TMZ released an audio of Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling allegedly making racially charged comments directed at African Americans. In the audio clip, a voice that sounds like Sterling is heard scolding V. Stiviano, his girlfriend, for bringing African-Americans to Clippers games and posting photos of her and African-Americans to her Instagram account.
National Action Network founder and MSNBC’s Politics Nation host Reverend Al Sharpton released a statement in rebuke. “The NBA must investigate L.A. Clippers owner, Donald Sterling’s recent racial comments that were caught on tape and discipline him,” said Reverend Sharpton.
“No one should be allowed to own a team if they have in fact engaged in this kind of racial language. We are prepared at National Action Network to rally in front of the NBA headquarters if this matter is not immediately dealt with.”
The Los Angeles Clippers are in a playoff hunt, currently holding a 2-1 lead over the Golden State Warriors in round 1 of the NBA’s Western Conference Playoffs. According to tweets from Yahoo Sports’ NBA writer Marc J. Spears, Clippers coach Doc Rivers, an African American, responded to the controversy by saying: “We were not happy with any of it. We’re going to let the due process happen.”
Rivers added: “It upsets me and upsets this team.”
Members of the Clippers refused to comment publicly. Clippers point guard Chris Paul is the NBA players union president and released a statement saying: “As players, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and the drive to the Finals.”
The Los Angeles Clippers will play game four tomorrow of their best of seven series against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in Oakland.