Suns Owner Robert Sarver Accused of Racism, Sexism, & Sexual Harrassment

[tenn_smoothie]

I find it ridiculous that Sarver tells his own black head coach, Earl Watson, that it bothers him for Draymond Green to have free license to use the n-word all night during a 2016 game against the Suns only to have Watson response be a profane tirade, informing him (Sarver) that he cannot, at any time, use that word, making no attempt to address the obvious double-standard that Sarver's comments were actually about. The real racism here is to support this sort of behavior as acceptable and as "part of their culture", patting black people on the head, in essence saying, "We won't require you to abide by normal, respectful social conduct, We know you are doing the best you can."

[gouki88]

I find it ridiculous that Sarver tells his own black head coach, Earl Watson, that it bothers him for Draymond Green to have free license to use the n-word all night during a 2016 game against the Suns only to have Watson response be a profane tirade, informing him (Sarver) that he cannot, at any time, use that word, making no attempt to address the obvious double-standard that Sarver's comments were actually about. The real racism here is to support this sort of behavior as acceptable and as "part of their culture", patting black people on the head, in essence saying, "We won't require you to abide by normal, respectful social conduct, We know you are doing the best you can."

Nothing like an old white guy to tell black people what “real” racism actually is

[Moranis]

Well Penny Sarver, i.e. Robert's wife, apparently messaged 3 of the former Suns employees in the story

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32592504/penny-sarver-wife-robert-sarver-sent-messages-three-former-phoenix-suns-employees

"Over the weekend, I decided on my own to reach out to a few people to try to set the record straight and to share how disappointed and hurt I am by the lies that are circulating about my husband and the Suns organization," Penny Sarver said. "I shared the betrayal that I felt and I touched on some of the pain that we are going through as a family.

"Any suggestion that I tried to 'intimidate' anyone is as silly as it is wrong and outrageous."

ESPN has reviewed the messages, which the former employees each confirmed receiving.

"This is Penny Sarver," one message began. "I know a lot of bridges were burned between you and Robert and you are very bitter. I want to remind you that real lives are at stake here."

Later, the message added, "Please put your hatred aside and realize the hurt you are causing by spreading lies and fabrications. Is your time in the spotlight that important? If something happens to one of my children, I will hold you and Earl Watson personally responsible. Think about your own child for a second and imagine the tables turned."

Watson is a former Suns head coach who told ESPN that Sarver's language and behavior emboldened a toxic workplace.

"I don't know how to interpret it other than as a threat," one former employee said of the message they received.

A second former employee received a message that began, "I am so terribly saddened that you would say such untrue things about my husband. Your interpretation of what happened is so far from the truth. You are crushing my families lives. Thanks for that."

A third former employee said their message began, "You are such a liar. In your trying to destroy my husband with [your] lies -- you have destroyed my family and children."

[Moranis]

Plus, Sports Illustrated dropped this story.

https://www.si.com/nba/2021/11/10/suns-owner-robert-sarver-sexual-jokes-video

Generally looking worse and worse for the Sarvers who apparently can't get out of their own way.

[tazzmaniac]

Plus, Sports Illustrated dropped this story.

https://www.si.com/nba/2021/11/10/suns-owner-robert-sarver-sexual-jokes-video

Generally looking worse and worse for the Sarvers who apparently can't get out of their own way.

Don't see the big deal in this.  The deceased's wife said it was a roast and she wasn't offended by Sarver's remarks. 

[Moranis]

Plus, Sports Illustrated dropped this story.

https://www.si.com/nba/2021/11/10/suns-owner-robert-sarver-sexual-jokes-video

Generally looking worse and worse for the Sarvers who apparently can't get out of their own way.

Don't see the big deal in this.  The deceased's wife said it was a roast and she wasn't offended by Sarver's remarks.

It shows the character.  You can roast without going way over the top sexual.  Especially talking about his kids.  It just shows the type of person Sarver is and clearly supports what a lot of the ESPN article said, that Sarver created a hostile work environment with his immature and inappropriate language, jokes, and conduct.

