Blake Griffin pens powerful article on Donald Sterling saga: 'I'm just happy he's gone'
As the Los Angeles Clippers prepare to start their first season under new owner Steve Ballmer, much of the franchise's focus has rightfully been on the future of the team.
As they say, though, it's worth looking into the past to see how far you've come, and Blake Griffin did just that for an article published on The Players' Tribune on Thursday.
In an incredibly thoughtful and powerful piece, Griffin described his first interaction with banned former owner Donald Sterling, his trepidation about playing for someone with an established track-record of racial discrimination, and his thought process in the wake of Sterling's racist audio recording becoming public during last year's playoffs.
After telling a story about Sterling awkwardly introducing him to every individual at a party shortly after being drafted, Griffin admitted he had some concern after researching Sterling's past upon joining the team:
My first thought was, 'Wow this guy is really, really a racist … how is he an owner of an NBA team?'
My second thought was, 'Wow, these articles are from 2003 and 2008. I guess everybody already knows about this stuff and just doesn’t care.'
Because of this information, and further incidents like the now-infamous ordeal when Sterling screamed at Baron Davis while he shot free throws, Griffin wasn't surprised when the recordings came out. While many suggested boycotting playoff games, Griffin explained why that wasn't realistic:
When I turned on the TV, media people were saying we should boycott the game. Now, that sounds great when you’re a talking head in a TV studio, but when you’re trying to get locked in for the biggest playoff series of your career, it’s not so easy.
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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.
With Ballmer now in place as the team's owner, the attention around the Clippers is far more positive. Ballmer is energetic and passionate, and has already shown he's willing to open up the checkbook:
All the players thought it was awesome. Personally, I love that kind of crazy. Ballmer wants to win no matter the cost. Donald Sterling didn’t care if we won - at least if it meant he had to spend money.
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Steve is a good dude. He’s like a cool dad who gives you candy. Donald was like a weird uncle.
Griffin concludes by saying he's just happy Sterling is gone, regardless of the specifics. That's probably a popular sentiment, and an attitude that should allow the Clippers to begin carving out a new place in the public consciousness once the season kicks off.