Respect. From a Clippers fan.

[narmerguy]

The punishment is appropriate but people have become far too sensitive regarding the topic. He's an ignorant old **** who got caught saying ignorant, dumb things. If we freaked out every time somebody said something along those lines, he wouldn't be the only one to go and I'm sure some players would be out of the league as well.

I keep hearing this and I simply don't buy it. Just because everyone has said things they regret doesn't mean we excuse everyone saying anything they want. Words have consequences. There are two easy ways to look at this:

1) It's just business. He's an owner in a prominent position saying offensive things. That makes fans unhappy, which means fans don't want to pay money to someone they don't like. That hurts everyone--players, other owners, the league, no one benefits. It's not personal, it's business.

2) It's a community decision. All of us have ignorant beliefs to some extent, but that doesn't mean all beliefs are equal. Some beliefs, especially those that are rooted in a history that has caused pain, murder, war, and discrimination, are justifiably sensitive to the harmony of a community. It is right and good that the NBA community (and perhaps the greater community) draws certain lines about what they are willing to tolerate. Unfortunately for Sterling, he has placed himself firmly outside that line.

There's nothing overly sensitive about this. Whether for business reasons the wellbeing of our community, Sterling has driven himself out.

[Bourne85]

Grow the hell up

Sorry my friend! I enjoy life way to much! Unlike many, I understand their is a time and place to be a "Grownup" and then....there is times to have fun...like posting on Realgm. The minute you take yourself so serious that you can't have fun on a forum, you have lost the fun in life.

Just letting you know, Your hate for Joel Anthnoy is getting old/Played out.

It was funny a year ago. Now its just annoying.

Jeez lighten up guy, maybe change your pad idk?

Making fun of Joel will NEVER get old, it's gonna be a story we tell our kids, and our kids kids.

Same as the year of Lewis doing nothing worthy of playing, yet somehow, there he is, bricking 3s left and right throughout the playoffs.

That too will be one of those old stories!

[SWadeUP]

The Don does not respond to double agents. FOH

[whitehops]

people need to realize this is a bigger issue than what sterling said... the video is definitely worth the watch if you have any opinion on the issue.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6bLKe9-Mto[/youtube]

[dr3am]

The Don does not respond to double agents. FOH

damn ownage & are you going to keep that username forever?

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

Sterling bought the team in 1981 and since that time, the Clippers have been the worst sports franchise in any of the 4 major sports. That's how bad he is. Consistently the worst franchise in all of sports for 30+ years.


You Clipper fans should see this as a blessing. You might finally get some competent owner in there to help your team achieve.

[number1joker]

nba is a family

[DWadeno3]

The punishment is appropriate but people have become far too sensitive regarding the topic. He's an ignorant old **** who got caught saying ignorant, dumb things. If we freaked out every time somebody said something along those lines, he wouldn't be the only one to go and I'm sure some players would be out of the league as well.

I keep hearing this and I simply don't buy it. Just because everyone has said things they regret doesn't mean we excuse everyone saying anything they want. Words have consequences. There are two easy ways to look at this:

1) It's just business. He's an owner in a prominent position saying offensive things. That makes fans unhappy, which means fans don't want to pay money to someone they don't like. That hurts everyone--players, other owners, the league, no one benefits. It's not personal, it's business.

2) It's a community decision. All of us have ignorant beliefs to some extent, but that doesn't mean all beliefs are equal. Some beliefs, especially those that are rooted in a history that has caused pain, murder, war, and discrimination, are justifiably sensitive to the harmony of a community. It is right and good that the NBA community (and perhaps the greater community) draws certain lines about what they are willing to tolerate. Unfortunately for Sterling, he has placed himself firmly outside that line.

There's nothing overly sensitive about this. Whether for business reasons the wellbeing of our community, Sterling has driven himself out.

I'm not excusing Sterling's words, as I said, the punishment is appropriate, so all your other points are not countering mine. By overly sensitive I mean former and current players as well as outsiders all feeling the need for a symbolic gesture. Such a gesture or protest is needed when the authority, in this case the NBA, doesn't act or act properly. Otherwise it's just blowing something out of proportion. Severe punishment was needed but all these claims of his scandal affecting the Clippers' players so much and even some considering not to play is blowing this out of proportion.

Regarding your number 2), so if a white American was discriminated against it wouldn't be as severe because there isn't a history of discrimination against white people? (at least not comparable to the discrimination against black people).

[RiversideClips]

Another Clipper fan here to say "Thanks." I don't think justice would have been so quick w/out your Players, Organization & fan's support. Thanks, LBJ was at the forefront with the other players, so cool to see the solidarity.

Thanks!

[narmerguy]

The punishment is appropriate but people have become far too sensitive regarding the topic. He's an ignorant old **** who got caught saying ignorant, dumb things. If we freaked out every time somebody said something along those lines, he wouldn't be the only one to go and I'm sure some players would be out of the league as well.

