I would ordinarily pass on topics such as Donald Sterling\u2019s presumably private conversations. If you\u2019re not familiar with the situation, just Google \u201cSterling comments\u201d and you can\u2019t miss it. Taped conversations between Sterling\u2014owner of the NBA\u2019s LA Clippers franchise\u2014and his former girlfriend, V. Stiviano, were aired on TMZ. Sterling made some racially charged and likely alcohol-induced comments, and everyone from basketball analysts to the President is airing their disdain.<\/p>\n
You can listen to the complete hour-long conversation online if you like. I\u2019m not interested in defending his comments; I can\u2019t. However, there are some important angles people are missing.<\/p>\n
Although Sterling appears to have a history of race-tinged comments, he has received a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP and was scheduled to receive another one. Why? My guess is that Sterling made a hefty contribution to the NAACP as part of the arrangement.<\/p>\n
There are also questions surrounding the recording. What gives Stiviano the right to record their private conversations anyway? Whatever happened to the left\u2019s so-called constitutional right to privacy? Is this situation connected to the ongoing lawsuit between Sterling\u2019s estranged wife and Stiviano?<\/p>\n
Consider the response from the LA Clippers. All 14 of the roster players earn in excess of $1 million annually; five of them make more than $10 million. They are well-compensated professionals. Basketball commentators have been telling us ad nauseum how difficult it is for them to endure such comments from the owner. The players actually considered boycotting their play-off game on Sunday in protest. I\u2019ve had bosses who\u2019ve said some disgusting things in the past, but not showing up for work was never an option.<\/p>\n
Then there are calls for Sterling\u2019s scalp, most beginning with, \u201cHe shouldn\u2019t be allowed to\u2026\u201d I guess the concept of free speech doesn\u2019t count when you address certain topics. Free speech, even when bigoted, is always the best policy because the alternative is worse; it empowers someone else to decide what speech will and will not be permitted.<\/p>\n
Some are demanding that the NBA require Sterling to sell the team. I doubt there\u2019s anything in the charter that gives the NBA widespread jurisdiction over owners\u2019 private conversations. When this point was made to one commentator, his response was quick and clean: \u201cThe NBA should find a way. Sterling\u2019s comments are disgusting that he shouldn\u2019t be allowed to own a team regardless<\/em> of any technicalities.\u201d Really? So contracts are not just technicalities if someone doesn\u2019t like what you say? If you\u2019re willing to overlook this principle and pile on Sterling because you find his comments offensive, don\u2019t be surprised when they come for you. If you think you\u2019re safe, just ask Brendan Eich.<\/p>\n I understand the NBA\u2019s interest in protecting the brand. Nonetheless, the market is completely capable of resolving this situation, and it will if it\u2019s allowed to do so. Season-ticket holders can refuse to renew next year. Advertisers can back off as well. Players who find the terms of their contracts unbearable can refuse to re-sign with the team when they become free agents.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, I\u2019m not sure the market will be allowed to resolve this. The lynch mob is coming for Sterling and will probably get him first.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I would ordinarily pass on topics such as Donald Sterling\u2019s presumably private conversations. If you\u2019re not familiar with the situation, just Google \u201cSterling comments\u201d and you can\u2019t miss it. Taped conversations between Sterling\u2014owner of the NBA\u2019s LA Clippers franchise\u2014and his former girlfriend, V. Stiviano, were aired on TMZ. Sterling made some racially charged and likely […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/battle4liberty.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}