The NBA has been much more active and responsive to issues involving race, social justice and equality.
The league vastly outshines the NFL, NHL and MLB in the fight against racism, bigotry, sexual harassment and other disgusting practices.
This week, the NBA stumbled in the pursuit they traditionally excel at.
On Tuesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the punishment levied against Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury owner, Robert Sarver.
With examples such as the support of Black Lives Matter and the most recent announcement that the league would defer to voting and not play on Election Day, many thought Sarver’s punishment would be heavy, reminiscent of the successful effort to oust former Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.
Sterling was infamously, and rightfully, forced to sell the team in 2014 after audio recordings of Sterling making racist comments surfaced. Silver, barely three months into his commissioner role, banned Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million in response. Referring to the NBA’s Constitution and By-Laws, Silver also urged the league’s Board of Governors to initiate a forced sale of the team.
After much legal wrangling and player pressure, Sterling was forced to sell the team for $2 billion to former Mircosoft executive and current owner, Steve Ballmer.
The NBA faced a similar scenario involving Sarver.
After allegations of racism, sexism and bullying, the NBA/WNBA opened up an investigation into his behavior. The result? A 36-page report from contracted law firm Wachtell, Lipton Rosen & Katz, detailing and verifying his actions through interviews with more than 100 individuals.
That’s not something you can bury.
Continue reading over at First and Pen.
This content has been brought to you by First and Pen in partnership with TheHub.News. First and Pen “amplifies local sports stories from voices of color to the national conscience…”
