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Tag: sterling

  • Redskins Name: Harry Reid Wants NFL to Follow in NBA’s Footsteps, Ban Racist Name

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is making headlines for talking about racism again, but this time it has nothing to do with Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy. Instead, Reid says that the NFL should follow in the NBA’s footsteps and ban racism–this would include the Washington Redskins name, which Reid has long deemed racist.

    After audio of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racist rant made waves, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a lifetime ban for Sterling. In addition to the ban, Sterling also faces a $2.5 million fine and will be forced to sell his team.

    While some people have questioned whether Silver should be allowed to ban Sterling and force him to sell his team for comments he made in private, others are applauding Silver’s move because they believe it shows that no racism will be tolerated in the NBA. Senator Reid discussed his support for Silver’s decision and said that the NFL should do the same, particularly where the Washington Redskins name is concerned.

    “Commissioner Silver and the NBA leadership have set the standard for how professional sports organization should act in the face of racism,” Reid said. “How long will the NFL continue to do nothing, zero, as one of its teams bears the name that inflicts so much pain for Native Americans.”

    “It is untoward of Daniel Snyder to try to hide behind tradition,” Reid continued. “Tradition? That’s what he says in refusing to change the name of the team. Tradition? What tradition? A tradition of racism is all that name leaves in its wake…Since Snyder fails to show any leadership, the National Football League should take an assist from the NBA and pick up the slack. It would be a slam dunk.”

    Reid is hardly the first politician to say that the Redskins name should be changed. In fact, it was just last October that President Barack Obama encouraged Redskins owner Dan Snyder to change the team name to something less racially offensive. Snyder hasn’t responded to Reid’s claim that the Redskins name is racist, but Snyder said last October that he had no intentions of changing the name.

    Do you think that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should ban the Washington Redskins name, or do you think that there is no comparison between Sterling’s comments and the Redskins name?

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  • Donald Sterling’s Racist Remarks: The World Reacts

    According to an alleged recording of LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling, Sterling does not like black people. He was overheard telling his girlfriend not to invite them to his games or post photos of them on Instagram.

    On the recording, Sterling was having an argument with his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, who is half black and half Mexican. Stiviano often posts photos of herself and various athletes on Instagram. Some of her most recent posts include photos of her and Magic Johnson.

    Sterling appeared to be angry at these posts and is overheard saying,

    “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?”

    Stiviano replied that she took the photos because she admires Johnson and Sterling continued to make racist remarks about Johnson and other African Americans.

    His comments were not taken lightly and many people have spoken out about them with disgust, including Michael Jordan.

    “I look at this from two perspectives – as a current owner and a former player. As an owner, I’m obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views. I’m confident that Adam Silver will make a full investigation and take appropriate action quickly. As a former player, I’m completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA – or anywhere else – for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed…. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level,” said Jordan.

    President Obama was also deeply offended by Sterling’s comments and released a statement about them saying,

    “When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk.”

    Sterling’s team, the LA Clippers were also very hurt and angry by his racist remarks and wore their shooting shirts and practice jerseys inside-out before their playoff game as a form of protest. They also tossed their warm up jackets with the team name on them in the center of the court.

    The NBA is currently investigating the tapes and has not said if or how they plan to punish Sterling if the tapes are determined to be authentic.

    “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,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

    What do you think of Sterling’s racist remarks?

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