The NBA is investigating a TMZ-released tape of a racist screed, allegedly by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, ESPN reports. The recording, according to TMZ, reveals Sterling arguing with his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, over a picture she posted on Instagram of herself and Magic Johnson. "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people," he says to Stiviano, who is black and Mexican. "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in. You can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games."
The recording specifically targets Johnson: "Don't put him on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don't bring him to my games." The league called the tape "disturbing and offensive," saying it was "in the process of conducting a full investigation." It's not the first allegedly racist incident involving Sterling, TMZ notes; he has, for instance, faced two lawsuits by the federal government over allegedly refusing to rent to minorities. Others are responding:
- Johnson has tweeted that he'll "never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner."
- The Rev. Jesse Jackson says Sterling "should be banned immediately. The question is for how long," ESPN reports. "The first burden is upon the commissioner, Adam Silver, to act decisively because we don't want this to drag on throughout the playoffs."
- The Clippers have considered not playing tomorrow, ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith says, via TMZ. Center Deandre Jordan posted an Instagram photo that was simply all black, the Huffington Post reports.
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