Blake Griffin opened up about his thoughts on former Clippers owner Donald Sterling in an article he posted on “The Players’ Tribune”, which is the sports site founded by Derek Jeter.
In the article, Griffin shared some of the same thoughts he expressed in an interview with GQ last month, such as that he knew about Donald Sterling’s history just because when he googled the name, “Donald Sterling racist” is the first query that pops up.
Griffin shared a story about attending the “White Party” thrown by Sterling in his first year with the team in 2009 and how uncomfortable he was with the way Sterling was taking him around the party by the hand and introducing him to everyone. He shared how embarrassed he was to hear Sterling heckle Baron Davis at the free throw line during a Clippers home game.
“After the game, I don’t even think we talked about it in the locker room. Everyone was just used to it. It was both funny and sad. The guy was off his rocker,” Griffin said of Sterling.
Griffin also explained why he and the Clippers did not boycott the playoff series with the Golden State Warriors after the Sterling racist audio tapes emerged.
My feeling, right or wrong, was that we should shut it all out and go out and play for our fans, our families, and for each other. For people to ever think we were playing for Donald Sterling is comical. It wasn’t like before the tape came out, we were putting our hands in before every game and saying, “Okay guys, let’s go out and win one for Donald!”
Griffin then went on to compare Sterling with new team owner Steve Ballmer, of whom the media often pokes fun. Griffin defending Ballmer, saying that while he appears dorky (not his exact words), he’s actually a cool, supportive boss.
“Steve is a good dude. He’s like a cool dad who gives you candy. Donald was like a weird uncle.”
Well that certainly explains it pretty well. Donald Sterling — your weird uncle.
