Revulsion. Disbelief. Anger. Pick virtually whatever emotion imaginable — at least those dealing with disgust — and the Raptors felt it in the aftermath of the disclosure of the inappropriate racist comments alleged to have been made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
“It’s unfortunate. Obviously, that gentleman is stuck in his ways,” veteran Chuck Hayes said. “He has a way of thinking, he has a way of living and you can’t change somebody that’s been there for so long. It’s sad but some people are the way they are.”
A recording posted on TMZ’s website is alleged to be of Sterling telling his girlfriend, identified by TMZ as V. Stiviano, not to bring African-American people to his games. Basketball legend Magic Johnson is mentioned in the recording and the man believed to be Sterling says, “Don’t bring him to my games.”
The incident prompted an NBA investigation.
“Everyone has heard of it, but my reaction, I’m going to keep that to myself. It’s one of those things where it is what it is,” said Kyle Lowry after the Raptors light workout at Pace University in lower Manhattan.
Toronto All-Star DeMar DeRozan was told Johnson said he would not attend any Clippers games while Sterling was owner.
“He said that? I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t either,” said DeRozan, who repeatedly said “I don’t know” when asked if he could play for a man like Sterling.
“I don’t stand for nothing like that, so it would be tough,” DeRozan said. “It’s a crazy world we live in. It’s always something going on. It don’t surprise you but it kind of catches you off guard because if you look at the broad scale of things, you have different cultured guys on your team. So when you look at it from that standpoint, it is kind of difficult to fathom.”
Raptors coach Dwane Casey declined comment other than to say, “If it’s true, it’s a sad commentary on our society.”
Amir Johnson seemed dumbfounded that something so hypocritical allegedly would come from an NBA owner.
“I don’t know what to say to that,” Johnson said.