Yesterday I wrote
about how Sterling’s comments were obviously a racial issue and a little bit of
a women’s issue. But today, I want to talk about how they a labor issue (plus,
I’d rather talk sports than rape, and JESUS Christ what is happening at AU?!?
Nope, too much anger, but it is coming I have a few attempts). Sterling shows
himself to be a racist, a sexist, but also as someone who completely subscribes
to capitalism.
The comments
themselves really highlight why this is a labor issue. See Sterling believes
his players own him for their success. We’ll call this the fictitious wealthy
white guy plight. He’s the reason they have stuff…except that is in reverse.
Players are the reason people come to the games. Players work really hard to
play professionally. Players take the physical risks to play. This is
capitalism though, the wealthy taking the credit for the labor of others, and
the laborers having to take responsibility for the heinous actions and views of
their employer.
But let’s go over a
few things, first all these guys are laborers and represented by a union, The
National Basketball Players Association. Secondly, employees shouldn’t be held
responsible for the actions or views of their employers. Thirdly, these guys
are under contract so any actions taken by individuals could probably result in
a loss of employment. It is my understanding that contracts changed drastically
when Stern became NBA commissioner. That said the players covered their logos
during warm-up to show their dissatisfaction with Sterling’s statements.
Because we can’t
have nice things, some people have taken to criticizing the acts of resistance
from the Clippers because this is the world in which we live. *head desk* Don’t
get me wrong, I like LeBron James’ suggestion of a sit out because I like big
statements of resistance, but we also know these guys need to get paid. So if
all the teams wanted to sit out a game forcing the league’s hand, then I can
support it, but expecting the Clippers to bare the whole burden because their
owner is a racist? Too much friends, too much. Anyway, isn’t having Sterling as
an owner punishment enough? Remember everyone on the Clippers is not James,
Williams, or Wall. They aren’t all stars; they are working. That isn’t to say
James, Williams, Wall, etc. aren’t laborers too, but their pay is going to be
very different.
It is reassuring
other teams are wearing black socks in solidarity, but if substantial action is
to be taken, then it has to be taken by everyone or the Clippers players will
be the only ones to suffer for it. Which is why I get real pissy when some media
outlets suggest the Clippers aren’t doing enough. They want a big stand,
not a gesture, but I have to wonder as they do so much in the article what is a
big enough gesture? Refusing to play? Well, then the team suffers for the
actions of the owner. How is that fair?
In the end,
Sterling is just a wealthy racist with a sketchy history of racist practices. And I think he sucks, but I don’t think the
players should suffer because he’s a racist. I’m a pretty serious basketball
fan, but if anyone out there wants to run off about how the Clippers players
need to do more, then I fully expect that those individuals won’t be
watching-supporting-consuming any of the remaining playoffs. Speaking of
enablers, David
Zirin has a great article about Sterling’s enablers.
