LA NAACP to Return Money Donated by Sterling

[ SOURCE ] The president of the Los Angeles NAACP confirmed during a news conference Monday that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling will no longer receive a lifetime achievement award next month and that money donated by the embattled owner will be returned.

The news conference came a day after the organization's interim president told NBC's "Meet the Press" that Sterling would not be honored at an awards gala in Los Angeles next month. Sterling was set to be awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP on May 15.

The NAACP also called for a previous award given to the 80-year-old Sterling, who has owned the team since 1981, to be rescinded.

Magic Johnson reportedly interested in buying the Los Angeles Clippers

[ SOURCE ] Yahoo Sports reports that former Laker and Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson is interested in purchasing the Los Angeles Clippers from Donald Sterling in the wake of the alleged racist comments from Sterling that broke into a firestorm of scandal this weekend.

Magic Johnson and his billionaire backers, the Guggenheim Partners, want a chance to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. "Magic's absolutely interested," one source closely connected to Johnson's business interests told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night.

To bail themselves out of the NBA's worst crisis of credibility since the Tim Donaghy officiating scandal, the easy part for the NBA will be enlisting the eagerness and financial muscle of Magic Johnson and Mark Walter of the Guggenheim Partners – owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Make no mistake: Magic's Dodgers group is angling for a Southern California sports empire. Magic Johnson and Guggenheim had been aggressive in pursuing a purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers – only to have the Buss family make clear to them the franchise isn't for sale, sources told Yahoo Sports.

"This is 100 percent Magic's plan," a league official intimately involved in the buying and selling of franchises told Yahoo Sports.

Donald Sterling will not receive NAACP award.

[ SOURCE ] NAACP Interim President Lorraine Miller said Sunday the NAACP will not go forward with plans to give a lifetime achievement award to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," Miller condemned the racist remarks allegedly made by Sterling that were caught on audio recording and leaked over the weekend. The NAACP's Los Angeles chapter was scheduled to give Sterling a lifetime achievement award at its 100th anniversary celebration next month.

"He is not receiving a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP," Miller said.

While it has not been confirmed that the voice on the recording is Sterling's, he's not denied making the remarks. And Miller said Sunday that Sterling must deny the remarks immediately if he did not make them.

"If you’re silent about this, then you’re accepting this," she said. ”People have got to say that this is not good and do something about it."

Obama responds to racist comments by Clippers' Don Sterling

At a press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Sunday, Obama was asked about racist comments Sterling allegedly made about African-Americans. Listen to President Obama's remarks below:

NBPA Statement From Pres. Chris Paul Regarding Donald Sterling

Statement from Chris Paul – NBPA President

“On behalf of the National Basketball Players Association, this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively. We have asked Mayor Kevin Johnson to expand his responsibilities with the NBPA, to determine our response and our next steps. As players, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and a drive to the Finals.”