(Harsh language alert in Snoop Dogg video)
Yesterday, our own FiredUpInCA brought up the shocking and disgusting news of Donald Sterling's racist rant in UPDATED: Clippers Owner: 'You can sleep with them, just don't bring blacks to my games.' FiredUp's post is still on the Top Rec list and with its many updates still the best account of what happened through about 2:10 p.m. yesterday when FiredUp had to go to work and Rivers countered a team boycott suggestion to rally the team to play for fans and themselves.
This post is meant to bring you up to date with what has happened over night. Brace yourself for a dichotomy of reactions, some of which are raw and harsh, others, like the statement by the NBA might annoy our even anger you with their equivication. The ones here by Snoop Dogg and Lebron James are moving and cathartic.
Young at heart, Donald Sterling, with great granddaughters...oops I mean girlfriend V. Stiviano and friend.
Ex-wife Shelly Sterling thinks V Stiviano is a gold digger who plays "old men for their money" in her lawsuit accusing Stiviano of embezzling $1.8 from Donald Sterling that should go to her instead.
The NBA calls it the "alleged" racist rant, because Sterlilng has apologized for "whatever it was he said that might have been misconstrued." His girlfriend will not cooperate with the NBA investigation because she is being sued by Sterling's wife who accuses her of being a "gold-digger who has embezzled $1.8 million from Donald which should be going to the wife instead. Did I mention this story has the risk of getting sordid and seedy? The NBA says it is investigating the "alleged remarks" and trying to authenticate them but wishes to give Sterling "due process."
Lebron James demanded that the NBA "separate" Sterling from his ownership position (see below), Snoop Dogg ripped Sterling for being a "racist piece of shit." After Magic Johnson said he would never go to a Clippers game while Sterling owns them, and some players murmured about a possible boycott, Doc Rivers countered saying the players and fans should not be punished so the team will play tonight, and perform some kind of a symbolic protest. Donald Sterling has agreed not to show up.
The NBA is promising its investigation will be quick and action taken within days. President Obama's statement said when people are as ignorant as Sterling one really doesn't need to say anything. Basketball experts doubt the NBA has the legal power to force Sterling to give up ownership of his team. Instead they expect a fine and perhaps a suspension of as long as a year.
Clipper's owner Donald Sterling in firestorm over alleged racist remarks reports the escalation of anger and calls for his suspension and even for his removal from the NBA and his ownership position of the clippers by a broad range of players, political leaders and other celebrities.
Doc Rivers: Sports Illustrated
Clippers Coach Doc Rivers was visibly angry at the recording's content and the distraction it caused. ... "I think the biggest statement we can make as men — not as black men, as men — is to stick together and show how strong we are as a group, not splinter, not walk," Rivers said. "It's easy to protest. The protest will be in our play."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters in Memphis, Tenn., the remarks were "truly offensive and disturbing" and said the league intended to conduct an investigation into the recording's authenticity that would "move extraordinarily quickly," possibly concluding in the next few days. Silver said Sterling would not attend Sunday's game at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Silver would not comment what action the league would take if an investigation establishes Sterling made the comment. But it could include a hefty fine or suspension. A demand that he sell the team is unlikely.
Morgan Whitaker of MSNBC NBA investigating racist comments allegedly from Clippers owner Donald Sterling
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the audio recording Saturday evening, saying, “All members of the NBA family should be afforded due process and a fair opportunity to present their side of any controversy, which is why I’m not yet prepared to discuss any potential sanctions against Donald Sterling.”
Silver announced that Sterling would not attend the Clippers’ game Sunday against the Golden State Warriors and said the NBA hopes to have the investigation into the tape “wrapped up in the next few days.”
NBC News has not been able to authenticate the nearly 10-minute-long audio recording. A man TMZ said was Sterling can be heard telling a woman the site said was his girlfriend that he’s bothered when she “broadcasts” that she is “associating with black people.”
Clippers President Andy Roeser issued a statement Saturday questioning the authenticity of the recording posted by TMZ and condemning the views expressed in it.
