“We Are One” is a new phrase being said all around the NBA due to negative comments from Donald Sterling. If you haven’t heard by now Mr. Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, has been heard making racist remarks about African Americans and how he wishes his girlfriend would not promote her association with them on her social networks. In the same recording he also stated to not “come to [the] games. Don’t bring black people, and don’t come.”
I believe it is fair for everyone to remind Mr. Sterling that the majority of  league he is a part of is African American. As we all know racism is nothing new; it may not predominantly exist as it once did 40 years ago, but as this case proves, it still lives and breathes behind closed doors.
Sterling’s comments didn’t just outrage those involved in the league like Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, and Lebron James; he also upset stars such as Meek Mill, Kevin Hart and Lil Wayne. Kevin Hart took to Instagram to air his frustrations saying, “[Sterling] will never see another dollar from me!!! This is disgusting…he has a slave master mentality!!!! This is disturbing and unbelievably sad!!!”
What was more important however was the actual reaction of the Clippers players. Everyone wanted to see if they would forfeit game four, but instead they refused to show the Clippers logo during workouts and threw their warm-ups onto the center of the arena. They handled the situation in mature fashion as they allowed the league to figure out what should be done. Chris Paul, the captain of the Clippers and the President of the NBA Players Union, knew that things would be handled by Commissioner Adam Silver. Silver had to make the first serious decisions since replacing David Stern with this racial issue.
Silver has made the statement that Sterling is banned for life and will no longer be allowed to be involved with the NBA brand. He also must pay a $2.5 million fine. The next thing Silver is hoping to accomplish is removing Sterling as an owner. To make this happen 75 percent of the owners must vote him out of the league.
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander stated that he believes Sterling should be voted out, and if the issue is taken to court causing a long term issue, to “let the players become free agents” — a suggestion that, when talked about around campus, made sense to many.
Wentz-Karl Clerjuste, a UMass Boston undergraduate, said, “Chris Paul is my favorite player, I really don’t want him playing for a man like that. I’m even sure he wouldn’t want to be there. If this turns into a thing that lasts forever, I hope the league gives him and everyone else the chance to leave. They deserve better.”
As for Clippers Coach Doc Rivers, he has stated that he is unsure about his future with the team, but does not want to meet with Sterling about anything. Rivers seems to be upset about the situation as a whole. Wouldn’t you if your boss was revealed to be a hardcore racist? Although he is upset, Rivers is focused on his team in the playoffs at the moment. I am sure once business is handled on the court, Rivers will surely voice his true opinions on the matter.
As stated earlier, “We Are One” is the new NBA campaign, one that I hope is not only understood in the league, but everywhere around our community. There is no room for racism in today’s world, and I am sure that within a decade things will change for the better where everyone is seen equally.