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President
Barack Obama is sounding off about Los Angeles Clippers owner
Donald Sterling‘s
reported racist rant. During a press conference in Malaysia with
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Sunday, the POTUS was asked about
comments the team owner allegedly made about African-Americans,
according to CNN.
“When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t
really have to do anything, you just let them talk,” he said. “That’s
what happened here.”
Obama went on to say Sterling’s supposed comments prove that “the
United States continues to wrestle with the legacy of race and slavery
and segregation,” adding, “that’s still there, the vestiges of
discrimination. We’ve made enormous strides, but you’re going to
continue to see this percolate up every so often.”
In an audio tape obtained by TMZ, which revealed a supposed heated conversationbetween Sterling and his female companion
V. Stiviano, the team owner reportedly told her he didn’t want her to “bring black people to his games” including
Magic Johnson.
Sterling reportedly went off after Stiviano posted an Instagram shot of
herself with Johnson at a recent game (which she later deleted).
“Why are you taking pictures with minorities,”
Sterling allegedly said on the tape, among many other things. “It
bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with
black people. Do you have to?”
Alexander Tamargo/WireImage
Former NBA player and Bobcats Chairman Michael Jordan released
a statement Sunday regarding the comments, saying, “I look at this from
two perspectives – as a current owner and a former player. As an
owner, I’m obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such
sickening and offensive views. I’m confident that Adam Silver will make a
full investigation and take appropriate action quickly.”
“As a former player, I’m completely outraged. There is no room in the
NBA – or anywhere else – for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr.
Sterling allegedly expressed,” Jordan continued. “I am appalled that
this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the
highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players
are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at
any level.”
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Take a look at what other stars had to say about it:
Lebron James: ”There’s no room for Donald Sterling
in the NBA — there is no room for him…I can only imagine if a player
came out and said something of that stature what would happen to us as
players,” James said. “I believe in Adam (Silver) and I believe in the
NBA and they have to do something very fast before this really gets out
of hand.”
Russell Simmons: Sad about Donald Sterling*** statements sorry for people who have to work for him.
#NBAblackeye
Meek Mill: Donald sterling is the definition of
racism …. He could b your judge…. Your doctor…..you teacher etc… I bet
nothing happens 2 him!
Baron Davis: 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.
Kevin Hart: Donald T Sterling is a
flat out Racist….he will never see another dollar from me!!! This is
This is disgusting….he has a slave master mentality!!!! This is
disturbing and unbelievably sad!!! I feel for my close friends that play
for this Racist because of the position that this puts him in!!!
#Racist #ScumBag #Racist #ScumBag #Racist #ScumBag
culled from sugarsport
