In the wake of the racist comments made by Donald Sterling, the general consensus was that only swift and harsh punishment by the NBA would appease the majority. That happened when, commissioner Adam Silver announced during a press conference he was banning the Los Angeles Clippers owner for life from events pertaining to the NBA.
The punishment placed Sterling on a list that includes Pete Rose and Lance Armstrong as figures in pro sports who have received lifetime bans. However, only Sterling’s was for racially charged comments.
Whether a similar penalty would have been levied by one of America’s other professional sports leagues is a debate that’s surely been discussed since Silver informed the world of Sterling’s fate.
That topic, specifically in the NFL, was posed to Seattle Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman in an interview with Time. In his opinion, the situation would have been handled differently.
“No I don’t. Because we have an NFL team called the Redskins. I don’t think the NFL really is as concerned as they show. The NFL is more of a bottom line league. If it doesn’t effect their bottom line, they’re not as concerned.”
The Washington Redskins have, of course, been been in the spotlight recently because of the connotation surrounding their name. At the moment, no plans are in place for it to change. Sherman went on to discuss how the Sterling situation could have an impact on the Redskins down the road.
“I would hope it would help. It’d help reinitiate the conversation. And at least there would be another discussion. You know, I think the discussion has stopped. And the public has just accepted it. And I think there should be more conversations. But it is what it is.”
It has been noted by more than a few that the NBA’s decision to ban Donald Sterling probably stemmed largely from public outcry. Would the reaction have been the same if the comments were made by an NFL, MLB, or NHL owner? Probably, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the end result would have been equal.
Sherman, for one, obviously feels the NFL would have responded differently.
H/T Eye on Football
