On Saturday, TMZ released an audio track of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling chastising his girlfriend, Viviano Stiviano, for bringing African-Americans to Clippers games and taking pictures with them, which were posted on Instagram.
“It bothers me that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people,” Sterling said. “Do you have to?”
Sterling took great offense to Stiviano posting a picture with Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson.
Stiviano, who is of African-American and Mexican decent, defended her actions claiming that she admires Johnson and relished the opportunity to take a picture with him.
“And I’m just saying that it’s too bad you can’t admire him privately,” Sterling said.
“And during your entire fucking life, your whole life, admire him — bring him here, feed him, fuck him, I don’t care.
“You can do anything. But don’t put him on an Instagram for the world to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.”
Magic Johnson took great offense to the comments and vowed to never attend another Clippers game as long as Sterling remains owner.
Sterling’s comments created backlash from some of the most notable people in the sport, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
President Obama also voiced support for Commissioner Silver while addressing the issue during his visit to Malaysia.
“I don’t think I have to interpret those statements for you; they kind of speak for themselves,” President Obama said.
“Obviously, the NBA is a league that is beloved by fans all across the country. It’s got an awful lot of African-American players. It’s steeped in African-American culture. And, I suspect that the NBA is going to be deeply concerned in resolving this.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took the stage on Tuesday after conducting an internal investigation and handed out an unprecedented punishment in response to Sterling’s comments.
“Accordingly, effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA,” Silver said.
“I am also fining Mr. Sterling $2.5 million, 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.”
The fine of $2.5 million levied toward Sterling is the maximum amount allowed in the NBA constitution.
Also by banning Sterling from the league for life, he urged the rest of the franchise owners to force him to sell 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,” Silver said.
“We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling’s views. They simply have no place in the NBA.”