Magic Johnson thought he was friends with Donald Sterling.
Now that he's found out he may not be, Magic has no problem with cutting out the Los Angeles Clippers and any other Donald Sterling-related products. Sterling own the Clippers.
In the wake of the investigation into allegations that Sterling made racially insensitive comments, including a mention specifically of the Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer, Johnson took to Twitter to disassociate himself with Sterling.
TMZ reported this morning that Clippers owner Donald Sterling doesn't want me or other African-Americans to come to Clippers games.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
.@cjbycookie and I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner. — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
I feel sorry for my friends Coach Doc Rivers and Chris Paul that they have to work for a man that feels that way about African Americans.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling's comments about African Americans are a black eye for the NBA. — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 26, 2014
TMZ obtained audio of the remarks alleging that they may have come from Sterling. USA TODAY Sports reported that a person was talking to a female associate and asked the female why she was taking pictures with minorities.
The female was posting them on her Instagram account, including one of her with Johnson that bothered the person, who instructed her not to bring Johnson to any more Clippers games.
"Don't put him on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. ... And don't bring him to my games, OK?" the person said on the audio recording, USA TODAY Sports reported.
"Yeah, it bothers me a lot that you want to promo, broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?" person also said.
Johnson told TMZ he was shocked by the comments because he thought he had a good relationship with Sterling, adding he felt betrayed.
"I thought we were friends. We've broken bread together several times," Johnson told TMZ. "It's almost like, do you smile in my face but behind my back you talk about me? I'd have felt better in 1979 if you would have just told me you don't like African Americans, and then I would have known how to deal with you."
Johnson suggested to TMZ that African American boycott Clippers games to prevent money from going into Sterling's pocket. He said, however, that the Clippers should try to play through the distractions.
Even though Magic is associated with the Lakers, he has an enormous presence in Los Angeles as a minority owner of the Dodgers, so making enemies with him may not be the best practice for Sterling.
Would you boycott Clippers games based on what we know so far about the recorded message allegedly associated with Clippers owner Donald Sterling? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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