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What Sterling said was despicable, but I am not sure what place the NBA, or anyone else for that matter, has sanctioning him for it. These were comments made in private during a private conversation that was illegally recorded. If he had made these comments publically the NBA might have some grounds under the league's Article 35 rules to take action against him, but since his racist feelings were made in private the NBA may be severely limited in what they can legally do, even though the comments were made public through the illegal recording.
What Sterling said is horrid, but we still have free speech in this country and Sterling is entitled to privately express his feelings (even racist feelings) to his girlfriend, no matter how objectionable those feelings are to most people. These were not public statements and he never intended them to be made public. I am sure that many people have expressed feelings privately to someone else that they would not want to be made public.
I am not defending what Sterling said in any way - it was despicable. However, as disgusting as it was, everyone is entitled to their opinions and to discuss them privately with their significant other. I am just not sure what grounds that the NBA or anyone else has to take any action against Sterling that would stand up in court. That said, the biggest pressure will come from the public, players and other NBA team owners - not from a legal decision in a court of law.
Good Points. Wonder what conversations just go on in many homes across America in private, not expecting their dirty laundry to air for all. I am sure there are many racist remarks made in private. From both race groups.
What he said was ignorant and very despicable, but this is now turning into a circus.
His girlfriend is not African American. She has an African American parent and a Mexican parent, therefore she is half African American and half Mexican.
Many of us have an African American parent and one parent that is of another race. We can say she is mixed, because this is more accurate. But even being mixed, she is still a minority. And to tell a woman who has a Black parent to not bring Blacks to his games is a horrible insult. Because at the end of the day, she is Black herself.
Many of us have an African American parent and one parent that is of another race. We can say she is mixed, because this is more accurate. But even being mixed, she is still a minority. And to tell a woman who has a Black parent to not bring Blacks to his games is a horrible insult. Because at the end of the day, she is Black herself.
Sterling is a scumbag and has paid for that fact, well his insurance company did years ago but lets not act like she is some innocent victim. She is a prostitute, nothing more.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Blasts ‘Sleazy’ Media Glee Over Sterling’s Private Racism
Quote:
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar attacked the collective outrage emanating from America’s media over Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s alleged racist remarks, calling the publication of a private conversation “sleazy” and wondering why earlier, more public manifestations of racism failed to similarly shock.
In an op-ed published in Time, Abdul-Jabbar explains that we’re witnessing a veritable “finger-wagging Olympics . . . all over the latest in a long line of rich white celebrities to come out of the racist closet.”
While it's good that most of society does not endorse racism, I don't like the trend of seeking to punish people who say things that others find to be offensive. In this case the enthusiasm to 'sanction' seems to be worse because he didn't even make public statements or try to change a policy that affected people - they were private statements to his girlfriend. I'm sure there'd be a lot of hand-wringing if private thoughts and discussions were made public.
If she didn't like what he said then she could break up with him, buy a ticket, and take whoever she wants to a game...no need to air a private conversation for all the world to hear. Of course, she was obviously interested only in his money and the access the relationship gave her, so it's little surprise there is now an attempt to further capitalize on the circumstances.
The tide could one day turn and those whom the majority now marginalize could become the majority. We should want to firmly establish precedent so that people can have opinions and express them without suffering excessive or coordinated retaliation and avoid mobbing.
You think as a billionaire-NBA-franchise-owning-real estate magnet-lawyer that HE has been discriminated against?
NO, I guess not. I was just thinking because he is a Jew, They have been targeted for thousands of years.
But sure, he is wealthy so it wouldn't apply to him.
In such a racist country, this is all we have? The ravings of a cuckolded 80 year old Jew? That's the height of racism?
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Blasts ‘Sleazy’ Media Glee Over Sterling’s Private Racism
