THAT'S THE WAY THE BALL BOUNCES

Sterling and his girl toy-I'm sure his money has nothing to do with her attraction

Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling went on a racist rant during an argument with his girlfriend, who promptly put it out for public consumption.

Sterling expressed frustration that his girlfriend associated with "minorities" in public and said he didn't approve of her posting pictures online via Instagram. 

The recording is unsurprisingly garnering plenty of attention.

Interestingly enough, his girlfriend IS a minority, so he does not want to associate with minorities unless he happens to be cheating on his wife with one.

On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith called on the NBA and the owners to kick Sterling out of their organization.

An enraged Stephen A. Smith....but he'll still cover the Clippers

The NBA probably does not have the authority to do that, and while they are “investigating” the matter and have scheduled a press conference for tomorrow (April 29), the statements by owners and players condemning Sterling’s behavior are the strongest action the league should take.

Interesting that the two prior lawsuits against Sterling regarding racist practices as a landlord and racism as a team executive, both settled out of court, never raused the ire of the league.

Funny thing, freedom. Sterling has every right to be a racist. 

That’s what America used to be-a country where the right for someone to act in a way that is reprehensible to most was a right that was guarded.

Smith also expressed outrage that the NAACP had planned to award Sterling a second lifetime achievement award next month, accusing them of ‘selling out.’

He also called for fans to stop criticizing the players (who are under contract), and for them to take action on their own, implying that they boycott the team.

Skip brought up the prior racist behavior-but I disagree that boycotting the team
and risking an NBA title is a bad approach-I think it is the ONLY approach

When Skip Bayless objected to this on the grounds that the Clippers had a good chance of winning the NBA title, Smith backpedaled.

Cari Champion, First Take's moderator, did not
get quoted-I just think she's really cute and wanted
to post her picture!

And there you have the level of commitment to beliefs in America.

Skip and Stephen, when you place an NBA title above principles, you’ve sold out. 

You are doing exactly what you called the NAACP on the carpet for.

I’d go further to say that if the players on the Clipper’s roster feel offended by Sterling’s comments to the point they want him gone as owner, they should not dress for tomorrow’s game. 

With a title on the line, now is the BEST time for players and fans to act to effect an ownership change.

The Clippers players also made their sentiments known yesterday. 

They came out for pregame and immediately discarded their team warmups into a pile on the court, wearing plain red shirts and pants during shootaround. 

They went on to turn in a lackluster performance, losing 118-97 to the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the Western Conference playoffs.

A good start. 

To not play at all would be a stronger action.

For the Warriors to sit down as well would make me STAND UP AND CHEER!

Smith raised the argument that the players were under contract.

Bullshit.

When a player under contract sits because he wants to renegotiate his deal, Smith is all for that behavior, saying the player deserves to ‘get paid.’

If that argument holds water for financial reasons, how can it not hold water when fighting racism?

What will happen to the value of the franchise if no one will play and no one will watch?

Magic Johnson was quoted as saying he’d “never attend a Clipper’s game for as long as Sterling owns the team.”

That’s a step in the right direction. 

You just need every seat in the arena to be empty.

During the nineteenth century, there were some slaves who risked EVERYTHING to escape their bondage. 

Some died, some made it to the north.

Many others waited for Lincoln free them.

I am not condemning those who did not take the risk-I do not know what I would have done given the same circumstances. 

But had emancipation not happened for another two centuries, the descendants of those people who played it safe would still be waiting for someone to free them.

Those who risked everything would have descendants who were free.

In every revolution, you need to risk something. Or you can wait for someone to do it for you (the New American Way). 

Los Angeles, if you want Donald Sterling out of your lives, maybe you need to be willing to give up that NBA title.

If Los Angeles places the value of one basketball season against their belief that Sterling’s behavior is wrong, then I believe he should be allowed to keep the team.

If the behavior is not offensive enough for the people of Los Angeles to act on their own behalf, it is obviously not offensive enough behavior to warrant punishment.

The league can condemn his behavior, and they may call for him to step down. I can see them suspending him, for whatever good that will do.

I believe any formal action to remove him as owner would be met with a legal reaction on his part, and I believe he would have the law on his side.

I believe Sterling has a right to his opinion.

I also believe America has a right to choose not to follow the Clippers or to buy products from corporations who sponsor the team while he is the owner.

Sponsors like CarMax, Kia Motors, State Farm and Virgin America have already begun to rethink their alliance with the team.

Maybe you should rethink drinking Sprite, Budweiser and Gatorade, all sponsors of the NBA. How about the concessions in Staples Center? 

You see, what I believe most of all is that America has lost the ability to stand for something.

And this would be a perfect time to put that to the test.

Devil In A Blue Dress

I believe his girlfriend deserves what she gets, too.

She knew he was married and slept with him anyway.

She knew he was a racist ass and slept with him anyway. 

And I am sure that her making their private conversation public was not accidental.

I am guessing that size mattered to her-the size of his bank account. 



Afterword-While the theme of this post may seem a little off-topic, I have decided to suspend my sports-themed blog, and will post topics here that I feel strongly about.

This post is less about a basketball owner and more about people taking action for themselves rather than waiting for Big Brother to do it.

Although, I expect that our President will issue an executive order taking the Clippers away from Sterling and giving them to the tramp in the blue dress.