A Little Perspective On Donald Sterling
As the Donald Sterling controversy and the forced sale of the Los Angeles Clippers is being settled in the court room, I have always been happy to consider how worse things could be: we could be Europe. This incident was particularly bothersome for me because it gives the left validation for their "racist America" narrative. However there is some perspective that many could benefit from. Donald Sterling is an old bigot who said some very ignorant things behind close doors. There are many people whom I know personally who says things just as ignorant or worse. However there is no recording to cause them harm in their public lives.
America has come a very long way in the past several decades with regards to race relations in sports and in society at large. During the 1950's, the Harlem Globetrotters on at least one occasion suffered the indignity of having to sleep in a county jail while traveling because no hotel would rent them rooms. NBA players during the 70's and 80's would sit around airports for hours like the rest of us waiting for their flights. After their seasons ended many would have to fall back on a 9 to 5 job in order to supplement their less than six figure salaries. Now professional athletes are shuttled around on private jets, stay in 5 star hotels and like Hollywood celebrities are the most worshiped people in the world. In American sports race is overwhelming irrelevant. Sports fans couldn't care less about the skin color of their sports hero's-its the wins and losses that matter.
In European countries, its common to see ugly displays of racism not seen in America even during the early days of Jim Crow. When France won the world cup, a French politician stated the team was 'unworthy" of France since so many of the players were non-white. In Italy when one team brought in a black substitute, the fans chanted "we don't want a negro'. In Germany entire sections of stadiums have been taken over by neo-Nazi's waving swastika flags. During matches matches in several European countries, black players have been pelted with bananas. One of the most infamous racist incidents took place in Spain several years ago. During a "friendly" match between Spain and England, thousands of fans in unison filled the stadium with 'Monkey chants' which were directed at Britain's black players. The incident was so embarrassing to Spain that the then prime minister issued an apology to England.
These are just a few examples of why the Sterling issue needs to be kept in perspective. In America race is largely a non-issue until certain individuals decide to make it one. The comparisons to the America of the segregation era are irresponsible. So Donald Sterling doesn't want his "sidepiece" to be seen with black men. Racist? yes. The end of civilization as we know it? Hardly.
America has come a very long way in the past several decades with regards to race relations in sports and in society at large. During the 1950's, the Harlem Globetrotters on at least one occasion suffered the indignity of having to sleep in a county jail while traveling because no hotel would rent them rooms. NBA players during the 70's and 80's would sit around airports for hours like the rest of us waiting for their flights. After their seasons ended many would have to fall back on a 9 to 5 job in order to supplement their less than six figure salaries. Now professional athletes are shuttled around on private jets, stay in 5 star hotels and like Hollywood celebrities are the most worshiped people in the world. In American sports race is overwhelming irrelevant. Sports fans couldn't care less about the skin color of their sports hero's-its the wins and losses that matter.
In European countries, its common to see ugly displays of racism not seen in America even during the early days of Jim Crow. When France won the world cup, a French politician stated the team was 'unworthy" of France since so many of the players were non-white. In Italy when one team brought in a black substitute, the fans chanted "we don't want a negro'. In Germany entire sections of stadiums have been taken over by neo-Nazi's waving swastika flags. During matches matches in several European countries, black players have been pelted with bananas. One of the most infamous racist incidents took place in Spain several years ago. During a "friendly" match between Spain and England, thousands of fans in unison filled the stadium with 'Monkey chants' which were directed at Britain's black players. The incident was so embarrassing to Spain that the then prime minister issued an apology to England.
These are just a few examples of why the Sterling issue needs to be kept in perspective. In America race is largely a non-issue until certain individuals decide to make it one. The comparisons to the America of the segregation era are irresponsible. So Donald Sterling doesn't want his "sidepiece" to be seen with black men. Racist? yes. The end of civilization as we know it? Hardly.
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