1. Racism's ugly specter undermines sport
By Steve Keating
Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:03pm EDT
A photo cutout of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald
Sterling is seen among people standing in line for the
NBA playoff game 5 between Golden State Warriors and
Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Los Angeles,
California April 29, 2014.
Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni
(Reuters) -
Recent
actions by a
billionaire
owner of a
National
Basketball
Association
team and a supporter of a Spanish soccer club have
offered the sporting world a stark reminder that
racism knows no borders.
From the Staples Center hardwood in Los Angeles to
La Liga's manicured pitches, and everywhere sport is
played at the highest level, the murky undercurrents of racism flow from the stands and suites to the
field of play.
On the same weekend a secretly-recorded racist diatribe by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald
Sterling sparked a firestorm of outrage across the United States, a Villarreal fan tossed a banana at
Barcelona's Dani Alves as he lined up a corner kick.
Alves responded to the taunt by taking a bite of the fruit while the perpetrator was eventually
arrested and banned for life.
The 80-year-old Sterling was also banned for life after his shocking remarks showed there were
elements of bigotry even among owners of North American professional sports teams.
2. "We know that this exists," John Wooten, head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation, which
monitors diversity in the National Football League, told Reuters. "This is why there are diversity
inclusion committees in sports.
"These things exist because that stigma
still stands throughout our culture,
throughout our country.
"That is why you have to continually
stand and fight and deal with it day
after day. You have to meet it on all
fronts because it comes from all areas."
Gambling, drugs and homosexuality
have all been hot-button issues for
North America's big four professional
sports leagues but nothing has
provoked more debate and inflamed
passions than the suggestion of racism.
With sponsors fleeing and players in open revolt over Sterling's racist comments, NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver moved quickly to quell the uprising by levying the harshest punishment
available under his power.
In addition to the life ban, Sterling was also fined $2.5 million and told that he would have to sell the
team he has owned for 30 years.
But while the NBA may rid itself of Sterling, the wider problem of racism exists, according to New
York Times columnist William C. Rhoden, who often writes on racism in sports.
"We can focus on this, and they'll kill Sterling and declare racism dead and we can all go away,"
Rhoden said.
"We can say, 'All good, the Wicked Witch is dead. It's done. Racism is done. Let's all go, let's watch
the games.
"I think what this has really done is taken the veil off it."
'WORK TO BE DONE'
From the gridiron to tennis courts, racism has manifested in many forms, both subtle and overt.
Despite protests, vigorous lobbying and even intervention from President Barack Obama,
Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed not to change the name of his National Football
League team, considered offensive by many Native American groups.
Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians have also refused to bend to similar
pressure.
3. Confederate flags, which to many Americans is an unsettling symbol of slavery and segregation,
proudly flutter from motor homes at NASCAR races while the NFL is expected to introduce a 15-yard
penalty for players who use racial slurs.
Serena and Venus Williams, two of the biggest names in women's tennis, continue to boycott Indian
Wells, one of the biggest events on the sport's calendar, after their father claimed racial slurs were
directed at him during the 2001 edition of the tournament.
Sport has often been on the frontlines in the fight against racism, Jackie Robinson breaking Major
League Baseball's color barrier in 1947 and Willie O'Ree doing the same in the National Hockey
League in 1958.
But, despite decades of affirmative action, many avenues to good jobs remain blocked for minorities,
forcing leagues to put in place hiring and educational programs.
With no minorities currently racing at NASCAR's top level, the series has developed a 'Drive for
Diversity' program while the NFL requires teams to interview at least one minority for head
coaching and senior football operation jobs.
Each season Major League Baseball celebrates Robinson's legacy by having players from every team
wear his number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day with the purpose of educating fans about the Hall of
Famer's accomplishments.
After Sterling's rant it was suggested on social media and in newspaper columns that if he wanted to
avoid associating with black people he should sell the Clippers and buy a team in the NHL, which
has the smallest percentage of African-Americans among the four major professional leagues in the
United States.
In an attempt to reach out to minorities, the NHL developed a diversity program which is a major
component of the league's "Hockey is for Everyone" initiative.
"Great, great things have been accomplished but there is still much work to be done," said Wooten, a
former NFL player with the Cleveland Browns and Redskins. "I think we have to continue to work
from that point.
"The whole thing about racism is lack of respect.
"I think NFL has done a marvelous job, baseball is doing better, I think what Adam Silver did was
outstanding just in terms of taking a stand.
"I think the world will look at this and understand that this is the way this has to be dealt with."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; editing by Frank Pingue and Julian Linden)
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