Cheat Sheet: Clippers owner in hot water over comments
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On April 25, celebrity gossip website TMZ.com released an audio clip in which L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling told his girlfriend V. Stiviano that he did not want her bringing African Americans to his team’s games.
In a heated argument with Stiviano on April 9, Sterling was upset she had posted a picture with Magic Johnson to her Instagram account.
In the audio Sterling states “…Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.”
Stiviano, ironically is African American and Mexican.
“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people,” said Sterling. “Do you have to?”
Sterling and the Clippers organization released a statement to TMZ that stated they heard the audio and questioned whether it had been doctored and that Sterling is not racist.
“We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered,” the statement reads.
The statement continues, “We do not know that the woman on the tape – who we believe released it to TMZ – is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family, alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would ‘get even.'”
Magic Johnson took to twitter to respond to Sterling’s comments.
“.@cjbycookie [Johnson’s wife] and I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner,” read the tweet.
Johnson continued by tweeting, “I feel sorry for my friends Coach Doc Rivers and Chris Paul that they have to work for a man that feels that way about African Americans.”
On Sunday, April 27, sports website Deadspin.com posted an extended, 15 minute version of the conversation between Sterling and Stiviano.
Also on Sunday, Michael Jordan, majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, released a statement about Sterling.
“As an owner, I’m obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views,” said Jordan. “I’m confident that [NBA Commissioner] Adam Silver will make a full investigation and take appropriate action quickly.”
Jordan continued stating, “As a former player, I’m completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA – or anywhere else – for the kind of racism. I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level.”
The Clippers that had a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, removed their shooting shirts and revealed inside out warm ups, hiding the Los Angeles Clippers logo, which was seen as a silent protest against Sterling.
Sterling’s estranged wife, Rochelle, told TMZ that her “family is devastated by the racist comments made by my estranged husband.”
Rochelle Sterling added that she and her kids do not share his “despicable views or prejudice.”
On Monday, April 28, Sterling’s son-in-law, Director of Basketball Administration for the Clippers Eric Miller, told TMZ Sports that his father-in-law is ignorant and racist.
“I find the statements and representations made by the Clippers’ team owner to be deplorable and disgusting. There is no room in sports or society in general, for racism,” said Miller.
Miller stated to TMZ Sports that if his comments cost him his job then so be it.
“If these comments should happen to cost me my employment with the team, it is a small price to pay to speak out against ignorance and racism,” said Miller.
On April 29, Silver announced at a press conference that Sterling was to receive a life-time ban from associating with the Clippers and the NBA, and was fined the maximum of $2.5 million.
In addition, Silver said that he has asked the Board of Governors to force a sale of the Clippers.
Silver said that the NBA’s investigation included an interview with Sterling, who confirmed that it was his voice in the audio tape.
Silver called Sterling’s words “deeply offensive and harmful.”