# NBA Owner's Racism Exposed **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 26, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069 "2014-04-26T18:41:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/181 "2014-04-29T22:57:26Z")
Apropos of nothing: I really can’t watch shows like _Parks and Recreation_ or _The Office,_ in spite of the fact that they’re both objectively good shows made by extremely talented people. There’s just something about watching people who are embarrassing themselves and don’t realize it - indeed, think they’re doing the opposite - that makes me so uncomfortable that I can’t enjoy the story or the characters. ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/182 "2014-04-29T22:58:42Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > Bryant Gumbel. Do you maybe want to walk back your statement until you can find this mysterious documentary? Do you really think I made this up? Secondly do you really feel white players aren’t treated badly by black players in the NBA? If you really believe this then fine i’ll retract my statement. This has been a elephant in the room kinda deal in the NBA for years. Whiteboy is a name that runs rampant on NBA courts. To me that’s a form of racism too. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/183 "2014-04-29T23:00:24Z")
Like Steve Carell is a genius, but watching Michael Scott is agony for me. Does that make sense at all? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/184 "2014-04-29T23:02:29Z")
> [@chicagowhitesox1173](#): > > It’s ridiculous because who is Spike Lee to judge a white player for not making a statement. It’s not up to him whether or not somebody should make a statement over this. White or black. But its up to you on whether or not Spike Lee should make a statement on other people making statements? Of course, now I’m making a statement judging you for making a statement on whether or not Spike Lee should make a statement on whether white players in the NBA should make a statement regarding Sterling’s original racist statements. This is definitely a convincing line of argument, and you should keep running with it! ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/185 "2014-04-29T23:18:46Z")
OK serious question. Since we are - rightfully - blasting Sterling for his comments, should we also be calling Jay Z a racist for his “[5 percent nation](http://www.vice.com/read/what-i-learned-from-the-five-percenters)” beliefs? After all was he not an owner in the Brooklyn NBA franchise? Just curious why this has never been an issue or topic. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/186 "2014-04-29T23:27:31Z")
Or like Ben Stiller does a lower brow version of that kind of humor too, right? Unbearable. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/187 "2014-04-29T23:38:06Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > OK serious question. Since we are - rightfully - blasting Sterling for his comments, should we also be calling Jay Z a racist for his “[5 percent nation](http://www.vice.com/read/what-i-learned-from-the-five-percenters)” beliefs? > > After all was he not an owner in the Brooklyn NBA franchise? > > Just curious why this has never been an issue or topic. Am I missing something, I can’t find anything in that link about Jay-Z. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/188 "2014-04-29T23:41:19Z")
He was just wearing some bling that had a symbol associated with that group. He may not have had any idea what it was. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/189 "2014-04-29T23:43:58Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Am I missing something, I can’t find anything in that link about Jay-Z. [Here you go](http://nypost.com/2014/04/06/jay-zs-medallion-bears-logo-of-five-percent-radical-group/) ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/190 "2014-04-30T00:01:20Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Just curious why this has never been an issue or topic. Why were Sterling’s previous racist comments and actions never been a major issue or topic? Sometimes, lightning has to strike. Again, what do the actions of other people matter? Whether or not somebody else gets away with racist actions in no way excuses or ameliorates racist actions performed by somebody else. Is there a separate debate here that we could stand to be generally more aware of racism and combating it? Sure. But that has nothing to do with Sterling being a racist douche, nor does it absolve him in even the slightest for what he said this time. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/191 "2014-04-30T00:06:59Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > OK serious question. Since we are - rightfully - blasting Sterling for his comments, should we also be calling Jay Z a racist for his “[5 percent nation](http://www.vice.com/read/what-i-learned-from-the-five-percenters)” beliefs? > > After all was he not an owner in the Brooklyn NBA franchise? > > Just curious why this has never been an issue or topic. Well, except for the “devil” part, I don’t see a problem with it: > [@](#): > > Black people are the fathers and mothers of civilization, white men are the devil, the Christian god is nothing more than a ghost and only a small percentage of people understand the world. