NBA Punishes Suns Owner (Not Enough) and Graham Predicts "Riots in the Streets"
Racist Backlash to "The Little Mermaid," "Rings of Power," the Joy of Religious Songs, and More
I’m excited about this week’s column because I have such a variety of topics. We’ve got the usual political craziness and racism in sports and pop culture (though I long for the day when I won’t write about that because it won’t exist). But we also have a nice homage to Stevie Wonder and religious music and an appreciation of the fright delight Barbarians. Enjoy.
Sports: When Is Bad Behavior Too Much?
What did Suns owner Robert Sarver do, and can the NBA dump him like Donald Sterling? (The Athletic)
Summary: The NBA has fined Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver $10 million (the maximum) and suspended him for one year from any participation with his two teams. After a 10-month investigation, it was concluded that he repeatedly used the n-word, disparaged women in the workplace, and created a hostile workplace.
My Take: How is it possible that owners using the n-word and harassing female employees is still a thing? Because some wealthy team owners still have a plantation mentality that their money insulates them from common decency or the law. They see themselves as elevated to godlike status and are confused and angry when everyone around them isn’t grateful to be in their presence. Instead of receding into history where it belongs, this arrogant paternal attitude has gained traction since the ascension of Trump and his acolytes. They have demeaned women by denying them their reproductive rights, banished the LGBTQ+ community, and diminished Blacks by curtailing their voting.
Sarver is just part of the larger pattern of the resurgence of an entitled conservative backlash against all marginalized people who have been making social and political progress. How was he able to get away with it for 18 years? That’s the real question—and the answer shames us all.
LeBron James has expressed his disagreement with the NBA decision by tweeting: “Our league definitely got this wrong… I said it before and I’m gonna say it again, there is no place in this league for that kind of behavior. I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn’t right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don’t matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it.”
Suns point guard Chris Paul, former president of the National Basketball Players Association, also wanted more stringent consequences: “I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior.”
In 2014, I wrote an article for Time encouraging the NBA to strip Donald Sterling of his ownership of the Clippers for the racist comments caught on tape by his then-girlfriend. Sarver should face the same punishment. What message does it convey to the public that 18 years of racism, misogyny, and mistreatment of employees is not enough to warrant getting booted from ownership? Reports confirm that throughout the years, members of Sarver’s staff advised him against this behavior, which he deliberately chose to ignore because he knew that money sets moral standards.
The NBA is the most socially progressive professional sports organization around, but they disappointed a lot of players, fans, and the general public by not taking the punishment far enough. A mere fine and one-year suspension is not an endorsement of Sarver’s behavior, but neither is it the zero-tolerance rejection it should be. The NBA had the opportunity to make a bold statement in support of Black players and women. But they blinked.