In view of the recent media blitzkrieg toward Clipper's Owner... I am curious why "Sir Charles'" comments were so quickly and easily forgotten. What if...? Banned for life is a long time... PHOENIX — This was vintage Charles Barkley, a hurricane sweeping through the NBA's All-Star Weekend. In an ESPN tape aired during the weekend, Barkley completed an answer to a question by saying: "See, that's why I hate white people." Barkley, the Phoenix Suns star who spent the first eight seasons of his career with the 76ers before being traded to Phoenix in 1992, was speaking during a Saturday media-access session. Question (from unidentified reporter): "We're doing a story on groupies in the NBA. Is the problem as bad as people think it is? Barkley: "No, that's another media misconception . . . Everybody talks about groupies this and that. No. 1, they should get a life. No. 2 - I mean the media - but No. 2, any guy out there in society who's handsome, or got a lot of money, women are gonna try to talk to him. So the groupie thing is a sick subject and you guys should get a bleeping life." At this point, Barkley takes one step, lowers his head and looks annoyed. Barkley: "Bleeperbleepers . . . See, that's why I hate white people." As soon as Barkley entered the interview room at America West Arena after scoring 15 points in the West's 139-112 All-Star victory, he - without prompting - addressed the issue. "I hear ESPN is trying to bleep me and some of you guys are trying to make a controversy," he said. "There's not gonna be a controversy. I was joking around with one of my friends. And that's it. If you don't like it, bleep you and your families, too." Later, in the West's locker room, Barkley said: "ESPN tried to make something out of nothing . . . I'm gonna get them back in the long run. They need me more than I need them. It was a joke, taken out of context." Before the game, he said: "That's typical journalism, trying to create a controversy when there is none." Suns owner Jerry Colangelo and coach Paul Westphal blew off the incident. "That's not worth two cents to me," Colangelo said. "Charles isn't anything like (his ESPN comments) would make him appear. If people can't figure that out, that's their problem." Westphal took it a step farther. "Charles is the least prejudiced person I know," he said. "He only teases people he likes. "If anybody can't take a joke better than that, they should find something to do with their time, eat more bran. "There are two things about Charles, if you know him and understand him: No. 1, he's an intense competitor; No. 2, he's a comedian and he mixes those at random (and) pulls it off superbly well most of the time. "I feel sorry for people who don't have anything better to do than misinterpret what he says on purpose. It's as if they're looking around, waiting to be offended." Jim Cohen, ESPN's chief of correspondents who was in Phoenix, said: "Every top management person involved agreed with the decision (to air Barkley's comments)." Brian McIntyre, group vice president and general manager of public relations for the NBA, said: "There's no comment from us, because there's nothing to comment about."
It really means nothing to me if some one hates a white or jokes about whites calling us hicks, rednecks or white trash. It really just isn't going to wreck my day, make me sad or make me mad. People say and do stupid stuff every day. Doesn't seem to matter what color your skin is as we all tend to generalize. Whites aren't the only ones who are racists. Charles comment wasn't bad to me... more humorous then anything. Tim
How long did it take you to look this up and retype it in here just to justify Donald Sterling's comments ? Pathetic. Do you feel better now? Is this your way of saying Sterling had the right to say what he did because Charles Barkley made those comments once ?
I didn't say that either. I think you just did? Does he not have the right to say something in private though is the question?
First of all... I'm pretty sure he was asking a question about how the two are different. Second of all, it's called the internet... simply type in "charles barkley 'that's why I hate white people'" from there you can use cut and paste... So if I had to guess I would say it took him maybe a matter of a few seconds to "retype" all that. Do I agree with Sterling? Absolutely not. However, his comments weren't made to the public either.
Pretty sure that wasn't his intent. And what is up your butt today. rule of thumb. You can only be a racist if you're white.
Who gives a crap! The guy doesn't like blacks, who cares? Its his opinion and he's entitled to it. What he says in his house is his business. There is such a double standard on what can be said and done in this day regarding race that's its literally sickening. A white guy cant say ANYTHING that can be even remotely twisted into any kind of racist remark but a black can say pretty much whatever they want with no consequences. Why is that?
Good point... in fairness, I will say... and this is also going waay back. When Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman made some racist comments about Larry Bird,(he would only be an average player if he were black) the black players came down pretty hard on them. That may have had something to do with Thomas not being on the original dream team... not sure though. In most of these situations, the NBA has allowed peer pressure to work. I don't believe Sterling can legally be forced to sell his team if he fights it. The other owners can only force him to sell... if he has broken their agreed upon rules... which he hasn't. He is still a terd though.
I don't care if he is racist or not. Good for him if he is. I just hate when people bring up times when a black person (or whoever) said something racist and cry double standard. Is there a double standard? Of course there is. But it shouldn't be a person's argument to justify somebodies racist comments. (not saying that's what Muzzy was doing), but a lot of people do. Also I know he didn't retype it, I've heard of cut and paste and believe it or not have even used it on my electric typewriter. I was just making a point that any time spent bringing that article to life was a waste of time.
I think it is about having an open, honest and fair discussion. I am pretty sure there are a lot of people scratching their heads as to how someone's private comments can be used to force someone to sell a business when he did nothing to anyone. It was just stupid words from a stupid old man.
The thing is Charles comments were public, Donalds were private somehow brought public. People should be able to think and say whatever they want privately but publicly they should be careful. Black people don't need to worry about that. Donalds comments are justified in my opinion, he has every right to be a racist. He just can't do it publicly or discriminate since it's against the law.
This really isn't that complicated. A team owner who hates black people is very bad for business and the overall image of the National Basketball Association. A black player making a joke about white people really does't hurt the NBA as few people would care. I actually thought it was funny. What is right or fair has nothing to do with any of this. Life isn't fair. It is purely about business and nothing more. Also, when you know a conversation is being recorded it is no longer private.
All good points ... but did he violate any laws, contracts etc...? Again... the guy is a turd, I think we all agree on that, but haven't people made worse comments when they also knew they were being recorded?
The Commissioner and other owners apparently feel Sterling has violated NBA Bi-laws. This is not a legal issue from the NBA's prospective. It's a business issue. Being an NBA owner could be compared to being a member of a private country club. If you violate Bi-laws your membership can be revoked.
Might be just pride for that guy buy if I owned over a billion bucks I'd say screw you all. I'm old. I'm going to go live my life now.
How did he hurt the nba. I know the potential was there for it but what actually happened that hurt them. Did anyone quit going to games, airing games, nba sponsors pull out? I know the clippers sponsors pulled out but that only hurts sterling and the pull out was a smoke screen. The money had already been payed. It only hurt him if they don't come back next year. This is why I think he will win a lawsuit. I feel they acted a bit too quickly. As far as Barkley, sure there is a double standard but it was a joke among friends. A white can't make the same joke but they should be able to. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
The damage was minimized to pretty much nothing by the actions the league took against Sterling. If you don't understand how important image is to an organization like the NBA I'm not sure what to tell you. Players were beginning to organize a boycott leading up to the commissioners press conference and the African American fan base is very important to the league (LA market in particular).
