As a NBA fan since the Magic-Bird days, a sports fan in general, and a human being with enough brain to both notice and deplore racist filth when I see it -
I'm calling for a boycott of all Clipper television games until Sterling is punished.
While I continue to support African American athletes and other teams in the playoffs, I will not let a Clippers game be shown in my household. Additionally, I will purchase no NBA merchandise of any franchise as long as Sterling is an owner in the National Basketball Association.
I ask you to join me, as the NBA investigates the words and actions of a troubled man.
For more information on his numerous issues, old and new, follow me below the fold.
For those not caught up on the current fiasco, the place to be is this great dairy by FiredUpInCA.
As a taste, Sterling was caught on tape telling his African-Amerian and Mexican girlfriend (yes, he's married) that she could sleep with black people - but she couldn't bring them to games and shouldn't admit on social media to keeping their company.
From ESPN, a Sterling quote:
"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?" the man believed to be Sterling says. He continues, "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."
But that is just the tip of the iceberg. As further reason to distance consumers from the Clippers and a racially ignorant owner, he has a long history of similarly distasteful actions - not just words. The diary above has great links and context. I'll share a few brief quotes as further justification for keeping this guy's product out of our living rooms and lives.
Deadspin, quoting another ESPN article not online about Sterling's view of tenants in apartments he owned:
"JUST EVICT THE BITCH." It was 2002, and Donald Sterling was talking to Sumner Davenport, one of his four top property supervisors, about a tenant at the Ardmore Apartments. Already the largest landowner in Beverly Hills, Sterling had recently acquired the Ardmore as part of his move to extend his real estate empire eastward toward Koreatown and downtown LA. As he did, Sterling "wanted tenants that fit his image," according to testimony Davenport gave in a discrimination lawsuit brought against Sterling in 2003 by 19 tenants and the nonprofit Housing Rights Center.
Cultivating his image, Davenport said, meant no blacks, no Mexican-Americans, no children (whom Sterling called "brats") and no government-housing-subsidy recipients as tenants.
snip
When Sterling first bought the Ardmore, he remarked on its odor to Davenport. "That's because of all the blacks in this building, they smell, they're not clean," he said, according to Davenport's testimony. "And it's because of all of the Mexicans that just sit around and smoke and drink all day."
He caught legal trouble for it, too. Multiple times. One suit lead to a settlement amongst the largest ever for housing discrimination and mostly crickets from the media, as
Bomani Jones explained at the outset of a new set of charges here:
Sterling was sued by the Department of Justice on Monday for housing discrimination. Though Sterling has no problem paying black people millions of dollars to play basketball, the feds allege that he refused to rent apartments in Beverly Hills and Koreatown to black people and people with children.
snip
What's even more disturbing? Sterling was sued for housing discrimination by 19 plaintiffs in 2003, according to The Associated Press. In this case, Sterling was accused of trying to drive blacks and Latinos out of buildings he owned in Koreatown. In November, Sterling was ordered to pay a massive settlement in that case. Terms were not disclosed, but the presiding judge said this was "one of the largest" settlements ever in this sort of matter. The tip of the iceberg: Sterling had to play $5 million just for the plaintiffs' attorney fees.
And the coup de grace? Neither that case, nor the more recent one, has qualified as big news.
Lets make it news now and make sure Donald Sterling pays for all of this appropriately, publicly and in the only place he'll notice: his wallet.
I know there are many old rich racist white men of great power in this country and some folks wish to let them be, just let them die off. I prefer to make examples of them, reminding folks what happens in a marketplace when your views are so ugly no one wants to be associated with you or your product. Donald Sterling seems damn deserving.
Let the Clippers, the NBA, and the associated LA area organizations know about your decision. Thanks for reminding Don Sterling we have no room for his hate.
Here are some links, numbers, and addresses to help:
Los Angeles Clippers
Staples Center
1111 S. Figueroa St. Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA, 90015
(213) 742-7500
Facebook
Twitter
National Basketball Association
Email League Office
KFWB Flagship Radio for Clippers
kfwbcomments@kfwb.com
3:34 PM PT:
4:34 PM PT: Everyone Should Boycott Donald Sterling's Clippers, Including His Own Team
The other NBA owners should be on notice: You have until the Clippers either get knocked out of the playoffs or until they win the title to make a move on Sterling.
After that, the move should come from those who can make the loudest statement.
A barren arena, vacant locker room and empty bench would do just that. After all, that's what Sterling deserves.