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/192 "2014-04-30T00:13:35Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Why were Sterling’s previous racist comments and actions never been a major issue or topic? Sometimes, lightning has to strike. > > Again, what do the actions of other people matter? Whether or not somebody else gets away with racist actions in no way excuses or ameliorates racist actions performed by somebody else. > > Is there a separate debate here that we could stand to be generally more aware of racism and combating it? Sure. But that has nothing to do with Sterling being a racist douche, nor does it absolve him in even the slightest for what he said this time. Never said it did. I think we can all agree that Sterling is both the aforementioned douche and a racist. 😉 That said, I do find it interesting that the racist “lightning strike” is almost unilaterally targeted in the same direction. Racism is bad when it is levied against ANY other person, not just one race. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/193 "2014-04-30T00:18:08Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Well, except for the “devil” part, I don’t see a problem with it: “The rationale is that the black man is God and created the universe, and is physically stronger and intellectually stronger and more righteous naturally. Whiteness is weak and wicked and inferior — basically just an errant child who needs to be corrected.” Caucasians, meanwhile, don’t enjoy an exalted status in the narrative of the Five Percenters. "The first lesson I learned from the Five Percent was simple: F–k white people. Seriously. White people are devils,” I would qualify this as racism… but hey that’s me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/194 "2014-04-30T00:18:14Z")
> [@chicagowhitesox1173](#): > > Do you really think I made this up? Secondly do you really feel white players aren’t treated badly by black players in the NBA? If you really believe this then fine i’ll retract my statement. This has been a elephant in the room kinda deal in the NBA for years. Whiteboy is a name that runs rampant on NBA courts. To me that’s a form of racism too. I have no idea if you made it up. Given your comments here, your ability to parse the information presented to you is highly suspect. Even during the span of a few posts,you have gone from calling it’s well known fact to a claim you may have heard in a documentary you cannot find. Even attempting to analogize an individual using the term, “white boy” to describe a peer to an owner like Sterling actively discriminating against employees and damaging the NBA brand is just laughable. > [@chargerrich](#): > > OK serious question. Since we are - rightfully - blasting Sterling for his comments, should we also be calling Jay Z a racist for his “[5 percent nation](http://www.vice.com/read/what-i-learned-from-the-five-percenters)” beliefs? > > After all was he not an owner in the Brooklyn NBA franchise? > > Just curious why this has never been an issue or topic. Do we criticize every owner wearing a cross for advocating slavery and beating one’s wife? After all, every person wearing a piece of jewelry associated with a religion must actively believe everything the religion espouses, right? Besides, there is no evidence Jay-Z is a 5 percenter, and (IIRC) he had already sold his stake in the team when he wore the chain. I bet if he had been an owner, and he openly stated that White people are the devil, he would have been fined harshly. But don’t let the facts or commonsense stop you from embarrassing yourself by posting nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/195 "2014-04-30T00:20:58Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Never said it did. I think we can all agree that Sterling is both the aforementioned douche and a racist. 😉 > > That said, I do find it interesting that the racist “lightning strike” is almost unilaterally targeted in the same direction. Racism is bad when it is levied against ANY other person, not just one race. You understand that there is a reason for this, right? Given American history and sociocultural development? To an _overwhelming_ extent, white racism against non-whites has had a deep, devastating effect on non-whites in America for half a millennium. Racism against whites–while it no doubt exists to some extent–has almost zero negative effect on white people. We still live in a white supremacist culture (though no doubt it has slowly been getting better since 1865) and so long as this is true, white racism against non-whites will remain an important social factor and not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/196 "2014-04-30T00:24:16Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > I have no idea if you made it up. Given your comments here, your ability to parse the information presented to you is highly suspect. Even during the span of a few posts,you have gone from calling it’s well known fact to a claim you may have heard in a documentary you cannot find. Even attempting to analogize an individual