USA-NBA NEWSER-RACISM CHARGES NBA bans Clippers owner for life over racist comments

Record ID: 565390

  • Title: USA-NBA NEWSER-RACISM CHARGES NBA bans Clippers owner for life over racist comments
  • Date: 29th April 2014
  • Summary: HIGH QUALITY EDIT TO REPLACE EDIT "2284-USA-NBA STATEMENT-STERLING NBA" RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT The NBA bans Clippers owner Donald Sterling from the game for life over racist comments. Sterling is also fined $2.5 million U.S. dollars. SHOWS: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (APRIL 29, 2014) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. NBA COMMISSIONER ADAM SILVER WALKING TO PODIUM 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NBA COMMISSIONER ADAM SILVER, SAYING: "Thank you all for being here. I apologize for starting a little bit late. Shortly after the release of an audio recording this past Saturday morning of a conversation that allegedly included Clippers owner Donald Sterling, the NBA commenced an investigation, which among other things, included an interview of Mr. Sterling. That investigation is now complete. The central findings of the investigation are that the man whose voice is heard on the recording and on a second recording from the same conversation that was released on Sunday is Mr. Sterling. And that the hateful opinions voiced by that man are those of Mr. Sterling. The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful; that they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage. Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league. I am personally distraught that the views expressed by Mr. Sterling came from within an institution that has historically taken such a leadership role in matters of race relations and caused current and former players, coaches, fans and partners of the NBA to question their very association with the league. To them, and pioneers of the game like Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, Sweetwater Clifton, the great Bill Russell, and particularly Magic Johnson, I apologize. Accordingly, effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA. Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices. He may not be present at any Clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings or participating in any other league activity. I am also fining Mr. Sterling 2.5 million dollars, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA constitution. These funds will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and its Players Association. As for Mr. Sterling's ownership interest in the Clippers, I will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team and will do everything in my power to ensure that that happens. This has been a painful moment for all members of the NBA family. I appreciate the support and understanding of our players during this process, and I am particularly grateful for the leadership shown by Coach Doc Rivers, Union President Chris Paul and Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento, who has been acting as the players' representative in this matter. We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views. They simply have no place in the NBA." 3. SILVER ADDRESSING MEDIA 4. SILVER LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 14th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA66ZJL9I3DFVYYP1O0200ZHUYH
  • Story Text: The National Basketball Association (NBA) on Tuesday (April 29) banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling from the game for life for racist comments that outraged players, fans and the U.S. President.
    Sterling, the longest-tenured owner of any of the 30 NBA teams, will not be allowed any role in the operations of his team or be able to serve as one of the league's governors, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced at a news conference in New York. Sterling was also fined $2.5 million (USD), Silver said.
    The controversy began over the weekend when the celebrity website TMZ.com released an audio recording with a voice said to be Sterling's, criticizing a friend for associating with "black people".
    An investigation into the recording concluded the voice was Sterling's, Silver told reporters.
    "The man whose voice is heard on the recording and on a second recording from the same conversation that was released on Sunday is Mr. Sterling," said Silver, who is confronting his first major crisis since he was named commissioner in February. "The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful."
    Sterling's comments caused a wave of outrage in a league that was on the forefront of racial integration in U.S. professional sports and where most of the players are black. Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president, called Sterling's comments "incredibly offensive racist statements".
    The ban may not be enough for some critics, who called on Sterling to give up ownership of the Clippers, though observers said the other 29 owners of NBA franchises were not likely to back any move that could set a precedent that would harm their property rights.
    Silver said he would call on the owners to vote to force Sterling to sell the team. Such a move would require approval of three-quarters of the current owners.
    The recording on TMZ.com included part of an argument between Sterling and a model who uses the name V. Stiviano, about photographs posted to Instagram. "People call you and tell you that I have black people on my Instagram. And it bothers you," the voice said to be Stiviano's says.
    The woman also notes in the conversation that she is of Latino and black heritage.
    "Yeah, it bothers me a lot that you want to promo ... broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?" the voice said to be Sterling's says. The same voice is heard telling the woman not to post photos of herself with Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the former Los Angeles Laker. "And don't bring him to my games, OK?"
    On Tuesday, Johnson praised the NBA decision on Twitter, saying, "Commissioner Silver showed great leadership in banning LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life."
    The league acted one day after a series of team sponsors including auto dealer CarMax Inc, Virgin America, State Farm, Kia Motors America, music mogul P. Diddy's water brand, AQUAHydrate, Red Bull and Yokohama Tire all announced that they were stepping back from the team.
    Some advertisers had asked to move their commercials out of the national broadcast of Tuesday's Clippers playoff game against the Golden State Warriors by TNT, owned by Time Warner Inc, and the local airing on a sports channel owned by 21st Century Fox, according to sources familiar with the matter.
    Sterling bought the Clippers in 1981 at a time when basketball was far less commercially successful than it is today, and the franchise could now be worth as much as $800 million, estimated Robert Boland, chairman of the sports management department at New York University.
    Sterling is a property owner and was sued in 2003 for discrimination in housing by the U.S. government. The lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles accused him of telling his staff to rent to Asian tenants but not black or Hispanic people.
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