I keep hearing this and I simply don't buy it. Just because everyone has said things they regret doesn't mean we excuse everyone saying anything they want. Words have consequences. There are two easy ways to look at this:

1) It's just business. He's an owner in a prominent position saying offensive things. That makes fans unhappy, which means fans don't want to pay money to someone they don't like. That hurts everyone--players, other owners, the league, no one benefits. It's not personal, it's business.

2) It's a community decision. All of us have ignorant beliefs to some extent, but that doesn't mean all beliefs are equal. Some beliefs, especially those that are rooted in a history that has caused pain, murder, war, and discrimination, are justifiably sensitive to the harmony of a community. It is right and good that the NBA community (and perhaps the greater community) draws certain lines about what they are willing to tolerate. Unfortunately for Sterling, he has placed himself firmly outside that line.

There's nothing overly sensitive about this. Whether for business reasons the wellbeing of our community, Sterling has driven himself out.

I'm not excusing Sterling's words, as I said, the punishment is appropriate, so all your other points are not countering mine. By overly sensitive I mean former and current players as well as outsiders all feeling the need for a symbolic gesture. Such a gesture or protest is needed when the authority, in this case the NBA, doesn't act or act properly. Otherwise it's just blowing something out of proportion. Severe punishment was needed but all these claims of his scandal affecting the Clippers' players so much and even some considering not to play is blowing this out of proportion.

Regarding your number 2), so if a white American was discriminated against it wouldn't be as severe because there isn't a history of discrimination against white people? (at least not comparable to the discrimination against black people).

Such a gesture is warranted whenever the players feel it is. Their gesture was not against the NBA, nor did it attack or slander any of the other owners. It was merely a show of solidarity and an expression that something more severe needs to be done--not a statement that nothing was being done. Whether or not players choose to play is their choice, not yours, and you are not in a position to tell them how much they're allowed to be offended. That people continue to make these statements is why players expressed the solidarity in the first place--white, black, whatever.

This is common sense. Discrimination is never OK and shouldn't be tolerated. However, there is a history of power imbalance and severe violence that raises the stakes when a historically discriminated group is the victim. It's a community decision that is rooted in pragmatism. If all racial groups were hunky dory today and all the repercussions of that history had subsided, I imagine the community response would be different. But that's not the case and everyone is plainly aware of that. The precarious progress that our society has made requires us to remain vigilant in opposing the lingering havens for racism.

[DWadeno3]

Such a gesture is warranted whenever the players feel it is. Their gesture was not against the NBA, nor did it attack or slander any of the other owners. It was merely a show of solidarity and an expression that something more severe needs to be done--not a statement that nothing was being done. Whether or not players choose to play is their choice, not yours, and you are not in a position to tell them how much they're allowed to be offended. That people continue to make these statements is why players expressed the solidarity in the first place--white, black, whatever.

This is common sense. Discrimination is never OK and shouldn't be tolerated. However, there is a history of power imbalance and severe violence that raises the stakes when a historically discriminated group is the victim. It's a community decision that is rooted in pragmatism. If all racial groups were hunky dory today and all the repercussions of that history had subsided, I imagine the community response would be different. But that's not the case and everyone is plainly aware of that. The precarious progress that our society has made requires us to remain vigilant in opposing the lingering havens for racism.

But they protested before actions were taken by the league. There was no need to show solidarity because the players weren't attacked by anyone but one person and said person was condemned by the entire NBA community and beyond that. Said person also received a severe punishment by the authority as a sign of no tolerance for racism. So where is the justification for potentially not fulfilling your contractual obligation to play? Where is the need to show solidarity when the entire NBA community, players, owners and NBA officials alike, have gone against Sterling? That's the non-sense. The NBA is one of the most tolerant sports leagues you'll find, so why harm those or protest against those who aren't against you in the first place?

It is the problem you're referring to in your second paragraph. We're overreacting to incidents based on our history because we haven't let go of it yet. It is the same problems for Germans and them showing national pride. Most people are still overly sensitive to it because most view pride of your country as signs of potential national socialism. And while there is still a minority movement, just like there still is racial discrimination in the US, the broad public does not identified itself with that intolerance. So in order to move forward in terms of races living together, one has to start letting go of the past and not overreact to every incident related to it.

[DivineFury]

Another Clipper fan here to say "Thanks." I don't think justice would have been so quick w/out your Players, Organization & fan's support. Thanks, LBJ was at the forefront with the other players, so cool to see the solidarity.

Thanks!

To be frank I don't even think a thanks is necessary. I'm glad that this was treated more as an expected comradery versus a favor. We are people first, fans/players second. I'm glad other teams made some subtle gestures as well and that Clips didn't let this thing get them down, and had a big W last night.

[El Alonzo scowl]

Your warmth is appreciated Clips fans, not often we get other fanbases here that ain't trolling.

I'm glad we have a team that is both mature and self-aware enough to know that all the media attention we get can be used to send positive messages (like when the Heat donned hoodies during the Trayvon Martin murder case).