LA Clippers owner racist rant at girlfriend

[Aharami]

Hmmm....

So its not ok for a private citizen to express himself in a private conversation. However it is perfectly acceptable for an elected official to publicly make negative comments based solely on race?

So what you are saying is the owner should have gotten on the loudspeaker before the game and said what he said? Then it would be ok?

no what he was saying is that, had Sterling been black, it would've been ok. I don't agree with that either since there is major black on educated black discrimination.

 

[momeNt]

I don't think it is a silly question at all. Perhaps someone here is familiar with the bylaws. Are the bylaws secret as well?

I'm sure this is also NOT the first time the owners have voted on something. Were all of the previous votes about other issues secret or public?

If the votes are to be publicized then the owners wont dare vote to maintain Sterling as owner. The public backlash will be tremendous against anyone who "maintains racism in the NBA" or some other media hyped headline.

But if the owners know the votes will stay sealed and private, they can vote as they wish and know they will be protected. If the team owners truly see this as a slippery slope and do not wish to set this precedent, they might vote to maintain Sterling's ownership.

The vote will be public if only because Sterling's lawyer will make it part of the discovery in his lawsuit.

 

[Oceanas]

I don't think it is a silly question at all. Perhaps someone here is familiar with the bylaws. Are the bylaws secret as well?

Considering I just posted a link to the entire NBA Constitution and By-Laws last night; they are available to the public.

Anyway it doesn't say anything about it having to remain a secret or not. It pretty much reads like it would be a normal Board of Governors meeting except they would be voting for termination of his membership. Which means I doubt the voting would be publicly announced by the NBA, but I'm sure individuals owners could freely discuss how they voted.

 

[Capt Caveman]

that and forcing the sell? i am not sure the other owners would go for that. i think that would be a really bad precedent. having to be forced to sell the team over a unpopular and private statement? Does the owners really want that happening and being precedent? would anyone want that?

I'm all for the fine. sponsors pulling from the clippers. All these things cost him money.

But the lifetime ban and the potential sell of the his team? frankly i think that's going overboard.

It's a black eye on the league, not just Sterling. The sooner they can be rid of him, the focus can go back to basketball. When you have the best players in the league talking about boycotting games, it's a NBA problem.

 

[darkewaffle]

Well, if his words were not backed up with a past heavy with racism then he'd probably be able to apologize and the league would move on. But this guy has been bad news for decades. He definitely deserves this.

Well as long as someone gets what they deserve, then it's all ok

Personally, I think you can be as crappy of a person as you want in your private time. I don't care as long as you actually behave in a civil and fair manner - and while Sterling's record has some blemishes (though to my knowledge only one of them might be considered race related), the Clippers organization itself was run fairly. For all this talk of how "it's bigger than basketball" it's ironic that nobody gave a shit until it encroached upon the glory of the brand.

I think the NBA's power structure does give Silver the right to do what he did, but I don't know that I think it was actually right to do so. I feel there is a distinct divide between thoughts and actions and while you can be judged for both of them, I don't think that simply having an unpopular opinion should be grounds for punitive action.

On one hand, I am thankful this idea is basically internal to the NBA. I would think and hope if something like this went to court, it would much more thoroughly discussed [by people who actually know things ]. On the other hand, the general public's assent and approval of the manner in which this was handled is not encouraging to me.

 

[mikeford]

Welcome to the new McCarthy era, are you now or have you ever been or said anything racist?

 

[momeNt]

Welcome to the new McCarthy era, are you now or have you ever been or said anything racist?

A lot of people are saying this to promote dog whistle racism, it's like like when Christian's drew the fish on the ground to identify themselves to other Christian's and avoid persecution.

Honestly, if your workplace found out you said some of the stuff he said, it might be okay for them to fire you, especially if a large portion of their workforce is the race that you are targeting. It's good business practices to have social cohesion.

 

[SP33Demon]

A lot of people are saying this to promote dog whistle racism, it's like like when Christian's drew the fish on the ground to identify themselves to other Christian's and avoid persecution.

Honestly, if your workplace found out you said some of the stuff he said, it might be okay for them to fire you, especially if a large portion of their workforce is the race that you are targeting. It's good business practices to have social cohesion.

You might want to use a different term than social cohesion. Increasing social cohesion = less diversity since recent studies show that social cohesion is increased by being around/associating with people more like yourself. The two are polar opposites.

 

[momeNt]

You might want to use a different term than social cohesion. Increasing social cohesion = less diversity since recent studies show that social cohesion is increased by being around/associating with people more like yourself. The two are polar opposites.

I'm talking about in the work place not in communities. I would bet that a group of people working together where one is racist could make the rest of them uncomfortable working with them, but if the group was all relatively non-racist, they would work better.

But perhaps the studies do talk about workplace. Would 10 white people get along better together as a whole if one or two of them were blatantly racist compared to a mixed group that wasn't racist?

Or is race the most common thing that people use to determine what is "like yourself". Does a non-racist white person have more in common with a racist white person than he has in common with a non-racist black person? What is the hierarchy of traits here that determine that?

 

[SP33Demon]

I'm talking about in the work place not in communities. I would bet that a group of people working together where one is racist could make the rest of them uncomfortable working with them, but if the group was all relatively non-racist, they would work better.

But perhaps the studies do talk about workplace. Would 10 white people get along better together as a whole if one or two of them were blatantly racist compared to a mixed group that wasn't racist?

