Asking Black Suns employees to answer for Robert Sarver, ignoring the source of the problem and the existence of the solution

ESPN's report on Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver's control over the team for the past two years, including allegations that Sarver created and cultivated racism, sexism, and a general harassment environment within the organization is what you expected to be inappropriate and discriminatory The treasure trove of behavior lies in sports organizations.

Sarver purchased the franchise in 2004, and he is accused of using the N word more than Quentin Tarantino’s scripts in (many) other things, repeatedly claiming his ownership of the team’s employees and mentioning him Sexual ability, up to the size of the condom. If true, these allegations portray Sarver as an overbearing and naive team owner who intimidated and harassed his employees just for pleasure. 

Whether Sarver will suffer any professional consequences for his actions, like the previous Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, is the next question. The league announced on Thursday night that it would investigate Sarver and the Suns. However, although the NBA and its investigators sorted out the alleged misconduct over the past 17 years, the focus immediately turned to the opinions of various blacks hired by the Suns, including players Chris Paul and Devin Booker, the head coach Monty Williams and general manager James Jones.

After the game against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, Paul, who experienced a similar situation with Sterling in 2014, emphasized patience during the league investigation.

"I went through some situations during my time in the league," Paul said. "Those powers, they will investigate. They conduct investigations or whatever, but I think the most important thing I have learned over the years is that we as a team, we have to talk. It's not about what other people are saying or what other people are telling What do you do or what you should do. This is about how we feel as a team, a unit, a coaching staff, and everyone in the organization."

It is important to measure the feelings of those directly affected by Sarver's racism, but only Asking a Black Dude ignores the source of the problem and the existence of solutions. In this country, people have always expected that, on the one hand, black people will never be considered too dangerous or distracted, but on the other hand, provide a publicly measured cover for those who do not comply with the same requirements. It is to be a black friend without the ability to be alone.

Cover-up is not specifically meant to defend the defendant, but to refuse to cause the scene when expressing their dissatisfaction. This is a survival mechanism, especially for those engaged in professional sports: show loyalty in an effort to be accepted (or continue to be employed) by the person who caused your harm.

In the era of slavery, slave owners used blacks as supervisors or "drivers" on the premise that enslaved people might react more positively to people who looked like them. (Saver made this point inadvertently, and allegedly told a staff member that he needed to hire a black coach because "these [N-words] need a [N-word].") In a more modern era, Blacks are employed in presumptive positions to protect against accusations of racism or prejudice. After the murder of George Floyd by the police in 2020, he was eager to hire more experts on diversity, fairness and inclusion, but failed to create an inclusive and humble environment for these experts. This is an obvious example.

(This expectation applies to the current pandemic: Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones, whose father died of COVID-19 complications in April, and his teammate who tested positive for the coronavirus this week Len Rogers defended: "I don't think this was a selfish decision. He is our leader... He is 100% committed to this team, just like everyone else in this locker room," Jones said. As of press time At that time, Rogers had not yet spoken to the media.)

When it comes to Sarver, Black Suns employees should enthusiastically and intelligently talk about how their employer's words and deeds affect them as blacks, and dig out the divided memories of every micro-aggression and racist behavior that they or their families have ever had. This is an unfair burden that black employees neither demand nor impose on them. Paul did not shout racial slander around the facility. Williams did not yell at his employees for paint picks and rolls or swimsuits.

Even more incredible is that Black Suns employees are forced to bear this ridiculous interpretation of subjectively considered racism and misogyny. The report pointed out that Sarver cited many black morbidities, including black paternity (in the case of Brooklyn Nets center LaMarcus Aldridge) and the obvious Kryptonian weakness of black men against strippers. He dislikes player agent Rich Paul very much. He vilified his wife to the boys at work. He dug into the long-standing controversy about who can use the N word; you can imagine a Chappelle's Show skit where Sarver is a white opponent explaining why he can actually say "na".

(In the ESPN report, there is Charlie Murphy's real Hollywood story moment. At that time, Sarver denied through his lawyers that he had used the N word, and in the next paragraph tried to explain how he had used the N word.)

Although the report on Sarver feels like a black or female problem, it is largely a white male problem. Sarver's behavior is unique to Sarver and those who look like him; after all, there is only one black NBA owner.

The victories of countless civil rights movements in American history were a direct response to the push of white people, especially white people, to take action. Blacks were upset about slavery, Jim Crow, and mass incarceration, but only when whites thought their brothers had done too much did things really change.

Therefore, although hearing the unfiltered feelings of Paul, Booker, Williams, and Jones can be very influential, they defended Sarver in their self-protective behavior, possibly due to some misleading sense of loyalty. One day will regret, the actual structural changes will come from the actions of those who look like Sarver.

(There are legitimate reasons to question the behavior of Suns general manager Jones. He fought for Sarver. He told ESPN that the accusation against the team owner did not "[describe] Robert Sarver, whom I know, respect, and like," Fal was on the side of former Suns head coach Earl Watson. He is black and Mexican. For Jones, the Suns gave him a chance to manage an NBA team. He is likely to have something against Sarf. Misleading sense of loyalty because he seized the opportunity for him. Jones will one day know how far self-protection can get him, but the reasons for his statements are complicated.)

If Sarver refuses to respond to his actions, and based on his use of his lawyers in the ESPN report, he is likely to do so, then we should listen to the opinions of other white people. How did Frank Kaminsky and Dario Šarić affect Sarver’s alleged behavior? Is NBA president Adam Silver disgusted by Sarver's language? Do other white male owners condemn or condone Sarver's actions?

Because if the latter category of people are not as crazy as the blacks in the Sun organization, how can the NBA Foundation, a $300 million fund for social justice organizations, and the ideals of the National Basketball Social Justice League lead the league and the National Basketball Players Association? The committee of citizen participation is considered to be just a window decoration for public relations? How can the "black man's fate" painted on the court not be empty?

For now, the powerful whites in the league don't seem to take action. As of press time, no team owner condemned Sarver's behavior. The league issued a 55-word statement that neither mentioned Sarver nor the name of the Suns, but stated that the NBA and WNBA (Safir also owns the Phoenix Mercury team) "remain committed to providing respect for all employees. And an inclusive workplace." Several current and former white Suns executives, including current Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, told ESPN, "This is not the Robert I know."

Unless the whites in the NBA are as angry, frustrated, injured, and betrayed as the blacks they might think reading Sarver, there can be no real racial improvement, both inside and outside the NBA.

Martenzie is the author of The Undefeated. His favorite movie moment is when Jiang Ge said, "What do you all want to watch?"

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