The Lede
Donald Sterling's racist comments just shows ugly side of sports
Yesterday was a tough day in sports. Racism became front page news all day, overshadowing another great day of NBA playoff basketball, when a tape that featured a conversation between Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling and his mistress girlfriend, V. Stiviano.
I won't dive into the whole story behind Sterling and Stiviano. TMZ has you all covered for that. But the brief summarization is this: Sterling had a heated argument with Stiviano, and didn't like that fact that she was "assciating with black people." He said that she could "sleep with [black people]," she could "bring them in," but "not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games."
Everybody in the NBA (well, not the Houston Rockets, for some reason), ESPN, and NBA on TNT, especially those of color, made their remarks on the situation, and they were all just a tamer approach to what Snoop Dogg said earlier in the day. If TV was uncensored, I'm sure someone like Barkley would have made himself really known.
Obviously, my opinion holds true with all of them. NBA commissioner Adam Silver will have to be swift and make a decision early this week about what to do. With the damning evidence and previous history with racism involving Sterling, he should receive a suspension for the rest of season, banning him from going to Clippers games and anywhere else in the NBA, and he should be forced out as the Clippers owner during the offseason. There's simply nothing he can do to repair his image now.
Unfortunately, that doesn't eliminate the racism that still exists in our world. Every day I'd like to think that racism isn't as big of a deal as it was the day before, that more people get it. But it's moving slower than it should be. Much of the older generation still feels uncomfortable around black people, and think they're just crazy-different from the rest of the world. That especially holds true with the older generation in the Midwest.
No, those same old people say the exact same things about younger people that aren't wearing suits and being a "normal" person. Just like they say blacks are loud and annoying, they'll say the same stupid things about a white guy that has a mohawk, tattoos all over the place, or plays role-playing games with their other nerd friends.
That old, stupid way of thinking still exists in sports, and it still exists with owners. It still exists with those that are running college football bowl games. In a way, just like inside Sterling's warped, pathetic mind, they thrive off of being an owner because that still gives them the advantage over black people. They're making money off of what these athletes are doing on the court.
It's like the modern-day version of slavery. Black people now make a lot of money and enjoy what they do, but these white owners still sit back in their luxury suite at games, watch them work, and rake in the money.
I would like to think most owners and those that run bowl games don't think that way. But unfortunately, some of them still do, and that's simply disgusting.
Sterling's actions proved that there's still a long way to go unfortunately. And hopefully the action taken against Sterling is stiff and strong, enough to get backwards-ass owners thinking a little bit differently.
Recap of my favorite teams from yesterday.
Today's Slate
Games that I'll be keeping an eye on today.
SOCCER - BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea 2, Liverpool 0
Man City 2, Crystal Palace 0 - 2nd Half on NBCS
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS - ROUND 1
Flyers at Rangers (Tied 2-2) - 11:00a NBC
Blues at Blackhawks (CHI 3-2) - 2:00 NBC
Ducks at Stars (ANA 3-2) - 7:00 NBCS
NBA PLAYOFFS - ROUND 1
Bulls at Wizards (WSH 2-1) - 12:00 ABC
Clippers at Warriors (LAC 2-1) - 2:30 ABC
Raptors at Nets (BKN 2-1) - 6:00 TNT
Rockets at Blazers (POR 2-1) - 8:30 TNT
MLB
Padres at Nationals - 12:35 FSSD/MASN2
-Indians at Giants - 3:05 STO/CSBA
Phillies at D'backs - 3:10 CSPA/FSAZ
Rockies at Dodgers - 3:10 RSRM/SNLA
LAX
ACC: Syracuse vs Notre Dame - 12:00 ESPNU
PL: Lehigh at Loyola - 12:00 CBSS
Bayhawks at Cannons - 12:00 LAXN
Rattlers at Lizards - 5:00 CBSS
CBB
Virginia at Florida St - 12:00 ESPN3
Kansas at Baylor - 1:00 FCS623
Oklahoma at Texas Tech - 2:00 FSSW
-Oklahoma St at Texas - 2:00 LHN
Oregon at Oregon St - 3:00 ESPNU
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