Not sure if I'm late to this party, but I just heard the secretly recorded tape of Donald Sterling spewing some pretty racists shit, last night.
For those of you, like me... who've not yet heard the comments, here's a link:
http://deadspin.com/exclusive-the-extended-donald-sterling-tape-1568291249
I had a few hours to digest what I heard, and here's my view on the matter.
Was what Donald Sterling said in bad taste? YES. At the very least he's a hypocrite (since his girlfriend is half black... in the pic next to Sterling), at worst he's a racist, but he IS covered under the first amendment. Free speech means occasionally hearing people's opinions no matter how moronic you may think it is, or how uncomfortable it might make you feel. Besides... I'm not sure why anyone would feel Sterling's view is that different from many folks who live a "privileged" life. Many of your 1%-ers have similar views, and it's not limited to one particular color or race.
That said... Getting upset and following dinks like Sharpton and/or Jackson into rioting is even more stupid. It accomplishes nothing. "Demanding" Sterling's resignation also isn't the way to go. It only serves to show people's lack of respect for the US constitution and everything it stands for. There's NOTHING more important to our liberties, than FREE SPEECH! Once that's gone, what ever is left, no longer matters.
If the Clippers players are really offended by his comments, I can't tell. I mean... that lame boycott of wearing the unies inside out, so the Clippers logo doesn't show tells me nothing and accomplishes even less. If they truly want to send a message, I suggest they forfeit their contracts and the millions of dollars Sterling is paying them and walk out on the team. Not after the playoffs is over, or if/when they get bounced from the playoffs, but RIGHT NOW! The amount of money Donald Sterling, the Clippers, Staple Center, City of Los Angeles, NBA and who knows now many other groups and people will lose, would send a serious message. Any player worth even half the value of his contract will be snatched up by another team. But... this won't happen. After all... the millionaire athletes may whine a bit, but they won't bite the hand that feeds them, which in this case happens to be Sterling.
If you are personally offended, and want to show your outrage in a manner that can actually have an impact, my suggestion is simple. Don't like Donald Sterling? Don't buy Clippers tickets. Don't go to a Clippers game. Don't go to the staples center for any event, including tonight's Kings/Sharks hockey game. If you live in another town that has an NBA team, don't buy a ticket to any game that involves the Clippers. If the NBA has a similar revenue sharing system to the NFL's, stop supporting the NBA. There are MANY other ways to show your outrage toward what he said, than "rioting" or attacking the 1st amendment to our dear constitution, which does nothing other than to make every one who shares Sterling's views say... "See? Donald is right!"
- Attila
For those of you, like me... who've not yet heard the comments, here's a link:
http://deadspin.com/exclusive-the-extended-donald-sterling-tape-1568291249
I had a few hours to digest what I heard, and here's my view on the matter.
Was what Donald Sterling said in bad taste? YES. At the very least he's a hypocrite (since his girlfriend is half black... in the pic next to Sterling), at worst he's a racist, but he IS covered under the first amendment. Free speech means occasionally hearing people's opinions no matter how moronic you may think it is, or how uncomfortable it might make you feel. Besides... I'm not sure why anyone would feel Sterling's view is that different from many folks who live a "privileged" life. Many of your 1%-ers have similar views, and it's not limited to one particular color or race.
That said... Getting upset and following dinks like Sharpton and/or Jackson into rioting is even more stupid. It accomplishes nothing. "Demanding" Sterling's resignation also isn't the way to go. It only serves to show people's lack of respect for the US constitution and everything it stands for. There's NOTHING more important to our liberties, than FREE SPEECH! Once that's gone, what ever is left, no longer matters.
If the Clippers players are really offended by his comments, I can't tell. I mean... that lame boycott of wearing the unies inside out, so the Clippers logo doesn't show tells me nothing and accomplishes even less. If they truly want to send a message, I suggest they forfeit their contracts and the millions of dollars Sterling is paying them and walk out on the team. Not after the playoffs is over, or if/when they get bounced from the playoffs, but RIGHT NOW! The amount of money Donald Sterling, the Clippers, Staple Center, City of Los Angeles, NBA and who knows now many other groups and people will lose, would send a serious message. Any player worth even half the value of his contract will be snatched up by another team. But... this won't happen. After all... the millionaire athletes may whine a bit, but they won't bite the hand that feeds them, which in this case happens to be Sterling.
If you are personally offended, and want to show your outrage in a manner that can actually have an impact, my suggestion is simple. Don't like Donald Sterling? Don't buy Clippers tickets. Don't go to a Clippers game. Don't go to the staples center for any event, including tonight's Kings/Sharks hockey game. If you live in another town that has an NBA team, don't buy a ticket to any game that involves the Clippers. If the NBA has a similar revenue sharing system to the NFL's, stop supporting the NBA. There are MANY other ways to show your outrage toward what he said, than "rioting" or attacking the 1st amendment to our dear constitution, which does nothing other than to make every one who shares Sterling's views say... "See? Donald is right!"
- Attila
"Because You Shouldn't be Afraid to Chase Your Dreams"
a book by: Attila Domos
Available at Amazon & Kindle
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