It seems as though owners getting in trouble for past comments is what’s trendy in the world of sports.
Robert Sarver of Phoenix Suns, the owner, is being scrutinized after 70 Suns workers and past employees have made personal statements about Sarver’s racist and misogynistic comments during his 17 year tenure.
Normaly, I’d look at it and conclude that this was just a troublemaking mob seeking someone to crucify at any sign of trouble. But unlike the Jon Gruden situation that unfolded last month, the circumstances and the sheer number of people willing to testify in Sarver’s case seem a lot more damning.
Chris Paul, Suns pointguard, expressed his opinion about the situation.
“I’ve been through a few situations in my time in the league,” Paul said. “The powers that be, they look into it. They do their investigations or whatnot, but I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned through all these years is that us as a team, we’ve got to talk. It’s not about what everybody else is saying or everybody else is telling you to do or should do. It’s about how we feel as a team, as a unit, coaching staff, everybody with the organization.”
Paul was in a similar position when Donald Sterling, then the Clippers’ owner, fired him for making racist remarks. If anyone would know how to act maturely in these situations, it’s CP#3.
Unfortunately, Paul’s maturity and willingness to focus on basketball (something he can control) and not on what happens with the investigation (something he cannot control) was seen as a sign of – you guessed it – racism within the NBA.
Related: Raiders Fire Gruden for Comments … Made 10 Years Ago?
Martenzie Johnson of the Undefeated wrote that Paul doesn’t ferociously criticize Sarver. This essentially means that Paul is trying to save himself.
“It’s a survival mechanism, particularly for those in professional sports: showing loyalty in an effort to feel accepted (or remain employed) by the very people causing you harm.”
He further alleges that it is “unfair” to only have black people be the ones voicing their displeasure about these situations, and claims that “actual structural changes (in the NBA) will come from the actions of the people who look like Sarver.”
Translated: white people haven’t done enough to fix racism (despite being constantly shamed as the main enablers of it) and need to viciously turn on other whites to fix it.
This isn’t a way to create unity, or anything that can bring about any positive changes. That’s a solution bred from contempt and fearmongering that can only end in pain and destruction. How is it that the people that claim to be the champions of racial unity consistently use division and fear as their main weapon to carry out their agenda?
Instead of pitting whites against whites in a fight to the death, maybe Johnson can take a page from Paul’s book. Everyone should wait for the results of the investigation and go from there instead of trying to fire a man accused – not convicted – of these grievances. Instead of being impatient and rushing to express an opinion, it is better to take your time and wait to see the final outcome.
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