“We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered,” Roeser said in the statement. “We do know that the woman on the tape – who we believe released it to TMZ – is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would ‘get even.’”
He added: “Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life. He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them. He is also upset and apologizes for sentiments attributed to him about Earvin Johnson. He has long considered Magic a friend and has only the utmost respect and admiration for him–both in terms of who he is and what he has achieved. We are investigating this matter.”
Complete transcript of LeBron's response on Donald Sterling. So powerful. So raw. (Read to very last sentence)
What are your thoughts on Donald Sterling’s comments?
“If the reports are true, it’s unacceptable. It’s unacceptable in our league. It doesn’t matter if you’re white, black, Hispanic, whatever, all across the races. It’s unacceptable and as a commissioner in our league, they have to make a stand, and they have to be very aggressive with it. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but you just can’t have that in our league. We’re the model citizens of all sports around the world and because we’re the most recognizable, I mean, it figures. You see us all the time, you see our logos, you see our players, and for an owner to come out and say the things that he said, it’s very disrespectful, it’s very appalling and one of my best friends and dear friends plays on his team in Chris Paul and I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to him but I can only imagine what’s going through his head.”
How difficult would it be to play with that hanging over…
“I don’t know. I kind of waivered back and forth whether I would actually sit out. If our owner would come out and say the things that he said, I would really have to sit down with my teammates, talk to my family because at the end of the day, our family, and our teammates are way more important than that. Basketball is huge, obviously the playoffs have been unbelievable, and I hate the fact that something like this has to come out when the playoffs have been unbelievable and the game of basketball continues to grow, but there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league. There is no room for him.”
Does it make you angry?
“I’m not angry. Just disappointed more than anything. There is only 30 owners and 400-plus of us. For a player, I just think…I put my…I can only imagine if a player came out and said something of that stature what would happen to us as players. So, I believe in Adam [Silver], I believe in the NBA and they have to do something and do something very fast and quickly before this really gets out of hand. Like I said, there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league, man. There it is.”
Donald Sterling: Woman on Tape Won't Cooperate with NBA
The woman you hear talking to Donald Sterling during a taped conversation in which he makes racist remarks will NOT cooperate with the NBA Commissioner's investigation ... and we've learned her refusal has nothing to do with the tape.
A rep from the law office representing V. Stiviano tells TMZ ... they heard NBA Commissioner Adam Silver state his intention to interview Stiviano, but that's not going to happen right now. We're told her lawyer, Mac Nehorey, will not allow her to answer questions about pending litigation against his client filed by Sterling's estranged wife.
Shelly Sterling claims in her lawsuit Stiviano embezzled $1.8 million by scheming to get as much as she could from an old man -- Donald Sterling. Stiviano claims everything she got was a gift.
Nehorey says her refusal to talk to the Commish has nothing to do with the audio tape ... he believes taking to Silver would get in the way of her defense in the lawsuit.
Apparently Stiviano's lawyer is saying Silver will have to agree to some major limitations in the questioning before his client would talk and is not going to happen anytime soon.
Snoop Dogg: BLASTS DONALD STERLING: 'You Racist Piece of S*t'
Snoop Dogg is going OFF on Donald Sterling ... blasting the L.A. Clippers owner for being a "racist piece of st" ... and it's all on video.
Snoop unloaded first thing this morning when he heard the audio posted by TMZ Sports for the first time -- dropping so many cuss words at Sterling ... that Richard Pryor would be proud.
Check out the clip ... Snoop calls Sterling "bitch-ass redneck, white bread, chicken st mother f**er."
But you gotta watch to fully grasp Snoop's outrage.
Clippers owner Donald Sterling apologizes for racist comments ‘attributed to him,’ receives backlash on Twitter
Al Sharpton:> NBA Should Take Clippers from Sterling
"No one should be allowed to own a team if they have in fact engaged in this kind of racial language."
Sharpton is calling for the league to make an investigation into Sterling its #1 priority -- adding, "We are prepared at National Action Network to rally in front of the NBA headquarters if this matter is not immediately dealt with."
