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LA Clippers turn shirts inside-out in apparent protest of owner Donald Sterling

Clippers owner Donald Sterling is under fire for racist remarks he allegedly made in a phone call to his girlfriend.

By Kate Stanton
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling sits court side with his wife, Rochelle Sterling on April 19. UPI/Jim Ruymen
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling sits court side with his wife, Rochelle Sterling on April 19. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

OAKLAND, Calif., April 27 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Clippers held a silent protest against embattled owner Donald Sterling during their game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, after he was allegedly caught on tape spouting racist remarks.

The whole team, including Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, removed their warm-up jackets at center court before Sunday's game, revealing red long-sleeved shirts turned inside-out so that no team logos were visible.

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Paul told ESPN that the Clippers had decided to make the statement as a team.

"[We] talked as a team about everything, he said. "Tried to keep internal, everything we decided to do has been together as a team."

The players also wore black socks and armbands as part of their protest.

The controversy started when TMZ and Deadspin published audio recordings of an alleged conversation between Sterling and his girlfriend, V. Stiviano. On the tapes, a man can be heard chastising Stiviano for making public appearances with black people.
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"You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games," he allegedly said.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended the game, a 118-97 loss to the Warriors, but said he wouldn't take any serious action against Silver until the league concluded its investigation.

“All members of the NBA family should be afforded due process and a fair opportunity to present their side of any controversy, which is why I’m not yet prepared to discuss any potential sanctions against Donald Sterling,” Silver said in a statement. “We will, however, move extraordinarily quickly in our investigation. In the meantime, Mr. Sterling has agreed he will not attend his playoff game tomorrow in Golden State.”

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