UPDATE (10:37 AM PST): Magic Johnson responded to Donald Sterling’s alleged comments on Twitter and says he will never go to a Clippers game as long as Sterling is the owner:
TMZ reported this morning that Clippers owner Donald Sterling doesn't want me or other African-Americans to come to Clippers games.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
.@cjbycookie and I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
I feel sorry for my friends Coach Doc Rivers and Chris Paul that they have to work for a man that feels that way about African Americans.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
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After his girlfriend posted a picture with Laker legend Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling allegedly made racist comments as he was caught on tape. The tape was sold to TMZ and quickly blew up over the internet as fans were shocked by the owner’s alleged words.
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Sterling was allegedly disgraceful in his choice of words as he ruthlessly attacked his girlfriend over her association with African-Americans. Some of his comments were transcribed by TMZ.
Sterling even allegedly went as far as telling her to not bring Magic Johnson to any of his basketball games:
“…Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.”
Sterling has quite a history regarding previous events. He has been sued multiple times over refusing to rent apartments to African-American families and also, his former general manager, Elgin Baylor, sued the owner for racial discrimination after his dismissal from the team.
Being obviously caught off guard by the situation, Magic told TMZ Sports that it’s a shame that Sterling allegedly feels that way about African-Americans:
“It’s a shame that Donald Sterling feels that way about African-Americans.”
He adds, “He has a team full of amazing African-American basketball players that are working to bring a championship to Clippers fans.”
Sterling’s alleged comments will not only cause a major distraction for his team, but will take away what their fans should really be focused on at the time, the playoffs. After finally breaking from the mantra that he wasn’t willing to spend money on a winning team, Sterling appears to have taken yet another step back in his term as an owner.
The Clipper organization will have a lot of questions to answer in the coming days as these alleged comments like these are completely unacceptable. The NBA has no place for such degrading words and the league will surely step in and levy some sort of punishment.
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