NBA Players Were Willing to Boycott If Sterling Wasn't Punished

ABC News ^ | 04/29/2014 | By COLLEEN CURRY

[SeekAndFind]

The NBA Players Association threatened to boycott the league if swift, punitive action wasn't taken against Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for racist comments he made against African-Americans, the players said today.

Roger Mason, the NBPA vice president, described a league-wide phone call that took place Monday night among players and league executives in which the players had threatened to walk if NBA Commissioner Adam Silver went easy on Sterling.

Earlier today, Silver announced the NBA had banned Sterling for life and asked the Board of Governors to force a sale of the team.

"We had a call with the commissioner, with the executive committee representatives [of the Board of Governors], and with players across the league, and the commissioner asked us what our views were," Mason said today. "We made it clear the players were ready to boycott."

Mason appeared with Kevin Johnson, president of the National Basketball Players Association, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Steve Nash and a host of other current and former players in Los Angeles following the NBA's announcement.

[nascarnation]

That's true.

The number of USA black players has declined significantly.

Not sure if urban youts think bball is uncool or what....

[11th Commandment]

What does she get out of all of this?

I have not followed this story with "CNN" obsession. HOWEVER, I find it more than coincidental that the picture with Magic Johnson prompted his tirade (which he was cajoled into). Magic has made no bones that he wants the Clippers and it would be very fortuitous for the NBA to suddenly gain an African American Owner.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Racist comments against blacks..not OK..yet Sterling trashes Jews in the same tape, not a peep from the media..and WOW so players would refuse to play, what would they do instead, knock up women and do drugs

[cripplecreek]

Its a long hard road to the major league without big scholarships to back it up. Teams do sign kids to development deals right out of high school but there’s no grantee that they’ll make the big time.

The Tigers signed Jason Verlander and Torii Hunter Jr last year. Verlander is playing baseball at VA Tech and Hunter is playing football where he’s in school.

[oldbrowser]

Now the next step will be to insist that the franchise be sold to a black person. Just to make up for the unfortunate remarks Sterling made.

It would also be a good idea to set a program in place where the league will give blacks priority in acquiring franchises as they become available. The players association is not contemplating union action but since blacks make up the majority of the players in the league, they do have concerns.

[Mears]

I read Big Papi’s book a few years back.

He had quite a struggle for about 10 years.

It’s a tough road to the big time.

.

[bert]

I read that Magic and the Ho conspired to release the tape to create the hubbub

FOR RACIAL BALANCE THE NBA needs,to shed two thirds of the black players

c

[SoFloFreeper]

[Hotlanta Mike]

I don’t know of many. And before this recent success of the team Sterling always underpaid his players, which is why those number draft picks over those years of mediocrity never wanted to play for him.

[nascarnation]

My expertise is totally lacking but I find it interesting that baseball has two roads to the top pro level (college via scholarship) or minor league with (small) salary.

You would think urban youts would have more chances rather than less in baseball vs basketball or football.

[Grams A]

Michael Beery was talking about this today. Mentioned a book deal, reality show, late night TV talk show appearances, Dancing with the Stars, etc. Apparently she already has an agent. Just lots and lots of money to be made if she jumps on it right away. But like everything else, people’s attention is short term and the flap over this issue will only last until the libs move onto the next issue which they can exploit for racial purposes.

[blueplum]

Magic has Sterling’s galpal on his... sleeve
Magic wants to buy a team
galpal sets a beartrap
because
there’s a $1.8 million dollar lawsuit
that must disappear
like magic
the galpal is for sale
and so is the team?
how convenient
but they forgot one thing
Sterling has a wife
oops

““We do know that the woman on the tape — who we believe released it to TMZ — is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would ‘get even.’ “

http://nba.si.com/2014/04/27/donald-sterling-wife-clippers-owner-racist/

[Texas Songwriter]

I agree with you, though Sterling is an anachronism. What worries me is the statement by the commissioner. He said, "To all of you bigots out there your views will not be tolerated." So we move from racism to bigotry. Bigotry encompasses a wider swath of 'groups'. If one does to 'like' homosexuals and makes such an utterance, is he at risk to loose his property? What about disparaging pedophiles, perderists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, teachers, dog-killing police, or…..;.pick any group. To confiscate a persons property without due process seems UnAmerican. These are dangerous ideas for the American people to simply declare a devotion to without thinking it through.

[nascarnation]

Good analysis.

She needs to hit the jackpot before the MSM turns its total focus to the birth and early childhood of William Jefferson Webster “lil bubba” Clinton-Mezvinsky.

[hdbc]

I smell a lawsuit against the NBA, TMZ and some of the other actors in this recording of a private conversation.

Although, I really could care less about basketball, I thought I was the only person who was thinking there is something wrong when a private phone conversation goes viral and destroys a person’s life. I hope he sues the mistress and TMZ.

[molson209]

Could care less , I never ever watch/watched NBA anyway

[baddog 219]

[cripplecreek]

I’ve noticed that there are a fairly high number of blacks in the MLB who come from complete families.

[RinaseaofDs]

It appears Sterling has been publically lynched.

[Mike Darancette]

He’s 81 years old so it should not be such a big deal to sell the team when he can get maximum price for it.

I'm surprised his family doesn't have him declared incompetent and take charge of the team and his other assets