[tazzmaniac]

Plus, Sports Illustrated dropped this story.

https://www.si.com/nba/2021/11/10/suns-owner-robert-sarver-sexual-jokes-video

Generally looking worse and worse for the Sarvers who apparently can't get out of their own way.

Don't see the big deal in this.  The deceased's wife said it was a roast and she wasn't offended by Sarver's remarks.

It shows the character.  You can roast without going way over the top sexual.  Especially talking about his kids.  It just shows the type of person Sarver is and clearly supports what a lot of the ESPN article said, that Sarver created a hostile work environment with his immature and inappropriate language, jokes, and conduct.

His adult kids.  I found the ESPN article to be a pretty weak overall hit piece.  Is the Suns environment worse than the Mavs environment for which Cuban got a slap on the wrist? 

[Kiorrik]

Plus, Sports Illustrated dropped this story.

https://www.si.com/nba/2021/11/10/suns-owner-robert-sarver-sexual-jokes-video

Generally looking worse and worse for the Sarvers who apparently can't get out of their own way.

Don't see the big deal in this.  The deceased's wife said it was a roast and she wasn't offended by Sarver's remarks.

It shows the character.  You can roast without going way over the top sexual.  Especially talking about his kids.  It just shows the type of person Sarver is and clearly supports what a lot of the ESPN article said, that Sarver created a hostile work environment with his immature and inappropriate language, jokes, and conduct.

His adult kids.  I found the ESPN article to be a pretty weak overall hit piece.  Is the Suns environment worse than the Mavs environment for which Cuban got a slap on the wrist?

Yeah if that was a roast ... look man, that's tame.

[celticsclay]

His jokes weren’t funny, but I really don’t want our society to head in the direction of judging the jokes someone makes at a roast for their character (especially if the host was uninvited). Has anyone watched roasts on Comedy Central? Every comedian on there has said things ten times worse than this.

Also I will add as bad poor taste as some of the jokes were whoever was recording a memorial roast for a deceased man and selling it to the media to try and make someone lose their job is the most classless action in all of this. If the guy committed a crime, charge him. If people really hate him, including the players, boycott the team and let the free market speak. This cancel culture stuff is ridiculous.

[Kernewek]

I find it ridiculous that Sarver tells his own black head coach, Earl Watson, that it bothers him for Draymond Green to have free license to use the n-word all night during a 2016 game against the Suns only to have Watson response be a profane tirade, informing him (Sarver) that he cannot, at any time, use that word, making no attempt to address the obvious double-standard that Sarver's comments were actually about. The real racism here is to support this sort of behavior as acceptable and as "part of their culture", patting black people on the head, in essence saying, "We won't require you to abide by normal, respectful social conduct, We know you are doing the best you can."

Nothing like an old white guy to tell black people what “real” racism actually is

How else will "they" learn otherwise?

[Moranis]

His jokes weren’t funny, but I really don’t want our society to head in the direction of judging the jokes someone makes at a roast for their character (especially if the host was uninvited). Has anyone watched roasts on Comedy Central? Every comedian on there has said things ten times worse than this.

Also I will add as bad poor taste as some of the jokes were whoever was recording a memorial roast for a deceased man and selling it to the media to try and make someone lose their job is the most classless action in all of this. If the guy committed a crime, charge him. If people really hate him, including the players, boycott the team and let the free market speak. This cancel culture stuff is ridiculous.

I generally agree, but those are the exact type of jokes he was allegedly making at work.  I just think it shows his nature.  That he thinks there is nothing wrong with that.  And I understand what roasts are, but generally you don't go after kids in a roast.  That is always pretty much off limits.  And joking about an owner masturbating and leaving the residue in a player's socks.  I mean come on. 

Sarver comes off like a 16 year old meathead.  You can't run a billion dollar sports team that way.  You can't bring the locker-room talk into the work place. 

[timpiker]

I'm sick of all this Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline., the double standards and the hypocrisy that happens daily.