Date: 30 April 2014
Time: 3:01 PM ET
Mood: Little hot due to some soup
The National Basketball League, or the NBA, has always been a past time when it comes to American sports. Especially in my family, that is. Reigning from Boston, MA, my family has fond memories growing up watching legends like Larry Bird, Bill Russell, John Havlechick, and the rest of the Boston Celtics hit the court every night and (surprisingly) consistently make it to the NBA Finals (usually against the Los Angeles Lakers, which always promised a really good series!) Even now, I was blessed to be able to witness a championship of our in this last decade, the Celtics being led by Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnet, and Ray Allen in 2008. However, this entry isn't about the success that my home team has been able to have in the last few generations, but rather about an urking series of events that have unfolded over the last few days. That, of course, is centered around the actions of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
Daily Music - "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol
If you don't know much about this man, Donald Sterling owns the Clippers, meaning he has a saying over the players, the teams transactions, how the games are going to be marketed, etc. etc. He claimed ownership of the team in 1981 when he bought out the organization for $12.5 million, and today it's estimated that the organization is now worth over $575 million. As of this year, he had the longest running ownership of a team, stretching to over 33 years heading the club. However, due to some recent indecencies of his, that reign has abruptly been cut short. A scandal has been surfaced by the media due to the audio submission by an anonymous source to TLZ that has Sterling making private racist remarks to his girlfriend Vanessa Stiviano against the African American community, as well as towards basketball legend Magic Johnson. After seeing a picture of his girlfiend with Magic Johnson on Instagram, he was recorded saying this: "Don't put him [Magic] onto Instagram for the whole world to have to see so they have to call me. And don't bring him into my games, okay? You can sleep with him, 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." Stiviano responded back with "do you know that you have a whole team that's black that plays for you?," with Sterling retorting with "You just - do I know? I support them and give them food and clothes, and cars, and houses." People have also thought that Stiviano was leading Sterling with some of these questions as she goes on to ask "But shouldn't we take a stand for what's wrong? And be the change and the difference?" Sterling then responds saying "I don't want to change the culture, because I can't." Donald Sterling's lawyers released a statement declaring that 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."
Daily Comic - "Shakespeare" by Wulff & Morgenthaler of WuMo
The other day Adam Silver, the newly elected reigning commissioner of the NBA, after collecting and looking over all viable evidence, took to the news to give his ultimatum. By his decision, Donald Sterling has been banned for life from the NBA, meaning he is unable to be involved with any HQ matters, ownership delegations, and even the ability to go to basketball games for entertainment. Silver also dished out a $2.5 million fine against the LA Clippers owner - the highest fine allowed under the NBA constitution, as well as it being the first time in NBA history that this huge of an ultimatum has been declared for an NBA owner. This money will then be going to organizations dedicated antidiscrimination and tolerance efforts jointly selected by the NBA and the players association.. Silver has also vowed in putting in all his efforts to get Sterling to sell ownership of the Clippers to another viable suitor, which can only be done if three-quarters of the board incorporating the league's 30 owners vote for this.
Daily Video - "Art With Salt - The Joker" by artist bashirsultani
The Los Angeles Clippers players have responded with just as much force. As they are in the midst of a playoff push against the Golden State Warriors, right before their game during warm ups they went to center court and removed their logoed warm ups, threw them all together in a heap center court, and revealed them all wearing their shirts with the Clippers logo on it inside out. They also all wore black sweatbands, black arm guards, and black sacks, most likely representing a sense of unity within the team. They went on to lose that game, but the following game at home they ended up winning, commandeering a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6.
What do you think of this whole fiasco? Do you think that Silver's punishment was righteous? Do you think that it was alright that Sterling's private matters were recorded and put into the open? Do you think that Sterling should lose his organization due to his racist remarks? Comment below as I'd love to hear and discuss with you what you have to say about this topic
‡ As always, the "Daily Bloggity" is self written by myself and includes just some of my opinions on different mediums. If you have a subject that you might want me to touch on, feel free to PM me or comment below! I would love to hear some of your ideas! Tune in tomorrow at 5PM Eastern Time for the next edition of the "Daily Bloggity!" Cheers! ‡
- elheroeoscuro
