7 Responses to “Michigan Daily editorial agrees with Attorney Orly Taitz, Shaquille O’Neil should get the same punishment from the NBA as Sterling”

1. courage
   May 8th, 2014 @ 8:44 am

   Posting the article…

   Derek Wolfe: Shaq’s shame

   By DEREK WOLFE, Columnist
   Published May 7, 2014

   When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver handed Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling a lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine for his racist remarks during a private conversation, it was obvious to me he did the right thing.

   Regardless of the origin of the recording, Sterling was further exposed as the racist he truly is. The key word here is “further.”

   As many other articles have already said, it’s unfortunate it got to this point in the first place to punish Sterling. He has a long history of prejudiced views that he implemented into his business. Both in 2003 and 2006, he was sued for housing discrimination in a case in which he essentially tried to prevent African-Americans from renting out his properties. By all accounts, that is far worse and has a much more devastating impact than his most recent comments. But in the end, Sterling ultimately got what was coming to him, and it appears he will eventually be stripped of his ownership of the team. Justice is served. Finally.

   The same cannot be said about former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal whose own shameful act was overshadowed by the Sterling coverage. Earlier this week, Shaq posted a disgusting photo on his Instagram of him contorting his face mocking 23-year-old Jahmel Binion of Detroit.

   Binion has a rare condition called ectodermal dysplasia. It results in missing teeth and hair and also an inability to sweat. While it’s certainly possible that Shaq did not realize Binion had a condition, I really don’t care. Especially in a week that emphasized being careful in how you think, what you say and what you do, Shaq’s actions were idiotic and insensitive. And let’s not forget Shaq also has an MBA and Ed. D. Inexcusable.

   As of now, it appears that all Shaq has done is apologize. On his Twitter, he wrote, “Made a new friend today when I called and apologized to Jahmel Binion. Great dude.” Binion appreciated the phone call but was still clearly upset when he was interviewed: “I was thinking ‘Man, he’s supposed to be this role model, someone everyone is supposed to look up to. If Shaq does something like this, [everyone] will think, ‘We should do this.’”

   Binion hit the nail on the head. Shaq is a public figure and must act like one. But more importantly, he’s a human who should show compassion for others. We should expect better from him. And we should also expect more from the NBA.

   Shaq targeted another person. That is bullying, intentional or not, and is almost as equally atrocious as Sterling’s racist comments. If Adam Silver doesn’t punish him, then what exactly was the point of making an example out of Sterling? He created a new precedent that if your actions do not fall in the line with the NBA’s brand, you should be punished. Silver must abide by his own standards.

   But so should we. Large TV media sources, such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and ESPN, have proven since the dawn of news that they will only cover the most controversial and interesting stories. What made the Sterling story so interesting was that players were threatening to boycott. Players are most definitely not going to boycott over a picture Shaq, an NBA icon, put up on his Instagram. No way.

   So that leaves it up to us. We have to relentlessly educate each other about what is right and wrong at all times because there is no summer vacation from life. If the citizens of the United States are truly serious about removing the hateful, prejudiced behavior that stains our society, then every moment has to become a teaching moment. If something is racist on Monday, then it also has to be racist on Friday.

   Consistency is key.

   I want to live in a world without so much hatred. While that’s certainly a tall order, learning to think twice before we say — or post — something is a good place to start.

   https://tmd.pub.umich.edu/opinion/05derek-wolfe-shaq-shame08

2. Andrew Morris
   May 8th, 2014 @ 9:13 am

   Perhaps you’d like to lead the way, by not saying or posting the disgusting stuff for which your site is known.

3. dr_taitz@yahoo.com
   May 8th, 2014 @ 9:18 am

   Andrew Morris, you are a known obot, for this you are well known.
   I did not post any disgusting stuff

4. Denise
   May 8th, 2014 @ 9:48 am

   Pro sports has a history of condoning unethical, immoral behaviors. Michael Vick should have been permanently banned from the NFL for what he did to all those dogs, but because he can play football, he’s forgiven. I don’t care that he served his time and said he was sorry.

5. couragek
   May 8th, 2014 @ 12:03 pm

   Jordan: Considered myself a racist
   Updated: May 7, 2014, 4:54 PM ET
   ESPN.com news services
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   Michael Jordan’s struggles with racism as a child were among the topics touched on in a biography released Tuesday.

   In the book, titled “Michael Jordan: The Life,” author Roland Lazenby described how Jordan grew up in the 1970s in North Carolina — where Jordan said the Ku Klux Klan was dominant and that that atmosphere shaped his views on race.

   [+] EnlargeMichael Jordan
   Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images
   In a book released Tuesday, the impact racism had on Michael Jordan’s childhood is detailed.
   Those views were strengthened after he watched the miniseries “Roots” and learned about the suffering of his African-American ancestors.

   The tipping point, Lazenby wrote, came in 1977, when a girl at his school called him the N-word.

   “So I threw a soda at her,” Jordan said in a 1992 interview with Playboy magazine, the details of which were written about in Lazenby’s book. “I was really rebelling. I considered myself a racist at the time. Basically, I was against all white people.”

   Jordan did not speak to Lazenby for the biography. The New York Post and other media outlets reported Wednesday that Jordan’s quotes on racism as a child were in the book, but his publishing company issued a clarification later via a statement to ESPN.

   “Michael Jordan made those statements in a 1992 interview with Playboy magazine, referring to a specific event from his childhood,” the statement from Little, Brown and Company read. “This is reported in Lazenby’s book, which is a definitive biography of MJ’s life and covers Mr. Jordan’s childhood thoroughly — but Mr. Jordan did not make those statements to Lazenby for this book. As stated very clearly in previous interviews, Mr. Jordan did not participate in “Michael Jordan: The Life” by Roland Lazenby.”

   Suspended by the school for his actions, Lazenby writes that Jordan said his mother intervened, urging him not to have racial hatred dominate his life.

   The book also details how Jordan was one of only two black players on the school baseball team and was called inferior while he played.

   Now 51, Jordan went on to win six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. He also took a break from basketball to try his hand at professional baseball.

   Former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause says in the book that Jordan was powered throughout his life by any negative experiences, including those in his childhood.

   “He remembers everyone who ever didn’t think he was going to be great,” Krause said in an excerpt published by Foxsports.com. “He remembers every negative story that’s ever been written about him.”

   The book’s release comes one week after Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, spoke out against Los Angeles Clippers counterpart Donald Sterling, who was taped making racing comments last month and since has been banned by the NBA.

   “As an owner, I’m obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views,” Jordan said in a statement. “… As a former player, I’m completely outraged.

   “There is no room in the NBA — or anywhere else — for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed. I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level.”

   https://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10895553/michael-jordan-details-upbringing-new-book

6. Rod Riddle
   May 8th, 2014 @ 2:15 pm

   Poster # 5, it is really shameful that Jordan hates the very race that allowed him the luxury of being able to own an NBA franchise. Michael Jordan as an admitted racist should be banned for life from the NBA. The Charlotte Bobcats should be placed on the auction block ASAP.

7. The Wild Wild West
   May 8th, 2014 @ 4:05 pm

   More tech B.S. by the establishment:…

   So…let’s try again!

   Pest/poster #2: Our Dr Orly has you pegged, little darling!!! 🙂

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