The Owner of the L.A. Clippers Got Busted for Racist Comments
DONALD STERLING has been the owner of the NBA’s L.A. Clippers for over 30 years, and he’s in the middle of a HUGE controversy right now, after his girlfriend leaked tapes that prove he’s a GIGANTIC RACIST.
Sterling has been married for 57 years, but he and his wife Rochelle are estranged . . . and she says he’s been having an affair for four years. The girlfriend has been identified as “V. Stiviano.”
Sterling’s wife is white . . . but the girlfriend is in her 20s, and identifies herself as part-Mexican, part-African American. And that’s important because Sterling doesn’t seem to like black people that much.
In the leaked tapes, Sterling rips Stiviano for posting a photo on Instagram with MAGIC JOHNSON . . . because, he says, quote, “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people . . .
“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 . . .
“In your lousy [effing] Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people. Don’t put [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.”
In another clip, Stiviano says, quote, “Do you know that you have a whole team that’s black, that plays for you?” And Sterling responds, quote, “I support them and give them food, and clothes, and cars, and houses. Who gives it to them?
“Does someone else give it to them? Do I know that I have . . . who makes the game? Do I make the game, or do they make the game? Is there 30 owners, that created the league?”
Sterling also objects when Stiviano points out that he’s Jewish, and compares his attitude toward black people to the Holocaust.
So-called “sources” claim this full conversation was about an hour long, and that Sterling knew he was being recorded. Supposedly, the girlfriend always taped their conversations . . . because she serves as his, quote, “archivist.” (???)
In the tapes, Stiviano clearly seems to be provoking Sterling . . . which could have something to do with the fact that Sterling’s wife is SUING her, for allegedly embezzling $1.8 million from Sterling. Stiviano claims everything she got from Sterling was a GIFT.
The Clippers are in the middle of a first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors won yesterday, to tie the series at two games apiece. Not surprisingly, Sterling didn’t go to the game.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Sterling’s comments were, quote, “truly offensive and disturbing.” He said the league has launched an investigation into this. (Here’s video of his comments.)
Do you feel the team should use this opportunity to make a stand? Stage a bigger protest? Or do you think they should focus on their dream of grabbing a championship and not allowing the owner to take away their moment?