Re: So Clippers owner Donald Sterling is extremely racist
I'm kind of torn with this whole Donald Sterling deal. The guy is undoubtedly a turd, but I don't know if he should be forced to sell his team because of statements he made in the privacy of his own home. In a world where people are up in arms about the government infringing on their privacy, no one seems to be concerned with Sterling's privacy. You're allowed to have archaic views or thoughts in this country. The only hang up for me is what do you do when those views become public? You can't put the proverbial jack back in the box. I completely understand why Silver acted as he did. From a players' perspective, I completely understand the outrage. As a black guy, I understand the knee jerk reaction to say "Fuck Donald Sterling". But as an American I just find the breakdown of our privacy disturbing as well as the repercussions your private thoughts and conversations have on your livelihood.
I am as big of a proponent of freedom as anyone, but, according to Sterling's mistress, he agreed to be recorded so as to help him remember things. If this were true, then he agreed to being recorded. Regardless of the reason, his mistress recorded it with hardware that she owned, making the recording her property, which, again, if he agreed to this, makes it legally hers. If it's her property, then she can do whatever she wants with such a recording without infringing upon anyone's rights. In the state of California, both parties are required to consent to the recording of a conversation, which would be fulfilled if Sterling did agree. It's not Sterling's mistress' fault that he did not have the foresight to realize that, by consenting to such a recording, she could do whatever she wanted with it. Again, this is if he did agree to the recording.
If he didn't agree to the recording, then I completely agree that she had no right to release that recording and that his mistress should be in legal trouble. The problem is proving that he agreed or didn't agree to the recording. However, I do agree with how the NBA handled things regardless of whether or not the recording was acquired legally. When that type of information becomes public for everyone to see, the NBA has to do something about it. The NBA is not bound by laws of prosecution such as having to legally acquire evidence. Although a court room couldn't use such a recording against Sterling should it have been illegally obtained (such as if this recording were used against him in some of his discrimination cases), the NBA can. The NBA just has to follow the rules when ousting Sterling, but those powers are so great that it should be an inevitability. It might take longer than expected, depending on how much Sterling wants to draw it out, but it will eventually happen.
Btw, I didn't see these posted here, so I thought I'd add them.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/v-stiviano-barbara-walters - Interview with Sterling's mistress.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/donald-sterling-advice-clippers-scandal - Article stating that Sterling went against FO's recommendation for options concerning statement releases.
