Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling fouled out of the National Basketball Association on Tuesday for saying racist remarks. That move is costing him $2.5 million.
“This is a painful moment of all members of the NBA family,” says NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after banning Sterling from the game. “We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling views. They have no place in the NBA.”
Silver is also calling on the NBA's longest-tenured owner to sell the Clippers, which would require the approval of three-quarters of the current owners.
"The thing that gets me right now is that all of sudden … everybody is so surprised,” says Rod Baker, a former Rochester RazorSharks head coach and current coach of the Delaware 87ers, a team of the NBA's Development League. “This leopard didn't all of a sudden change its spots into being racist. He’s been racist all the time. Now, all of a sudden everybody's upset about it. It’s almost like a double edged sword. It’s like every once and a while we need this reminder."
A reminder Baker says that deeply rooted racism still exists in some people in high level positions. He calls this is a defining moment for the league, its players and coaches.
“That everything isn't hunky dorky. I guess, for some part, it's nice that Chris Paul knows the guy who signs this pay check is racist.”
Baker’s suggestion to young athletes is pay attention to the language that their coaches, athletic director and teammates use. He says they shouldn't walk into any situation blindly.
The scandal broke over the weekend when an audio tape was released by TMZ alleging the voice on it was Sterling's condemning his girlfriend for associating with black people.