Engaging the culture by challenging the status quo
When folks faked blowing a mental gasket over Rush Limbaugh’s attempt to own a piece of a NFL team, the biggest reason thrown out there was because of “racist” comments he made in the past. Based on that, critics were also saying such a move would especially be hurtful to Black players and Black fans.
If that is the case, why does the same narrative not apply in the NBA?
(rollingout.com) In an era of sports when leagues are more than ever image-conscious, holding members accountable for their actions, the NBA is MIA – missing in action.
Last week Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling agreed to pay $2.73 million in a discrimination lawsuit settlement brought by the U.S. Department of Justice for refusing to rent apartments to African Americans and Hispanics.
Sterling, a real estate mogul, owns 119 properties with over 5,000 apartments in Los Angeles County. The settlement is the largest in U.S. history for housing discrimination.
NBA commissioner David Stern, the NBA and the NBA Players Association have been silent in response to the suit. To complicate matters, this is just one of several law suits against Sterling that involves racial discrimination, housing discrimination and even sexual harassment. (more…)
Hmmm! No talk of how the mostly Black players on the Clippers’ team felt hurt over Sterling’s off-court discrimination. In fact, they continue to play the game without a hitch. Fans still showing up. Not talk about how having a “racist” in the league will hurt the overall image of the game. Blogosphere seems to be taking it in stride. The NBA’s Players Association? No comment.
The Rush debacle was an example of the power of politics when mixed with race.
Race accusations: The official hot sauce for the political world.
Wanna take that ordinary political issue and make it into a hot button issue. Try “RACE”! It’s bursting with flavor and gives just the right amount of kick to any serving of everyday politics.
Supplies are endless.

5 Responses to Like I Said, It Had Nothing To Do With Racism
Andre
November 10th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
No argument there. I understand some of the opposition to Rush’s ownership bid. The league trying to maintain it’s image, teams being privately owned, Rush’s inflammatory comments, etc. But I’m sure that if you were to ever provide this juxtaposition, you’d get a collective “meh.”
I suppose if I had to put a finger on it, Rush’s fall from grace was when his incendiary remarks were pointed directly at certain players and the league itself. In a day in age where you can get fined five figures for declaring how much refs suck, it’s not likely that owners will allow other folks to get away with publicly dissing their “products” (translation: their players).
Terrence
November 10th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Informant I haven’t even heard this story in the news today. I’m kinda suprised to be honest. Maybe their are particulars to the case that you are looking over, for an owner to lose such a blatant lawsuit is unthinkable. Not to mention, the league is quiet as well as the players union. Sad…..The NBA’s league is weaker than the NFL, but I’m shocked this hasn’t made Espn or something……
But informant you continue to miss the point on your buddy Rush. It was the speaking out of the Players/Employee’s that made Rush purchasing a team a big deal. Now the million dollar question is why aren’t the NBA players taking the same Stand???? Not as empowered? Maybe not as concise? I’m not sure. But if this story is true, than it is in my opinion particularly aggregious on Mr. Sterling’s part & a more serious offense than anything that Rush has done….
Duane
November 10th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
This story has been on a few sports oriented websites and it could have been mentioned on ESPN. But as you can see, this has not gotten nearly the same attention as the Rush mess.
As far as the NFL and union, they continued to make it all about the later discovered made up comments he made about Black folks. That was their narrative. Rush’s popularity did not help him in this situation which made it easy to crank up the “Big bad scary White conservative” rhetoric. Sterling did not have a popularity issue which allowed both the NBA and the Players Association to do what they always do: absorb it and move on. Remember, Stern didn’t do jack against Isiah Thomas with his sexual harassment mess.
These leagues know good and well that they typically do not have a litmus test for potential owners who got the money or players who have the skills. That’s why the whole “offended by his past comments” thing was completely bogus. Especially when players started saying that they they would refuse to play on any team where he is a …part owner. Come on, man!
DarkStar
November 11th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Would the same thing happen to Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson, Sr?
Most likely, yes.
Duane
November 11th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Since it has never happened, I’m not going to draw that conclusion. What I do know is that the WWE invited Sharpton to host one of their events, and he did.
The show was a flop, ratings-wise.