call. The NBA has the right and the responsibility to assess the penalty it thinks is fair and necessary. Sterling has an absolute right to say what he wishes, but he has no inherent right to be a member in the NBA. And if what he wishes to say is morally repugnant to society and to his league, then if it comes out - no matter how it comes out - then he must face the consequences. Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from consequences.

Hopefully other racists will take this as a warning, considering that the NSA has every single racist thing anyone says on the phone kept for prosperity, and keep such feelings to themselves. I don't particularly care either way, but it would be nice if the younger generations are not exposed to such views.

You hold personal views that others don't agree with. You should never be fired over them.

I bet you'd be against religious organizations firing people because they secretly lack belief in creationism, or privately are pro-choice, wouldn't you?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

What "standards"?

Not the ones where players can break the law and still have jobs? These aren't standards...just outright bigotry, and its sad that the black community can lobby for a private conversation to be used to cost a man his team, but be totally silent on other blacks that threaten women with guns.

I don't think Raymond Felton is your best case to call on here. He's hated by Knicks fans, he's hated by Blazers fans, he was hated by Nuggets fans until they managed to con Portland into trading for him and spent the next 12 months uproariously laughing... He's persona non grata with the fanbase of every team he's ever played for, and there's literally no one on Earth who would complain if he was banned from the NBA forever (except, ironically, David Sterling).

I don't think that Sterling is being forced out based on a single incident; I think this is just the straw that broke the camel's back. He's been the worst owner in the history of professional sports as far as win/loss record, but that's not enough to kick him out. He's been involved in multiple lawsuits and scandals about race, sexual harassment and age discrimination, but apparently that's not enough to kick him out. He finally went one step too far and everyone realized, "Hey, this guy has literally been the worst thing about our league for 30 years, maybe this is a chance to get rid of him." It's opportunism at its finest.

 

[emperus]

Based on comments you've made in this forum you're a bigot through and through. So you can call me whatever you like as nothing you say will matter to me.

Yes, I am a bigot because I think you are a racist. Derp Derp Derp. Unfortunately you outed urself with your posts in this thread.

 

[Retro Rob]

I don't think Raymond Felton is your best case to call on here. He's hated by Knicks fans, he's hated by Blazers fans, he was hated by Nuggets fans until they managed to con Portland into trading for him and spent the next 12 months uproariously laughing... He's persona non grata with the fanbase of every team he's ever played for, and there's literally no one on Earth who would complain if he was banned from the NBA forever (except, ironically, David Sterling).

I don't think that Sterling is being forced out based on a single incident; I think this is just the straw that broke the camel's back. He's been the worst owner in the history of professional sports as far as win/loss record, but that's not enough to kick him out. He's been involved in multiple lawsuits and scandals about race, sexual harassment and age discrimination, but apparently that's not enough to kick him out. He finally went one step too far and everyone realized, "Hey, this guy has literally been the worst thing about our league for 30 years, maybe this is a chance to get rid of him." It's opportunism at its finest.

No, the commish said it had nothing to do with his past, IIRC. They just caved, as usual.

The NBA has no backbone.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

You hold personal views that others don't agree with. You should never be fired over them.

I bet you'd be against religious organizations firing people because they secretly lack belief in creationism, or privately are pro-choice, wouldn't you?

He isn't being fired, he's being banned for going against the league's bylaws. Whether or not these personal views should ever have become public is irrelevant; they were made public and it's too late to retract that. The league thinks "we're not going to recover from this, he's gone."

In this sense, it's useful to think of the NBA, not as an employer, but as an HOA. Sure, you may own your home (team). But the HOA (NBA) has set up some rules with how you're allowed to decorate your home. If you put up a big swastika flag on the front of your house, you'll be in violation of the contract you signed, and the HOA will have the power to bring sanctions against you. Donald Sterling broke the terms of his HOA, and now he's facing potential eviction.

 

[Retro Rob]

He isn't being fired, he's being banned for going against the league's bylaws. Whether or not these personal views should ever have become public is irrelevant; they were made public and it's too late to retract that. The league thinks "we're not going to recover from this, he's gone."

In this sense, it's useful to think of the NBA, not as an employer, but as an HOA. Sure, you may own your home (team). But the HOA (NBA) has set up some rules with how you're allowed to decorate your home. If you put up a big swastika flag on the front of your house, you'll be in violation of the contract you signed, and the HOA will have the power to bring sanctions against you. Donald Sterling broke the terms of his HOA, and now he's facing potential eviction.

So you'd think it'll be ok for folks to just go around, with a tape recorder, race-baiting white owners?

I do get what you're saying, but there is no way in hell a person should be too afraid to speak openly while in private. That's the whole point of privacy.

I'm not defending a racist (as you probably know), but I'm defending the right to privacy, regardless of views, without fear of reprisal because some moron may have a recorder in his pocket.

Secondly, I thought that in some places, secretly recording someone and using that as evidence against them is illegal.

 

[Oldgamer]

So you'd think it'll be ok for folks to just go around, with a tape recorder, race-baiting white owners?

I do get what you're saying, but there is no way in hell a person should be too afraid to speak openly while in private. That's the whole point of privacy.

I'm not defending a racist (as you probably know), but I'm defending the right to privacy, regardless of views, without fear of reprisal because some moron may have a recorder in his pocket.

Secondly, I thought that in some places, secretly recording someone and using that as evidence against them is illegal.

I personally think if it is someone in a position of power or a wealthy elite that can have major impacts on others lives, then yes. They should know they are going to be under the microscope. They have great influence and due to that very fact they should be held accountable. Let us not forget this guy had a long history of this racism crap.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

So you'd think it'll be ok for folks to just go around, with a tape recorder, race-baiting white owners?

I do get what you're saying, but there is no way in hell a person should be too afraid to speak openly while in private. That's the whole point of privacy.

I'm not defending a racist (as you probably know), but I'm defending the right to privacy, regardless of views, without fear of reprisal because some moron may have a recorder in his pocket.

Secondly, I thought that in some places, secretly recording someone and using that as evidence against them is illegal.

I completely agree with you with regards to privacy. I think we're getting too used to exposure in our society; somebody tags you in a drunken party picture on Facebook and you end up getting fired. It's absurd and it's dangerous. I don't think that what's happening to Sterling is necessarily fair as far as a leaked private conversation being made public without his knowledge; that's not fair to anyone. But it's too late to undo what's been done; the tape is out, everyone's heard it and they're clamoring for his head. The NBA couldn't say, "sorry, these facts aren't admissible as evidence, pretend you never heard it;" the fans wouldn't stand for it. Lamenting the fact that privacy boundaries are rapidly diminishing is an interesting philosophical exercise, but that is ultimately meaningless here since people aren't going to forget what was said.

 

[Retro Rob]

I personally think if it is someone in a position of power or a wealthy elite that can have major impacts on others lives, then yes. They should know they are going to be under the microscope. They have great influence and due to that very fact they should be held accountable. Let us not forget this guy had a long history of this racism crap.

I find it funny, though, how players are happy he's gone and were outraged, but not enough to refuse to play for a racist because all they care about is money. If you hate his remarks that much, don't play for him, nor take his money, but blacks are too big of hypocrites to be that honest.

That's why I find this whole thing disgusting....