Reaction to TMZ's audio recording of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling allegedly telling his girlfriend he doesn't want her taking African-Americans to games has been loud and swift. Here's a sampling from social media, including an Instagram post from Clippers center DeAndre Jordan of a solid black photo. Jeremiah Rivers, the son of Clippers coach Doc Rivers, also tweeted his opinions.
Doc Rivers: "were not happy with any of it. Were going to let the due process happen." Doc added that "it upsets me and upsets this team."
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) April 26, 2014
Doc Rivers: "JJ Redick was just pissed as Chris Paul." Clippers talked it out in pre practice meeting. Boycotting brought up. Doc against it
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) April 26, 2014
Doc: "it's a disturbing comment but we will have to be above it right now." Doc: "I don't like racism but let it run it's course."
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) April 26, 2014
LeBron: "There is no room for Donald Sterling in our league. There's just no room for him."
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) April 26, 2014
LeBron says the commissioner needs to be "very aggressive with it.... You just can't have that in our league."
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) April 26, 2014
LeBron says he has "wavered back and forth if I would actually sit out."
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) April 26, 2014
I couldn't play for him
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 26, 2014
.@cjbycookie and I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
I feel sorry for my friends Coach Doc Rivers and Chris Paul that they have to work for a man that feels that way about African Americans.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling's comments about African Americans are a black eye for the NBA.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
That's the way it is...He is honest about what he believes in..Been going on for a long time, Hats off 2 the Team.. 4 playin above it all.
— Baron Davis (@Baron_Davis) April 26, 2014
I know coaches & players play for each other & especially THE FANS, but it would be hard for me to play another game for Sterling. #NBA
— James Worthy (@James_Worthy42) April 26, 2014
Popovich on Sterling comments: 'obviously it's disgusting'
— Mike Monroe (@Monroe_SA) April 26, 2014
People want to #BoycottClippers because of one man? My house has been burned to the ground, animals tortured and burned as well.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
Along with anything we ever loved, and held treasured, because of the color of my dads skin. We lost everything and had to start over.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
Did we hate the collective of people, culture, and race who's skin was responsible for our hardship? No.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
One man, cannot have the power to make me feel hate towards a group, race, or another persons skin color.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
Nor would I allow them to have the power over me to not support the players and coaches that have done nothing wrong.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
Hate the man all you want, show him no mercy if you must. But the players who put on that Jersey do it because the love basketball.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
They want to win for the city of LA, for there families, friends, fans and themselves.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
Racism isn't born, it's taught. It is the refuge of ignorance and seeks to divide and destroy.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
The clippers need the people, fans, and city of LA more then ever. The team deserves it.
— Jeremiah Rivers (@JRivers25) April 26, 2014
With Rox players told not to comment on Donald Sterling situation, Dwight Howard tells @USATODAYsports, "I can't say how I really feel."
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 26, 2014
Indiana Pacers power forward David West referenced the numerous prior allegations surrounding Sterling in a conversation with Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star:
"He has a history of being a bigot and a racist," West said about Sterling. [...]
"You can't be naïve about the thoughts and mindsets of (some) people in this country," West said. "We live in this sort of reality anyway where we understand that people … have all types of perceptions towards us, whether good or bad. I guess being an athlete or entertainer, people can come cheer for you but as soon as the game is over, they are who they are and they think how they think, they feel how they feel.
"I'm not naïve to that. I don't think our society has all of a sudden changed and people who are in power all of a sudden think different about us, just because you dribble a basketball or catch a (darn) football, it's just not the reality of it."
"He is who he is. They ain't going to change the man," West said. "The man's going to go to his grave being who he is. … This is not going to change him.
"Because he has black athletes or whatever. He is who he is. There have been folks before him and there have been a ton of them after him."
Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who is also the president of the National Basketball Players Association, issued the following statement:
“On behalf of the National Basketball Players Association, this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively. We have asked [Sacramento] Mayor Kevin Johnson to expand his responsibilities with the NBPA, to determine our response and our next steps. As players, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and a drive to the Finals.”
Johnson, whom Paul and the players' union tapped earlier this month to lead the search for a new NBPA executive director, also weighed in:
“The reported comments made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling are reprehensible and unacceptable. The National Basketball Players Association must and will play a very active role in determining how this issue is addressed. There needs to be an immediate investigation and if the reports are true, there needs to be strong and swift action taken. I have spoken with NBPA President Chris Paul and will be leading the NBPA in addressing the implications of this serious matter. I will be formally reaching out to the NBA today to determine our next steps. While I originally came on to lead the Executive Director search, this issue requires immediate attention from the Players Association. I will be keeping Chris Paul, the Executive Committee, and all player representatives informed of every step."
Clippers team president Andy Roeser also released a statement:
“We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered. We do know that the woman on the tape — who we believe released it to TMZ — is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would “get even.” Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life. He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them. He is also upset and apologizes for sentiments attributed to him about Earvin Johnson. He has long considered Magic a friend and has only the utmost respect and admiration for him — both in terms of who he is and what he has achieved. We are investigating this matter.”