using the term, “white boy” to describe a peer to an owner like Sterling actively discriminating against employees and damaging the NBA brand is just laughable. > > Do we criticize every owner wearing a cross for advocating slavery and beating one’s wife? After all, every person wearing a piece of jewelry associated with a religion must actively believe everything the religion espouses, right? > > Besides, there is no evidence Jay-Z is a 5 percenter, and (IIRC) he had already sold his stake in the team when he wore the chain. I bet if he had been an owner, and he openly stated that White people are the devil, he would have been fined harshly. > > But don’t let the facts or commonsense stop you from embarrassing yourself by posting nonsense. You “betting” he would have been fined harshly is not a fact. But feel free to continue to get personal instead of having a civil dialogue. Careful you got a little extra self righteousness on your shirt there… ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/197 "2014-04-30T00:28:50Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You understand that there is a reason for this, right? Given American history and sociocultural development? > > To an _overwhelming_ extent, white racism against non-whites has had a deep, devastating effect on non-whites in America for half a millennium. Racism against whites–while it no doubt exists to some extent–has almost zero negative effect on white people. We still live in a white supremacist culture (though no doubt it has slowly been getting better since 1865) and so long as this is true, white racism against non-whites will remain an important social factor and not the other way around. I do understand that completely. However IMO all racism should be treated as equally unjust, ignorant and narrow and should be met with something approaching zero tolerance. You know, two rights do not make a right and all. ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/198 "2014-04-30T00:37:05Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > I have no idea if you made it up. Given your comments here, your ability to parse the information presented to you is highly suspect. Even during the span of a few posts,you have gone from calling it’s well known fact to a claim you may have heard in a documentary you cannot find. Even attempting to analogize an individual using the term, “white boy” to describe a peer to an owner like Sterling actively discriminating against employees and damaging the NBA brand is just laughable. > > Do we criticize every owner wearing a cross for advocating slavery and beating one’s wife? After all, every person wearing a piece of jewelry associated with a religion must actively believe everything the religion espouses, right? > > Besides, there is no evidence Jay-Z is a 5 percenter, and (IIRC) he had already sold his stake in the team when he wore the chain. I bet if he had been an owner, and he openly stated that White people are the devil, he would have been fined harshly. > > But don’t let the facts or commonsense stop you from embarrassing yourself by posting nonsense. I never said I may have heard about a documentary. I saw the documentary. Although it may have been a WGN special report. I really don’t recall where I saw it. So let me ask you this, What Sterling said is bad but he said it in confidence not knowing this was going public. What if he tells a black player on the court…Hey sit down black boy, you ain’t shit. This kind of talk goes on towards white players all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/199 "2014-04-30T00:42:14Z")
> [@](#): > > However IMO all racism should be treated as equally unjust, ignorant and narrow and should be met with something approaching zero tolerance. You know, two rights do not make a right and all. Wait, zero tolerance? What the fuck? Are you the same **chargerrich** whose opening gambit in this thread was to say Sterling was set up, and then follow it with > [@](#): > > Yeah the dude has money and public face so lets run him out of town, but his generation is almost gone so these are not long lasting and/or impacting opinions… just an old man exposing the same hatred he was probably taught by his parents. ? As long as we’re sharing opinions: I think you sound like you’re invested in defending the kind of supremacist culture **Acsenray** was talking about. I think you’d prefer it if racism would keep being swept under the rug. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069/200 "2014-04-30T00:45:41Z")
> [@chicagowhitesox1173](#): > > So let me ask you this, What Sterling said is bad but he said it in confidence not knowing this was going public. What if he tells a black player on the court…Hey sit down black boy, you ain’t shit. This kind of talk goes on towards white players all the time. What if he systematically contributed to a racist housing culture which forced minorities into ghettoes and reinforced the cycles of inner city violence? Oh fuck wait, he already did that. What were you talking about again? You’re defending racism in 2014. That is what you’re doing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-owners-racism-exposed/687069.md?page=11)