Don Sterling

Water Cooler
#121

I read it and didn’t feel like it was racist. Just matter of fact.

The facts, unfortunately, are that blacks spend less (aka generate less revenue) than whites, and whites tend to be afraid of blacks.

Why stating the obvious should force a guy to sell his team is beyond me.

#122

This is just silly. I don’t like the atmosphere of our current society where if you talk race you’re racist. I can see some things I think may be construed as racist, but given the context I would let it pass

  1. Attributing lack of father/son attendance
  2. Attributing empty seats to start the game (late arrivals)

But really what I read was someone trying to make a more inclusive environment for everyone.

#123

I wonder if the guy just wants out and thinks he can get a billion for the HAwks.

#124

Who else is awaiting BgayassChads Grand Dragon KKK rant? Forget Sterling, Bgachad is the real bigot.

#125

I read the transcript of the Levenson / Atlanta Hawks e-mail and I think this is a largely different situation from Don Stirling. To me, it seems that he is just making some observations about why the business is not doing well as it could, and some of those observations revolve around the demographics. I think race will always be a sensitive topic but he didn’t make any bigoted comments. He even stated himself that he never felt uncomfortable, and that he had been impressed by the friendliness and professionalism of the staff.

The problem is that as long as the core customer base wants something different as far as concessions, entertainment, and audience are concerned, and that experience is not being provided by the organization, then their revenues will continue to underwhelm.

So is this really outright racism by Levenson, or is this just simply a business owner taking a closer look at what may be causing the underperformance of his business, and trying to propose possible remedies? If the latter, then why so much negative backlash?

http://deadspin.com/heres-the-email-that-forced-hawks-owner-barry-levenson-1631640411?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

#126

Being a racist doubles the value of your NBA franchise, so smart move.

#127

Because if anybody insinuates (much less actually proves) that black people are more prone to commit crimes, or are less intelligent, or have any other negative quality associated with them, then they are automatically labeled a racist.

Note - it’s ok to say that black people are poorer than whites, as long as in the same sentence you somehow blame it on whitey.

#128

^ Looks like you can join the BgaChads KKK CFA Society. You’ll be member #3 behind FrankR.

I’m forwarding your comment to Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the ACLU.

#129

So the ACLU won’t defend my freedom of speech?

#130

We are not too far removed from when segregation was a major factor…blacks got a poorer education, went to colleges without any prestige and in turn wind up making a whole lot less money in their career. Unfortunately still today in the job market highly paid whites (finance especially) hire who they feel most “comfortable” with…other whites. Unfortunate, but true. As an example, Is it racism because I have two equally qualified candidates but one played college lacrosse and another football and as a hiring manager I would rather have the lacrosse kid becuase I have an interest in that? Some would call it racism…others may not…I think the scales need to be evened out because race relations in this country are not getting better…and I live in NYC, the proverbial melting pot. The owner should realize, the team is in Atlanta and not Boston. Cater to your audience.

#131

. . . pretty sure skin color is not the explanatory variable in this correlation

#132

Would you argue the point? Any of the points?