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Where's the Outrage: Clips Owner Pays Millions to Settle Racial Discrimination Charges

Donald Sterling is the not only the extraordinarily cheap owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, but a Southern California real estate developer with hundred of apartments throughout the Southland.  Three years ago the Justice Department sued him alleging that he favored Korean tenants and  systematically discriminated against blacks, Hispanics and familirs with children in renting apartments. The Justice Department, Sterling and his wife have agreed to settle the charges for a record of more than $2.7 million. The settlement agreement must still be approved by the judge presiding over the case.

According to the Justice Department, the settlement is "the largest monetary payment ever obtained" in a case of this type, and, says Thomas Perez, the assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, "the magnitude of this settlement should send a message to all landlords that we will vigorously pursue violations of the Fair Housing Act."

Indeed, it is a significant settlement and one that the NBA should take seriously, but have we heard a peep out of the Commissioner's office?  Out of Sterling's fellow owners?  How about the players union, you know, the one that represents an overwhelmingly African-American membership.  I'm not trying to cast this strictly in terms of race, but if ever there was an issue off the court that one could expect the union and the owners to agree on it should be that an owner who has been forced into the largest settlement ever made by the Justice Department in a racial discrimination case ought to have some explaining to do.

Oh, while we're at it, where is the media in all of this?  Outside of Yahoo! Sports, there has been virtually no media coverage whatsoever.  So, what exactly is going on here?  Why the crucifixion of Rush Limbaugh (justified in my opinion) and the free pass given to Sterling?  Perhaps it's because Sterling is already a member of the club, and has been one for many years - so many he has practically perfected the art of making money while putting out a pathetic product.  Remember that this is not the first charge of discrimination against Sterling in the last few years.  Following his rather sudden firing of Elgin Baylor, Baylor filed a wrongful termination suit based on age and race discrimination.  Of course, that had as much to do with his firing as it did any discrimination but still where there is smoke...

So, Mr. Commissioner, when do you plan on making a statement on the Sterling situation?  When do we get to hear about the fine or suspension levied against Sterling that would surely be levied against a player in a similar situation?  Just what action do you plan on taking to restore the good name of not just the Clippers but the NBA, because just as surely as Donald Sterling is forever tainted by this settlement, so too are the partners he keeps and it certainly doesn't help a business that claims to be open to the world to be harboring an owner who won't allow the world to rent an apartment from him.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on November 07, 2009 (boomark / email).