Where were they when the Sterling stuff exploded?

[wedman8]

Bird and Russell were not involved but MJ and LeBron, they were. I see...

[wedman8]

Or Kareem, he also was involved...

[fitzhickey]

Bird and Russell were not involved but MJ and LeBron, they were. I see...

No, but they deem themselves relevant. which they aren't at all.

[D.o.s.]

Or Kareem, he also was involved...

Bird and Russell were not involved but MJ and LeBron, they were. I see...

No, but they deem themselves relevant. which they aren't at all.

No, someone asked them their opinions, on the record, and they gave it. Jordan's a fellow owner -- he's one of Sterling's peers. LeBron is the best player in the league: he gets asked about everything. Kareem's always good to talk to, especially when it comes to civil rights, and he's in Los Angeles a fair amount, so it doesn't take much for a reporter to ask him. You really think KA-J can publish an op-ed in Time anytime he feels like it? No.

For all you know, someone might have tried to ask Russell or Bird about it, and they declined to give an on the record statement about it.

edit: in fact, when Jordan was first asked about it, he gave a "no comment," and was roundly criticized for it:
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/26/michael-jordan-declines-comment-on-donald-sterling/

[Ogaju]

perhaps Russell sees this for the power  grab that it is.

Sterling  life-long racist all of a sudden goes on a drunken rant on tape and says some terrible things about black people. Does his action deserve reprimand? Absolutely!!! Does it deserve the overreaction by folks like Magic, the commissioner, and the players' association? Absolutely not!

Interesting that the tape is released right in the heat of the playoffs. Also interesting that the players threatening a playoff-wide boycott. What exactly was the commissioner to do. Ever heard of collusion? Ever heard of duress?? This case goes to court and Sterling will win big time.

Surprised that nobody even thinks there is something wrong with Magic Johnson the pseudo leader of the boycott is in the running to buy the team? It all stinks.

Reprimand the guy, but I don't think you can take his team for this? Maybe you can get him for some of the real racist stuff he has done over the years, but not for this.

And since we are becoming the moral police anyone have a problem with Nike using child labor in China? Is Nike not a big NBA sponsor?

Maybe Russell is too smart to get involved hypocrisy.

[cb8883]

This lady is an absolute hero. She got this racist on tape and should never serve a day in jail. She exposed racism in the NBA. She should get all the tv deals she wants and even should be on real housewives. There is no place for this stuff in the NBA or the USA for that matter. Racism is too prevalent in America. We're the only country that believes it's okay to have teams named the Redskins, Indians, Seminoles, Fighting Irish. I can't wait till the old racist guard that doesn't want to evolve with society is in the ground. Congress needs to force these names to be changed and we need to stick up for the rights of the Native American people.

Back to the original point. V.Stiviano is an absolute hero for this and deserves to make money on this and be lauded by President Obama. Obama is a great president and his condemning of Donald Sterlings racist actions got the NBA to act. If Obama wasn't one of the greatest presidents of all time I doubt Sterling would have gotten a life time ban. This is just my opinion.

[Roy H.]

Yeah, Bill Russell definitely condones racism.  The fact that he hasn't launched a huge "look at me" campaign on this issue suggests that he was lock step in line with Sterling.

/sarcasm

I know it's the age we live in, but every celebrity doesn't have to weigh in on every social issue.  I think we can all safely assume Russell's position here.

[Clench123]

This lady is an absolute hero. She got this racist on tape and should never serve a day in jail. She exposed racism in the NBA. She should get all the tv deals she wants and even should be on real housewives. There is no place for this stuff in the NBA or the USA for that matter. Racism is too prevalent in America. We're the only country that believes it's okay to have teams named the Redskins, Indians, Seminoles, Fighting Irish. I can't wait till the old racist guard that doesn't want to evolve with society is in the ground. Congress needs to force these names to be changed and we need to stick up for the rights of the Native American people.

Back to the original point. V.Stiviano is an absolute hero for this and deserves to make money on this and be lauded by President Obama. Obama is a great president and his condemning of Donald Sterlings racist actions got the NBA to act. If Obama wasn't one of the greatest presidents of all time I doubt Sterling would have gotten a life time ban. This is just my opinion.

Stiviano is no hero and Obama isn't a great president.  I hate it when people cop the usual "it's just my opinion" when they are clearly making ridiculous claims.

[Clench123]

Yeah, Bill Russell definitely condones racism.  The fact that he hasn't launched a huge "look at me" campaign on this issue suggests that he was lock step in line with Sterling.

/sarcasm

I know it's the age we live in, but every celebrity doesn't have to weigh in on every social issue.  I think we can all safely assume Russell's position here.

Than you, Roy.  My sentiments as well.

[bdm860]

I know it's the age we live in, but every celebrity doesn't have to weigh in on every social issue.  I think we can all safely assume Russell's position here.

We need to get Ja Rule to weigh in on this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo-ddYhXAZc

[D.o.s.]

This lady is an absolute hero. She got this racist on tape and should never serve a day in jail. She exposed racism in the NBA. She should get all the tv deals she wants and even should be on real housewives. There is no place for this stuff in the NBA or the USA for that matter. Racism is too prevalent in America. We're the only country that believes it's okay to have teams named the Redskins, Indians, Seminoles, Fighting Irish. I can't wait till the old racist guard that doesn't want to evolve with society is in the ground. Congress needs to force these names to be changed and we need to stick up for the rights of the Native American people.

