This is totally not a trap and purely a thread for a free exchange of ideas about the Clippers owner and his recent comments.

Who will defend the racist first?

Me!! The guy thought he was having a private conversation. Does anyone believe that almost every other owner in the NBA, NHL, NFL or MLB has not said worse in private? Difference is he got caught. Also is the NAACP in the habit of giving lifetime achievment awards to racists?

All of his lefty friends?

Racists that pay them off? Apparently so.

Kinda hate the whole "Here's a topic where we can bait racists in to being racists". Not to be well... me- but do we really want to functionally ecourage hate speak. It's not even like we're going to expose new racists (the SE thread's doing a good job of that).

Also Sterling fired a white coach with the best record and longest winning streak in franchise history and gave his multimillion dollar job to a black coach. Why would a racist do that?

The same reason he doesnt call every black person he sees the n word.

Also because the best coach in Clippers history is still prob a **** coach.

You're not a racist unless you are actively trying to lynch all the blacks all the time.

Y U chain me bro?

The world isn't as simple as you.

That certainly isn't an answer. You call me simple because I want to debate? Is that hate speech? Sorry for not just joining the mob and piling on.

Here's an easier question. Do you believe that almost all owners of sports franchises have made similar or worse remarks in private?

Almost all owners? For sure not.

I almost started this thread because it's been such a hot news topic, but then I thought to myself "Meh, this guy already has such a huge track record of being a racist that this is not really that interesting except to people who don't follow sports" and yet, 10 posts in and we've already got:

-"Every owner of a sports team is racist, he was just the only one dumb enough to get caught (repeatedly)!" So if none of the others have been caught, what exactly are you basing this on? Are we just saying "Well, lots of old white people are racists, and lots of sports team owners are old white guys, therefore team owners are all racist?" Like just speculating that people say worse things in private is among the most ridiculous defenses of someone's behavior that I've ever heard.

-"He can't be racist, he hired a black coach!" Lest we forget he employees quite a few black players on his team and has a track record of treating them like they are his property and he is doing them some huge favor rather than treating them like fairly compensate employees. But yeah a true racist would employee a white-only staff, good call.

Anyway gotta agree with Dids on this one, nothing interesting to see here and just baiting people into making ridiculous arguments.

Presumably part of the reason that Clive Bundy is a racist is that he's lived in the rural West for his whole life with little or no exposure to black people and black culture. It doesn't excuse it, but it's sort of understandable.

I'm not sure how much time an NBA owner actually spends with his employees, but I find it amazing that somebody who's been actively involved in professional basketball for the past 30 years could still be a huge racist.

You have too much faith in your fellow man. You really believe all these old wealthy white guys don't say offensive things about minorities in private?

Yes. You are projecting too much.

Every NBA owner has, at one time or another, called Magic Johnson the n word

I can think of few things I'd like more than to post my thoughts ITT. But I can't, because I'll get banned.

If you're feeling oppressed here, there's a thread in Sporting Events for you.

I do not believe that. I have very little experience with billionaires but in my experience with people not that many have said stuff like that. Those who have, I remember.

If you believe billionaires are that universally racist, how rigged does that make the country? The man is humiliated by a photo with Magic Johnson. He's not making race neutral hiring decisions.

If I believed that all billionaires were as racist as Sterling I would support mandatory affirmative action quotas in all private and public businesses.

It's unchained, I think you're safe. Silverman isn't even banned.

I think you may have set a new forum record for whining.

This is just dumb....

imo there's only one interesting thing about this story.

Sterling was sued by his (black) GM for running a "plantation" type organization. he also paid the largest ever fine for violating the federal law that says you can't discriminate against tenants on the basis of race, because he discriminated against minorities in the slums...err...buildings he owns. apparently every1 close to the NBA knew this guy was a racist for a long time.

lets say his girlfriend didn't press send and instead destroyed the tape of him being a racist, then the Clippers won the NBA title (use your imagination). every one of his black players would have said what a great owner he is. his black coach would have thanked him for being such a great guy to work for.

the LA chapter of the NAACP would have followed through on giving him (remember any1 who cared to look would have known he's a racist) their Lifetime Achievement award.

the NBA is going to run him out saying how appalled they are at his conduct not because he's a racist; they already knew that. they'll force him out because his racism, that they tolerated for so long, is now a public embarrassment.