It’s a shame that in the middle of one of the most exciting weeks of basketball in recent memory, the NBA was sidetracked by perhaps one of the most embarrassing incidents in the league’s long history:
In a recording of an alleged exchange between Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling and his girlfriend, he told her not to bring black people to games with her, and criticized her for posting an Instagram picture of herself and Magic Johnson.
The recording was posted by TMZ on Friday, and has created a media firestorm.
The response has targeted Sterling, long considered one of the worst owners in professional sports for both his personal life and his frugal ownership of the Clippers, comes at the worst possible time for the league: in the middle of the best first round of the NBA playoffs ever; that includes the Clippers, who are having one of the best seasons in franchise history.
But the spotlight has been moved off the court, and on to racially insensitive remarks purportedly made by an owner. If it is proven that Sterling’s voice is indeed the voice on the recording, he absolutely needs to be quickly suspended, and more importantly, barred from owning a team in the NBA.
But that proof must be shown before action is taken.
NBA league commissioner Adam Silver held a press conference on the controversy Saturday night, and rightly said it would fully investigate the matter and afford Sterling due process before taking action. It’s a measured approach that’s much needed. It’s best to actually corroborate that it is, in fact, Sterling on the tape before branding him a racist and suspending him.
Sterling does have a past in these kinds of matters: The U.S. Department of Justice has twice sued Sterling, a real estate magnate, for housing discrimination, with Sterling agreeing to pay $2.73 million in a settlement; and in 2009, he was sued by longtime Clippers executive Elgin Baylor for employment discrimination on the basis of age and race.
That provides a clear history of behavior that coincided with what is said in the released recording, but doesn’t conclusively prove that Sterling is the voice on this tape. Complicating matters, the girlfriend, V. Stiviano, is currently being sued by Sterling’s estranged wife for embezzlement and, in the actual words of the lawsuit, for being a “gold digger.”
Stiviano told Mr. Sterling that she would “get even.” Does that mean she would alter or completely make up a tape, and release it exactly when it would hurt Sterling most, in the middle of the Clippers’ playoff run? Perhaps.
Considering that TMZ isn’t exactly the most scrupulous or trustworthy source, Silver is right to tread carefully and do his due diligence before coming down with a hammer on the longest-tenured owner in his league.
But that doesn’t mean Sterling hasn’t already been judged by many, not the least by several NBA players past and present ”“ including Johnson and reigning MVP LeBron James ”“ as well as several prominent people outside of basketball, including even President Barack Obama.
The furor has included calls for boycotts ”“ including some calling for the Clippers, whose players have been put in the toughest of tough spots, not to play Sunday’s scheduled game against the Golden State Warriors ”“ and for a more general player revolt if the league comes up with a conclusion, or punishment, that isn’t deemed acceptable. Considering that Sterling could use his considerable resources and power to fight any move by the NBA to force him out ”“ and the fact that a recording made without a party’s knowledge would be inadmissible in court in California ”“ it’s a move that may not be feasible or even legal.
Unfortunately, that in turn puts tremendous pressure on Silver, who only took over the job in February and who some have unfairly said is dragging his feet on this issue, even though it only sprung up late Friday.
Many of those same people are saying how he handles this issue will likely define his tenure, which isn’t so ridiculous. The NBA is one of the most culturally diverse leagues in the world, with more than 80 percent of its players people of color and more than three-quarters black. More than 40 percent of the coaches are black as well.
Twelve of the Clippers’ 14 players are black, as is their coach, Doc Rivers.
If possible, that makes Sterling’s alleged comments even more disturbing, and the calls for his head even louder. And if Silver isn’t able to dole out the punishment that these players want, it’s possible that, fairly or unfairly, he’ll never have the players’ trust again.
Silver has said he wants a resolution on the matter before the Clippers’ game at home against the Warriors on Tuesday night, as Sterling regularly sits courtside at Clippers home games. If it’s proven that Sterling is the voice on the released tape, a result that seems likely given his past, then Sterling should never be in those courtside seats, or an owners’ meeting, ever again.
But in a society that prides itself on the tenet of innocent until proven guilty, we must give Silver and the NBA time to investigate, Sterling time to defend himself, and for the league to decide just what any punishment should be. The one thing that we do know is it’s a mess and a major blemish for the NBA at a time when the on-court action has never been better. And that could end up being the biggest shame of all.
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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Writer Cameron Dunbar on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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