Back to the original point. V.Stiviano is an absolute hero for this and deserves to make money on this and be lauded by President Obama. Obama is a great president and his condemning of Donald Sterlings racist actions got the NBA to act. If Obama wasn't one of the greatest presidents of all time I doubt Sterling would have gotten a life time ban. This is just my opinion.

Stiviano is no hero and Obama isn't a great president.  I hate it when people cop the usual "it's just my opinion" when they are clearly making ridiculous claims.

One assumes that you've just implied it in this post?

[cb8883]

This lady is an absolute hero. She got this racist on tape and should never serve a day in jail. She exposed racism in the NBA. She should get all the tv deals she wants and even should be on real housewives. There is no place for this stuff in the NBA or the USA for that matter. Racism is too prevalent in America. We're the only country that believes it's okay to have teams named the Redskins, Indians, Seminoles, Fighting Irish. I can't wait till the old racist guard that doesn't want to evolve with society is in the ground. Congress needs to force these names to be changed and we need to stick up for the rights of the Native American people.

Back to the original point. V.Stiviano is an absolute hero for this and deserves to make money on this and be lauded by President Obama. Obama is a great president and his condemning of Donald Sterlings racist actions got the NBA to act. If Obama wasn't one of the greatest presidents of all time I doubt Sterling would have gotten a life time ban. This is just my opinion.

Stiviano is no hero and Obama isn't a great president.  I hate it when people cop the usual "it's just my opinion" when they are clearly making ridiculous claims.

Edit:

No politics except in the CE section.

-Faf

[Fafnir]

Lets leave the sidebar politics in the CE thread, if its not about Russell/Bird or basketball figures go there.

[manl_lui]

This lady is an absolute hero. She got this racist on tape and should never serve a day in jail. She exposed racism in the NBA. She should get all the tv deals she wants and even should be on real housewives. There is no place for this stuff in the NBA or the USA for that matter. Racism is too prevalent in America. We're the only country that believes it's okay to have teams named the Redskins, Indians, Seminoles, Fighting Irish. I can't wait till the old racist guard that doesn't want to evolve with society is in the ground. Congress needs to force these names to be changed and we need to stick up for the rights of the Native American people.

Back to the original point. V.Stiviano is an absolute hero for this and deserves to make money on this and be lauded by President Obama. Obama is a great president and his condemning of Donald Sterlings racist actions got the NBA to act. If Obama wasn't one of the greatest presidents of all time I doubt Sterling would have gotten a life time ban. This is just my opinion.

Stiviano is no hero and Obama isn't a great president.  I hate it when people cop the usual "it's just my opinion" when they are clearly making ridiculous claims.

wow I disagree with the entire statement.

A. V. Stiviano is NO hero. She is nothing more than a gold digger who is trying to play vigilante. Ok so it's NOT ok for the NSA to record private messages but it's absolutely ok for Stiviano to record Sterling in a PRIVATE conversation. Not that I am siding with Sterling, what he said was nasty but my point being, the whole situation is blown out of proportion. Punishment is very well deserved but it took ONE leaked tape for that to happen? He was racist for a while. How about the tenant scandal?

Edit: See above, lets keep it to the basketball related stuff.

-Faf

[esel1000]

This lady is an absolute hero. She got this racist on tape and should never serve a day in jail. She exposed racism in the NBA. She should get all the tv deals she wants and even should be on real housewives. There is no place for this stuff in the NBA or the USA for that matter. Racism is too prevalent in America. We're the only country that believes it's okay to have teams named the Redskins, Indians, Seminoles, Fighting Irish. I can't wait till the old racist guard that doesn't want to evolve with society is in the ground. Congress needs to force these names to be changed and we need to stick up for the rights of the Native American people.

Back to the original point. V.Stiviano is an absolute hero for this and deserves to make money on this and be lauded by President Obama. Obama is a great president and his condemning of Donald Sterlings racist actions got the NBA to act. If Obama wasn't one of the greatest presidents of all time I doubt Sterling would have gotten a life time ban. This is just my opinion.

Stiviano is no hero and Obama isn't a great president.  I hate it when people cop the usual "it's just my opinion" when they are clearly making ridiculous claims.

wow I disagree with the entire statement.

A. V. Stiviano is NO hero. She is nothing more than a gold digger who is trying to play vigilante. Ok so it's NOT ok for the NSA to record private messages but it's absolutely ok for Stiviano to record Sterling in a PRIVATE conversation. Not that I am siding with Sterling, what he said was nasty but my point being, the whole situation is blown out of proportion. Punishment is very well deserved but it took ONE leaked tape for that to happen? He was racist for a while. How about the tenant scandal?

I disagree as well but I'm going to diverge from the politics. I completely agree with you Manl on V. Stiviano.

Sure she recorded him and allowed the NBA to obtain documented proof on Sterling's racism, which is great, but this woman is no angel. It's come out that she's been arrested four times, changed her alias each time. She was dating a married man decades older than herself, obviously for the money. This isn't exactly a person with sound morals...

Look I'm happy Sterling got what he deserved, but the woman's no hero. If anything the moral fiber of the people involved (Sterling, his wife, V. Stiviano) disgust me almost as much as Sterling's comments. This is just an all around awful situation, and I hope when i have kids someday to raise them with greater morals than these characters have shown...