Or is race the most common thing that people use to determine what is "like yourself". Does a non-racist white person have more in common with a racist white person than he has in common with a non-racist black person? What is the hierarchy of traits here that determine that?

All good questions. Yes, I'd agree that if it was workplace based then a blatant racist being banished would increase morale, but not sure of social cohesion (aka sense of community). It may since it's not a voluntary environment, i.e. they are forced to be there in order to be paid so they must tolerate one another whether they like them or not.

Race is one barometer that can measure "like yourself", but it can also be status, wealth, education, age as well, the recent studies have only used race. For example, I'm sure a married 30yr old Indian guy with a Master's degree (and born/raised in the states) would have more social cohesion with a married White 30 yr old with a Master's degree vs a 50 yr old divorced and single Asian lady. I think race is just one of the contributing factors, albeit big because it can also influence cultural traits which are very different among the races but if enough factors are the same then I personally think social cohesion can be achieved beyond race.

 

[darkewaffle]

The way this is going already, I kind of feel like the Clipper sale (assuming it goes through) is going to be like the ultra-wealthy version of the California Recall election. Oprah, Ellison, Magic, Puffy, Mayweather and more already thrown around. In addition to the rich old white guys who were interested in Milwaukee Bucks not long ago, probably see some of them take interest as well.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

they should let magic and geffen buy the clipper so theyd have the first gay owned team

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

This guy should be punished under the full extent of social media law for his private comments.

 

[z1ggy]

I get why this guy got banned from NBA, but a huge multi million dollar fine for private comments? I totally don't support his mindset or behavior, but I think that's kind of crazy. It's not like he said this on a public forum.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I get why this guy got banned from NBA, but a huge multi million dollar fine for private comments? I totally don't support his mindset or behavior, but I think that's kind of crazy. It's not like he said this on a public forum.

There are no private forums anymore. Go to a party, someone takes a picture and tags you on their Facebook wall, your boss somehow sees it, you get fired. Is it fair? Of course not. But we're living in an age where privacy should be assumed to not exist. It's the sad state of the reality we live in now.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

The more I read about this, the more I feel this chick is really fucked up in the head. She claims she changed her name because she was born of rape. She says she only had a professional relationship with Sterling, then the next day says she was his sugar baby.

 

[z1ggy]

There are no private forums anymore. Go to a party, someone takes a picture and tags you on their Facebook wall, your boss somehow sees it, you get fired. Is it fair? Of course not. But we're living in an age where privacy should be assumed to not exist. It's the sad state of the reality we live in now.

I agree with you 100%, but:

1: A party is not private per say. There's probably no expectation of privacy when you are in a large crowd, even if it's a private property.

2: Getting fired is one thing, but recieving a fine is completely different.

Again, I'm not supporting his actions just expressing my thoughts on monetary fines over what is essentially that guy's right to free speech. I suppose it is the NBA's right to fine him for whatever reason written in their by-laws, but that seems harsh.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

I get why this guy got banned from NBA, but a huge multi million dollar fine for private comments? I totally don't support his mindset or behavior, but I think that's kind of crazy. It's not like he said this on a public forum.

not to mention that hes not anywhere near the worst racist in the world if hes hiring, socializing with and screwing blacks

 

[BladeVenom]

At least he didn't rape or kill anyone. Oh, wait that's OK for professional athletes.

 

[Nebor]

Howdy Nebor. Is it a grand day in the Nebor-hood?

I'll put up a grand, $1,000 to be exact, to your measly $200 (that's 5 to 1 odds for the digitally illiterate) that says you're so wrong it hurts.

I know you're not the usual OT pussy/blowhard/basement dweller, so I'm assuming you'll post up and stand behind your prediction and take my bet like a man.

Pm me. I always answer, because I care. :biggrin:

Ok, we'll need to set up a time frame in which to judge the outcome of the bet. What's a reasonable time in which he'd be forced to sell the team or not? 6 months?

 

[Perknose]

Ok, we'll need to set up a time frame in which to judge the outcome of the bet. What's a reasonable time in which he'd be forced to sell the team or not? 6 months?

We don't need no stinkin' time frame. Here's what you said -- quoted in my challenge post to you as well:

I'm not saying it's not possible, I'm saying only 4 out of 30 owners will support such an action.

So, the time frame is as soon as we find that 5 or more owners voted to kick the lizard king out, or we find out that only 4 or less did. <shrug>

 

[Vdubchaos]

There are no private forums anymore. Go to a party, someone takes a picture and tags you on their Facebook wall, your boss somehow sees it, you get fired. Is it fair? Of course not. But we're living in an age where privacy should be assumed to not exist. It's the sad state of the reality we live in now.

Reason #5323430 why facebook sucks

 

[IAteYourMother]

I get why this guy got banned from NBA, but a huge multi million dollar fine for private comments? I totally don't support his mindset or behavior, but I think that's kind of crazy. It's not like he said this on a public forum.

He put himself in a position that tarnished the image of the NBA. It became public and that's all that matters.

 

[bradley]

The NBA has extended a nice olive branch. There's now a need for black ownership to reclaim this team well below market value or it will be considered the very height of racism.

My recommendation to everyone: if you see something, don't say something, record it. I'm talking your neighbors and family members too, turn them in.

 

[HendrixFan]

not to mention that hes not anywhere near the worst racist in the world if hes hiring, socializing with and screwing blacks

Did you watch 12 Years a Slave?