TMZ Sports broke the story ... Sterling -- who owns the L.A. Clippers -- went off on his girlfriend for hanging out with black people in public and told her NOT to bring black people to his games.
Believe it or not, Donald Sterling scheduled to receive NAACP award amid controversy, by Thomas O’Toole
A May 15 banquet for the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People just became a lot more intriguing. The group is planning to honor Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling with a lifetime achievement award. This is the 100th anniversary of the L.A. chapter.
But in light of racist comments attributed to Sterling on a recording that surfaced on the TMZ website, the banquet plans might be changing.
L.A. mayor Eric Garcetti is also scheduled to be honored with a Person of the Year Award, as is the Rev. Al Sharpton. But, Yusef Robb, the mayor’s spokesman, told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday, “In light of recent events, we will be discussing the event with the Los Angeles NAACP.”
David Sterling is a conflicted mess.
David Sterling who lost a major lawsuit brought by the DOJ for discriminating against African Americans and Latinos, has a black and Latino girlfriend, while apparently remaining married to his wife, who sued this current girlfriend to return "all cash, land, expensive cars and other items that under California law are the community property of the Sterlings."
Then there's this excerpt from the the racial discrimination lawsuit from Hall of Famer and ex-Clippers' General Manager, Elgin Baylor.
"While ignoring my suggestions and isolating me from decisions customarily reserved for general managers, the Clippers attempted to place the blame for the team’s failures on me," Baylor said in the declaration. "During this same period, players Sam Cassell, Elton Brand and Corey Maggette complained to me that DONALD STERLING would bring women into the locker room after games, while the players were showering, and make comments such as, 'Look at those beautiful black bodies.' I brought this to Sterling’s attention, but he continued to bring women into the locker room."
Well, I hope this has been helpful. I agree with those who say Donald Sterling has no place in the NBA. It may be true that the NBA has no legal power to force Sterling to give up ownership, however, many other levers of influence exist if the collective will exists. The NBA can exert a lifetime suspension. All players, and coaches can refuse to meet with him. Fans can form a permanent protest in front of his house. And, if necessary, fans can boycott home games until such time as the financial losses mount to sufficient amounts that he realizes it is not worth it to defy the collective wishes of everyone else in the system.
7:08 AM PT: This post is smoking hot and takes ganja blogging" to new levels describing the flame war smoldering after Chris Christie slammed Colorado's poor quality-of-life. This post could be called The Revenge of the Editors of Denver Post Denver Post "smokes" Christie for his legalized pot 'snit,' tells him to "put this in your pipe!"
Please check this Daily Kos exclusive on Christie's new GanjaGate!
Micheal "Rip-their-eyes-out-and-light-em-up" Drewniak tries to explain highbrow New Jersey culture to poor rubes in Colorado.
(This is just the picture caption not the link to article.)
Denver Post "smokes" Christie for his legalized pot 'snit,' tells him to "put this in your pipe!"
(Link to post here)
7:53 AM PT: Due to a typo my second paragraph incorrectly summarized Shelly Sterling's accusation that V. Stiviano of having embezzled $38 million instead of $1.8. Corrected during a proofreading
9:46 AM PT: President Obama denounces Donald Sterling's "incredibly offensive racist remarks" from Malaysia
10:39 AM PT: New tape emerges, Extra four minutes. Donald Sterling goes one about the Jews as well.
Deadspin transcript of extra 4 minutes,, This tape leaves no doubt this fellow is sick.
11:11 AM PT: Don Sterling Won't Get An NAACP Award After All
WASHINGTON -- The NAACP's Los Angeles chapter has apparently reconsidered plans to give Don Sterling an award in the wake of the Clippers owner's racist rant.
"He is not receiving a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP," Lorraine Miller, NAACP interim vice president, said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Miller's comment came after host David Gregory had pressed Miller on the award. She first condemned Sterling's remarks, saying, "If you're silent about this, then you're accepting this, and people have got to say that this is not good and do something about it."