LeBron James has strong words about Sterling's alleged comments. (USATSI)
More on Sterling: League investigating | Barkley: Ban Sterling | Reactions
Miami Heat star LeBron James spoke to reporters before Game 4 of Miami's series vs. Charlotte about the alleged racist comments from Donald Sterling which were released Saturday by TMZ. From the Miami Herald:
What are your thoughts on Donald Sterling's comments?
“If the reports are true, it's unacceptable. It's unacceptable in our league. It doesn't matter if you're white, black, Hispanic, whatever, all across the races. It's unacceptable and as a commissioner in our league, they have to make a stand, and they have to be very aggressive with it. I don't know what it's going to be, but you just can't have that in our league. We're the model citizens of all sports around the world and because we're the most recognizable, I mean, it figures. You see us all the time, you see our logos, you see our players, and for an owner to come out and say the things that he said, it's very disrespectful, it's very appalling and one of my best friends and dear friends plays on his team in Chris Paul and I haven't had an opportunity to talk to him but I can only imagine what's going through his head.”
How difficult would it be to play with that hanging over…
“I don't know. I kind of waivered back and forth whether I would actually sit out. If our owner would come out and say the things that he said, I would really have to sit down with my teammates, talk to my family because at the end of the day, our family, and our teammates are way more important than that. Basketball is huge, obviously the playoffs have been unbelievable, and I hate the fact that something like this has to come out when the playoffs have been unbelievable and the game of basketball continues to grow, but there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league. There is no room for him.”
Does it make you angry?
“I'm not angry. Just disappointed more than anything. There is only 30 owners and 400-plus of us. For a player, I just think…I put my…I can only imagine if a player came out and said something of that stature what would happen to us as players. So, I believe in Adam [Silver], I believe in the NBA and they have to do something and do something very fast and quickly before this really gets out of hand. Like I said, there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league, man. There it is.”
via Heat Check.
James has been progressively more involved in taking stands. He's expressed support in the past for President Obama and has spoken more openly on league issues. As the most profitable, prolific, and popular player in the league, James' comments will carry weight when they reach the league office.
Basketball Hot News
Vince Carter beats buzzer with game-winning 3-pointer (video)
Vince Carter had 1.7 seconds to shoot, and he used it all.
Carter caught the inbound in the corner, pump-faked to get Manu Ginobili – who had just made a go-ahead shot on the other end – into the air and then drilled the game-winning 3-pointer.
- Mavericks 109, Spurs 108
- Mavericks 2, Spurs 1
This series has been great, and this ending sequence took it to another level. The way it’s going, hopefully it goes the full seven.
Somehow, with so many veterans, they’re even doing things they’ve never done before:
That was Vince Carter's 1st career go-ahead FG in the final 1:00 of a postseason game.—
ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 26, 2014
After losing 10 straight to the Spurs, Dallas has now won two in a row in the series. San Antonio is too good to be considered on the ropes, but Carter’s big shot definitely increases the pressure.
0 comments:
Post a Comment