Racism Issue Overshadows NBA Playoffs
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Photo Credit: NBA.com
By Francisco Romero
From Michael Jordan, to Charles Barkley to Snoop Dogg including President Barack Obama, all have made their feelings known about the racist comments that were allegedly made by the Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
TMZ Sports reportedly obtained a recording (about 9 minutes) of the L.A. Clippers owner making racist comments during an argument with V. Stiviano, a former girlfriend of Sterling.
“Don’t put him (Magic Johnson) on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games,” could be heard on the audio published by TMZ.
The Commissioner of the NBA has promised an “extraordinarily” swift yet thorough investigation on the recordings.
The National Basketball Players Association have also made their feelings known and are demanding the following from the Commissioner’s Office:
- Sterling be barred from all playoff games this season
- An accounting of past accusations of racism against Sterling
- An explanation of what kind of discipline might be issued
- Assurance that the league commissioner will work with the association
- Assurance the investigation will be conducted swiftly
The President of the United States Barack Obama had the following to say about the issue: “I have confidence that NBA commissioner Adam Silver, a good man, will address this. Obviously, the NBA is a league that is beloved by fans all across the country. It’s got an awful lot of African-American players. It’s steeped in African-American culture. And I suspect that the NBA is going to be deeply concerned in resolving this.”
The recording was published at a time when Don Sterling’s Clippers are in the middle of the NBA Playoffs.
During yesterday’s game the Clippers players removed their warm-up shirts and placed them in the middle of the court and wore inside out red shirts protesting silently the alleged racist remarks made by the team’s owner.
The Clippers lost Sunday’s game to Golden State 118-97.
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