In November 2021, ESPN ran an article about Robert Sarver, the owner of the Phoenix Suns. For the record (and this doesn’t necessarily make him a bad person), Sarver’s net worth is listed at $800 million.
However, what may – or may not make him an unethical person is that he allegedly (after ESPN interviewed about 70 current and former employees), is a racist and a misogynist.
Sarver is quoted as follows:
“The story contains outright lies about me that bear no resemblance to my values or who I am as a person. After these lies surfaced, I welcomed the NBA’s investigation and I have cooperated throughout every step of the process…”
The NBA investigation is on-going however, that is not good enough for at least one prominent person.
Enter Al Sharpton
The Rev. Al Sharpton, the founder of the National Action Network, and allegedly worth up to $5 million, depending on the source, has grown impatient that after four months (give or take) the NBA has yet to come up with a plan to remove Sarver as the majority owner.
Said Sharpton:
“The owner of the Suns was revealed in the ESPN story last November — how Sarver, the principal owner of the Phoenix Suns, made all these racist and misogynist statements. And [the NBA] said they were going to investigate it. Well, how long does it take for an investigation when you have videos and people that come forward?”
Sharpton has threatened demonstrations against the Suns because, in his opinion, the investigation should have been completed by now. He feels a manipulation by the NBA is at hand: “They think that because this happened in November, everyone would forget about it.”
“They,” apparently, means the NBA and ownership groups of wealthy people.
Meanwhile, the law firm of Wachtell Lipton, is sifting through tons of documents and HR records before they can reach a conclusion.
Sharpton has also attached his name to a group called the American Sports Accountability Project. They issued their own statement:
“We are profoundly disturbed by the reports of racism, misogyny and abusive behavior allegedly committed by Phoenix Suns majority owner Robert Sarver. There is zero tolerance for such behavior in today’s society, and we expect the NBA and its leadership to hold Mr. Sarver accountable for these despicable actions, as was done in the case of Donald Sterling.”
However, Sharpton and company are no fools as they use the word “allegedly” along with threats of demonstrations. It is important, in legalize, that they hedge their bets.
The Business of Sports
With all due respect to Rev. Sharpton, the NBA is a multi-multi-billion-dollar business. He knows it. The NBA is not going to dump Sarver because Sharpton says so. Should Robert Sarver be cleared of the charges made against him, after Sharpton’s pressuring the NBA to drop him, the lawsuits would be astronomical.
The business of sports is just that; a business. A four-month investigation is not an unduly long time and the Rev. Sharpton knows that too. For he has had legal problems of his own over the years. He has also been accused of misogyny and anti-Semitism in the court of public opinion.
On the other hand, if Robert Sarver has been blatantly racist and misogynistic and indeed, has created the toxic workplace as the media as the “American Sports Accountability Project” claims, then they must take action and not sweep it under the rug.
The point in all of this is that it is not up to Rev. Sharpton adjudicate this case or pressure the investigation. It is not up to him to be judge or jury. Nor, is it up to Robert Sarver to block justice or deny his attitudes and his creation of a toxic workplace.
The process must continue for as long as it takes the NBA to resolve it. If that is a day, week or month longer than the timetable, so be it. MUCH has happened in this country since Donald Sterling was forced to give up his ownership.
Let ethics take its course. While the abhorrent injustices of the past cannot be erased, let’s not favor unethical expediency for the present.
LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS!
