Curious what you guys make of this. The words were written well, and it seems if athletes and or other famous people give what appears to be a heartfelt apology people are willing to forgive them. Is this different because it's a racial comment? Don Jones with the Dolphins made two horrible tweets after Michael Sam was drafted and apologized. Will he be forgiven? Thrown out of the league? Also, does Sterling get any slack whatsoever because he seems to be in early stages of dementia.
I was not disparaged by his comments. Therefore, I don't feel I am in the position to grant forgiveness.
Apology came about two weeks late, or whenever that shit happened. It should have been immediate. He's toast.
He should have been given slack for being an 80 year man and having his personal provoked conversation, recorded in his house without his consent. The shit he said was gross but its really just turned into a feeding frenzy. My thoughts were that he has always been bad for the NBA so good riddance, but the way he was ousted seems a little nefarious. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
Not much. But then again, I disagree with the lifetime ban. We are not allowed to think any way but one or we are punished. Don't misunderstand me, he's is dead wrong, but still entitled to his views.
Personally, I'm fine with the apology, but I was not wronged. But more so in areas of racism and homophobia than most things, I am personally satiated by the appearance of a heartfelt apology as long as the original offense was an idea and not an action taken that harmed people. What sterling did refusing to rent to African Americans was an action that wronged people, and that to me is much less excusable than what he said behind closed doors. With that being said, I'm white, and not the person who's judgment should matter most in the acceptance of his apology. I'll leave that to members of the offended group. Either way, I think it's too late for anything to tangibly change with eventual sale of the Clippers, but this apology may be enough to lessen the hate many have for this rickety old man.
I thought he was a shitty old man before this incident, so apologizing to Anderson Cooper in an interview does little for me, personally.
It's legal for Sterling to have his views. He broke no laws. The NBA is not a city, state, or country, though. It's a company. HR took action. End of fucking story.
This was my point. The actions he did before this, the real life discriminating, that is inexcusable. But for those who are just pissed about what he said, well, the apology is fine for that. Still doesn't change who this guy is or anything, but I'm not the one in the first place who determines shit from shinola.
Disgraced Clippers owner Donald Sterling launched into an extended critique of Magic Johnson, saying that the Lakers legend should be “ashamed” of being HIV-positive and suggesting that he hasn’t financially supported minority communities. Making his first public statements in the 16 days since the racially-charged audio first leaked, Sterling apologized for his comments in a CNN interview and said that he was “asking for forgiveness.” When the topic turned to Johnson, however, the 80-year-old Sterling launched into multiple, extended diatribes against one of the most popular NBA players of all time. “What has he done? Can you tell me? Big Magic Johnson, what has he done? He’s got AIDS, ” Sterling told CNN. “Did he do any business? Did he help anybody in South LA? … What kind of guy goes to every city and has sex with every girl and catches AIDS?” Sterling was just getting started. “What kind of guy goes to every city and has sex with every girl? Then he goes and catches HIV,” he said. “Is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about? I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background. And what does he do for black people?" “Here’s a man I don’t know if I should say this, he acts so holy. He made love with every girl in every city in America, and he had AIDS, and when he had those AIDS, I went to my synagogue and prayed for him. I hoped he could live and be well. I didn’t criticize him. I could have. Is he an example for children? You know, because he has money, he’s able to treat himself. But Magic Johnson is irrelevant in this thing. He didn’t do anything harmful to anybody and I respect him and I admire everything that he does. I’d like to help even more if he would offer me an opportunity to help. I like to help minorities.” “If I said anything wrong, I’m sorry. He’s a good person. I mean, what am I going to say? Has he done everything he can do to help minorities? I don’t think so. But I’ll say it, he’s great. But I don’t think he’s a good example for the children of Los Angeles.” As the discussion continued, Sterling tried to draw a distinction between the Jewish community and the African-African community in how each community supports its own members. “The Jewish people have a company and it’s for people who want to borrow money for no interest,” he said. “We want to give them a fishing pole. We want to help people. if they don’t have money, we’ll loan it to them. There is no African-American …. I’m sorry. they all want to play golf with me, everyone wants to be with me.” Sterling also said that Johnson leaked quotes from a conversation the two had had since the first tape was released by TMZ and said that Johnson encouraged him to remain quiet after the controversy first began. “I’m hurt that he called me up and he said don’t do anything,” Sterling told CNN. “[He said], ‘Wait until you hear from me.’ Then someone called me later and said he doesn’t want to be involved. And then he released the tape I sent to him. That I talked to him in confidence.” The CNN interview is the first since Sterling was caught on tape berating his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, for posting a photo of Johnson to her Instagram account while making a series of racist remarks. http://nba.si.com/2014/05/12/donald-sterling-magic-johnson-aids-clippers-owner-cnn/
Magic was/is HIV positive. He doesn't and never did gave AIDS. Thank goodness. It seems to me he's been a positive force in running the Dodgers. Contributed to all people in LA, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. Magic is generous with his money, and more importantly, his time when it comes to charity. His charities are mostly HIV related, but he makes appearances to benefit other charities and causes. Magic was and is a great ambassador for the league and the game. I think the opposite of Sterling.
Face it: Sterling is crazy and out of control. Nothing he does will sound coherent or make any sense. His advisors probably tried to stop this interview because they know he's a loose cannon.
Sterling shouldn't be forced to sell his franchise The main reason Adam silver wants to force him is because Sterling is bad for business(sponsors, players threatening to not play during the playoffs, etc) The racial part of it is more of an afterthought
Magic Johnson cruised through his career with minimum effort, always doing things his way (he reminds me of Batum). He demanded to be PG instead of SG so he could be the boss, forcing the trade of Norm Nixon, an excellent PG and shooter. He demanded that Coach Paul Westhead be fired, so he was. He got starring credit for championships, a role which belonged to the self-effacing Jabbar. He wanted Paul Allen out as Blazer owner (I watched him say it on the Ernie/Jet aftergame show). He coached the Lakers 16 games and then chickened out. Lately he has said he was glad Mike Brown was fired, then D'Antoni. Now it's Buss and Sterling. He was always a loudmouth. He has become a fat blubbery blowhard.
