Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, is facing some serious heat as consequence from his comments made in a private conversation with his former mistress after a recording of the conversation leaked on the web. TMZ published the tape last Friday night and the repugnant remarks have spread like wild fire among the press, Clipper fans, and throughout the NBA.
Miss V. Stiviano is in the eye of the hurricane after exposing the Clippers exec. On the tape, Sterling prohibits his girlfriend to bring any black people to his games and threatens her to absolutely not associate with them or post pictures on her Instagram in which she’s in company of her colored friends. Matt Kemp and Magic Johnson got dragged into the controversy after being mentioned on the tape because of their appearances on Stiviano’s Instagram account.
Clippers players reacted to the incident and protested at their Sunday game against the Golden State Warriors by throwing down their shooting shirts on the court and wearing their uniforms inside-out during warm-up. Lebron James also expressed his opinion by saying, “There is no room for Donald Sterling in our league”. Magic Johnson expressed his outrage after Sterling specifically mentioned him on the tapes and asked Stiviano not to bring him to the games. Also, president Obama commented on the incident by adding, “when ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk.”
It has been reported that most of the major sponsors of the L.A. Clippers have been dropping their relations with the organization. Red Bull, CarMax, Kia, Virgin America, Sprint, StateFarm, and many other companies sponsoring the team have ceased their support effective immediately.
V. Stiviano was allegedly sued by the Sterling family for defamation, although Sterling’s lawyers have not yet confirmed or denied any allegations or made any comments on Donald’s behalf. The NBA has been investigating the case and they are currently in talks over the future of Sterling’s involvement with the Clippers. The league’s commissioner is yet to make a statement about any punishment that might come Sterling’s way. Regardless, this incident represents a black eye for the NBA and will take a long time for basketball fans to forget.