Donald Sterling no longer owns the Clippers, but he is counter-suing the NBA because he says he was illegally recorded. He lost his team and was banned for life based on a conversation he had in private that was never meant to see the light of day. The NBA says that this conversation reaching the public has tarnished the image of the league. Funny that the NBA has a stronger punishment for racist remarks than the NFL does for domestic abuse.
For some clarification, in case you have forgotten, back in April, Sterling was caught on tape with a female friend. This friend, V. Stivano irritated Sterling when he saw that she had posted on Instagram a photo of herself with Magic Johnson. Sterling stated “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people”, and, “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want”, but “the little I ask you is … not to bring them to my games”
These comments caused a backlash within the team and within the NBA in general. Sterling was banned from the NBA within four days of this taped being released and given a fine of 25 million dollars. It’s crazy to realize all of these events happened about 6 months ago. Sterling’s ban has forced a sale of the team. Now he has lost a court battle over whether or not the sale Sterling’s wife made was legal and binding.
Basically, Donald Sterling, no matter how much apologizing he tries to do, will always be labeled a racist, and an organization like the NBA has no room or tolerance for racists. Players don’t want him around. It’s better for the morale of the NBA for him not to be there. The question he poses, though, is more interesting: should a private conversation that was illegally taped cause you to lose everything?
In this day and age where everyone has smart phones and tablets, it’s almost a given that your photo can be taken or you can be recorded at any moment. I think those of us under 30 have realized this. I think we have lost true privacy, unless you have good friends, and this case will prove that.
