Los Angeles, CA — Donald Sterling, the billionaire owner of the NBA Los Angeles Clippers, is in big trouble for some racist comments he made to his girlfriend about Black people. She apparently recorded him saying that he doesn’t want her taking pictures with Black people, nor does he want them attending the games.
Then he added: “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games.”
Regarding Magic Johnson, he said: “…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.”
One the recording was released, it instantly created an uproar around the country and on social media. Most notably, statements were made addressing the issue by President Obama and former NBA stars Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.
Here’s what they had to say:
President Obama commented: “When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk. That’s what happened here.” He later added, “The United States continues to wrestle with the legacy of race and slavery and segregation, that’s still there, the vestiges of discrimination. We’ve made enormous strides, but you’re going to continue to see this percolate up every so often. I think we need to steady and clear in announcing it and teaching our children differently.”
Michael Jordan commented: I look at this from two perspectives – as a current owner and a former player. As an owner, I’m obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views. I’m confident that Adam Silver will make a full investigation and take appropriate action quickly. As a former player, I’m completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA – or anywhere else – for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed.
And Magic Johnson commented: “[The NBA Commissioner]‘s gotta come down hard. [Donald Sterling] shouldn’t own a team. [Sterling] should stand up and say ‘I don’t want to own a team.’ Especially when you have African Americans that are in his apartments, coming to the games and playing for him… and coaching for him.”
Meanwhile, Sterling has yet to release a statement or apology.
