The Los Angeles Clippers’ star point guard, Chris Paul, issued a statement Saturday reacting to reports of racist comments made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Paul, who is also the president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), called the comments a “very serious issue which we will address aggressively.”
“On behalf of the National Basketball Players Association, this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively,” Paul said in a statement issued through the players’ association. “We have asked Mayor Kevin Johnson to expand his responsibilities with the NBPA, to determine our response and our next steps. As players, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and a drive to the Finals.”
Johnson, the former NBA All-Star and current mayor of Sacramento, Calif., said in his own statement that he would be leading the players’ association in “addressing the implications of this serious matter.” Johnson just recently agreed to help lead the association’s search for a new executive director.
“The reported comments made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling are reprehensible and unacceptable,” Johnson said in his statement. “The National Basketball Players Association must and will play a very active role in determining how this issue is addressed. There needs to be an immediate investigation and if the reports are true, there needs to be strong and swift action taken. I have spoken with NBPA President Chris Paul and will be leading the NBPA in addressing the implications of this serious matter. I will be formally reaching out to the NBA today to determine our next steps. While I originally came on to lead the Executive Director search, this issue requires immediate attention from the Players Association. I will be keeping Chris Paul, the Executive Committee, and all player representatives informed of every step.”
There are thirty-somethings and twenty-somethings who do not stay glued to cable news and who have little idea of the TeaBagg Right, people like the Koch brothers or the role race has played in the strength of the Republican Party and its malevolent reign of Obstruction.
Or have any idea about the importance of things like voting.
But this incident, played out in the heart of pop culture–the NBA, of all things–will eventually lead people to Bundy, Baggers and Boehner…and what has been happening since Barack Obama became President.
Sterling’s “foot-in-mouth” has certainly energized trendy personalities who heretofore have been strangely silent on the tsunami of outright racism and xenophobia (the Southern Poverty Law Center has chronicled an exponential rise in Hate groups since 2009) since the election of Barack Obama.
Thanks, Mr. STERLING.
I may be guilty of a sort of pun, but this irony is better than the “Twilight Zone” (brought to us by Rod SERLING)
One can only hope that Donald Sterling will play the victim card properly, like a true one percenter. Not only were his comments taken out of context, but white people are being enslaved by the federal government anyway, just like Rosa Parks was. If things keep going like this it will be the Kristallnacht for him and other job creators. You just don’t realize how disrespectful you are being to MLK when you don’t speak the truth to your negro girlfriend. Of course she can sleep with other blacks! But the Clippers belong to him, it’s private property, he’s the king of the castle. He’s got all the money, case closed. God intended women to respect their owners wishes. Women and blacks are better off that way than on street corners getting abortions and going to jail. Just tell it like it is.
I hope some serious action against Massa Sterling comes out of this, his latest, outrage; but he has paid a lot of money over the years to successfully sweep such problems under his rug.
Heretofore, the NBA commissioner and owners have looked the other way. A small fine or a call for an apology, while unprecedented moves by the NBA against Sterling, would only add to the outrage. I wish they would force him to sell the team, but I doubt they will.
A promise by the commissioner and other owners to not boycott Clipper players/coaches/management for what they may say or do against Sterling would be a big deal, since basketball is their livelihood.
threadjump
…how about a reverse boycott?
flashmob his games with a public expression of overwhelming support for the team and a big middle finger for the boss.
…everyone wear “FDon” t-shirts and/or carry big foam middle finger #1’s with his name on them.
Hey, it could happen…
For the win!!!