TMZ: Sugar Baby, V. Stiviano, Releases Audio Tape of Donald Sterling Racist Remarks
I’m a couple days late on talking about this, so all the information has already been out there. V. Stiviano, who’s half-Black and half-Latino, is Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald Sterling’s sugar baby. Whether she was his girlfriend or side piece is irrelevant. He made remarks saying he didn’t want to see her posting Instagram pictures of her with African Americans and to see them at Clipper games. This lead the NBA’s commissioner, Adam Silver, to issue a lifetime ban to Sterling and a $2.5 million fine which is the max amount.
What Sterling said on the tapes, which was confirmed by him, is not acceptable and has no place in society. However, he has a history of being a known racist. As a real estate mogul, he’s been sued for not renting to Blacks and Latinos. He was sued by his former Clippers GM and Lakers Hall of Famer, Elgin Baylor, for ageism and racism. The reason this is worth noting is because the NBA has known this for quite some time and have essentially brushed it off. When former NBA commissioner, David Stern, vetoed the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers which ultimately sent him to the Clippers, it was to turn the Clippers into a marque franchise. The message this sent was, hey let’s forget that Sterling is a racist and let’s make money instead. This is what’s the issue here and not so much an old racist guy who was caught on tape. He’s been that guy for a while now.
I also take issue with V. Stiviano. On one hand, it finally sets into motion ousting Sterling as an owner of an NBA franchise. On the other, I just see her as some side piece trying to take the news by releasing this audio. Stiviano has also come out and said she feels bad that Sterling will lose ownership of his franchise. Really? This girl is so oblivious to what reality is. Her lawyers are doing a poor job in prepping her statements for sympathy. She’s far better off not commenting and keeping the visor on her face. But hey, she can do what she can in the public eye since she’s in a lawsuit with Sterling’s wife.
For those who think that Sterling will give up his franchise easily, better guess again. This is a guy who’s been to numerous court battles. He will do what he can to keep his team because it continues to line his pockets full of greens since there’s already rumors that he’s planning on blocking the ban through a lawsuit of his own.
http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/27/v-stiviano-donald-sterling-audio-is-legitimate-1-hour-in-length/
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Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach, Mike D’Antoni, Resigns
D’Antoni resigned today from his position as head coach of the Lakers. Supposedly, he did this because the Lakers wouldn’t commit to picking up the option year for the 15-16 season which would make him a lame duck coach next year. In reality, this was probably the most friendly way for the Lakers to let go of D’Antoni.
I can’t say I’ve been a fan of D’Antoni the last couple years he was in LA. As soon as he got there, he caused unnecessary team chemistry issues by feuding with Pau Gasol over his role by trying to convert him into a stretch 4 and the bring him off the bench. A competent head coach knows the strengths of his players and game plans accordingly instead of trying to force players into roles that they don’t fit. He’s also places zero emphasis on defense on a team that needed an identity on that end. He is a good offensive basketball mind but truly lacks the ability to lead a team to greatness.
http://nba.si.com/2014/04/30/mike-dantoni-resigns-lakers-coach-los-angeles/