Last November, ESPN published an investigative article describing the long history of sexist and racist behavior by Robert Thurber, owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. The former employee and coach accused him of saying the N word repeatedly, even after servers begged him to stop. This was neither a surprise nor a surprise to the NBA front office. But for 18 years, the servers have been doing what they want. After all, he was the owner of a professional sports team.
The NBA is not only proud of its progressive goodwill, it advertises it as such. After this article was published, the league took action and reached out to lawyers like any major sports league. Law firm Wachtell Lipton launched an investigation, interviewing hundreds of people who worked for Sarver and him and reviewing 80,000 pages of emails, texts, and other documents. Their subsequent report, released Tuesday, confirmed most of what was in the ESPN article and added dozens of other disturbing behaviors. It details that Sarver said his N-word at least five times, and each time someone claimed to be using it repeatedly. According to the report, Thurber told pregnant employees that having a baby would prevent them from working and oversaw an organization that routinely treated female employees differently than male employees. He asked at least one of his players if they shaved their balls. He once took a shower and stood naked in front of a male employee. According to the report, one of his several acts was “performed with the intention of being provocative and/or attempting humour, not with the intention of sexually seducing anyone.” (Thurber said he disagreed with “some of the details in the NBA report” and apologized for “words and actions that offended employees.”)
The report describes most of Thurber’s actions as follows: It was the result of a “rudimentary and unworkable” sense of humor. That conclusion rests heavily on the fact that he apparently indiscriminately offended men and women, blacks and whites. “In light of these explanations and the totality of evidence investigators have reviewed, the investigation concludes that Sever’s actions were motivated by racial or gender-based hostility.” Apparently based on its conclusions, the NBA suspended Server for a year, required him to undergo sensitivity training and fined him $10 million. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement: “On behalf of the entire NBA, we apologize to everyone affected by the misconduct described in our investigation.” not.”
Strictly speaking, the report is probably correct. The server was playing petty power games. The NBA seems to have decided that although this is unacceptable, his behavior can be forgiven. (The Suns and Mercury have recently become one of the best teams in their respective leagues. As majority owners, ultimately the server will retain the championship trophy if either wins the title.) ) From another perspective, the report’s conclusions are about how power, racism, and sexism intersect, and how power is actually exercised in an institution like the NBA. says a lot about ruka
Thurber is one of the “good guys” in the NBA’s social justice efforts. He invested in his WNBA team, fought against racist immigration laws, and donated millions of dollars to local nonprofits. The Suns employ the league’s leading percentage of people of color. It’s also a very wealthy person’s version of having black friends. After publishing a recording of his comments, he said, “An important part of the NBA is promoting diversity, tolerance, and respect for all people.” Investigators have concluded that the story is true and that he said it in a “paradoxical” way. Do you mean to be? Of course it is. But it also just goes to show that he can tell which way the wind is blowing.
Whether or not Thurber is as racist as Sterling is somewhat off the mark. That Sever’s actions were allowed to go on for so long, and the fact that Sands isn’t the only team to deal with a toxic workplace, is more pervasive and ingrained than any one person’s personal flaws. is suggesting something
In a statement about the report, Adam Silver said, “Regardless of position, power or intent, we all recognize the corrosive and harmful effects of racially insensitive and offensive words and actions. Strange comment, perhaps Silver meant that even those in power must recognize harm. It is precisely those in positions of power that can be used as tools to exercise control. He seems to have understood that he could make his subordinates feel helpless by repeating swearing, telling fellatio stories, pulling down someone’s pants, or sending porn to someone else. must have known it could be the result of an acrimonious comment about a woman who is harassed, or a vulgar and inappropriate insinuation that is difficult to respond to. was also reflected.)
ESPN reported that Thurber did not oppose the investigation, but opposed the punishment. “League officials told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes and Adrian Wojnarowski they don’t accept the idea that his conduct deserves a one-year suspension and a $10 million fine,” sources said. , the punitive part of the process turned out to be quite acrimonious.Surprisingly, but not surprisingly, after so many impunity, even the road to forgiveness has become difficult to seek. I can’t help but feel helpless after reading the report about the alleged reaction.♦
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