Public opinion and the NBA

Sterling Banned from the NBA over private racist comments??? Say What?

While it’s not an excuse, he is an old man. He was probably raised steeped in racism.

When we discuss a kid who carjacks someone amid a hail of gunfire, we say “The poor kid. He’s a product of his environment.”

However when a rich white man makes comments in private we refuse to see that he is as much a product of his environment as the carjacking kid. What’s the difference? The white guy is supposed to know better?

When these events become public we demand punishment, we deprive the rich man of income, we sanction him, and force him to sell his property (in this case a franchise).

Hell I remember separate water fountains, bathrooms, and diner counters that were off limits to any person of color. I’m 30 some odd years younger than Mr Sterling. There’s that old hackneyed saying about Old dogs & new tricks. Perhaps that’s a bit true.

I’m not suggesting that what  he said was acceptable.

The violation of his privacy was, to my mind more unacceptable. The news media running with the story, ginning up anger and public outcry is flat out wrong.

The players and the team should be thankful that Sterling isn’t a scorched earth kind of guy.

He can’t do it now, but at the outset of all this insanity he could have fired the Clippers staff, then he could have fired the players. Effectively killing the team before the NBA had a chance to step in.

I don’t follow basketball. I honestly don’t enjoy it and don’t see the point. The after game interviews are nonsensical and I’ve got better things to do with my time.

What caught my attention was the manner in which everything came crashing down on Mr. Sterling.  How many federal cases has he been involved in over racist behavior? You know, refusing to rent to non-white people because they weren’t white?

Only NOW because a private conversation was publicized has the NBA decided it was important to punish this guy?

It wasn’t about him actually being demonstrably racist in a public venue.

It was about him being perceived as racist.

If this is becomes the norm, we’re seriously screwed because this heralds the death of free speech.