It was quite a scene at Staples Center on Tuesday as the Clippers hosted the Warriors for Game Five of their Western Conference First Round series. The nation’s eyes were squarely on them to see how the fans would respond to their team returning home amid the controversy surrounding Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling.
The NBA brought the hammer down on Sterling, suspending him from the NBA for life (virtually removing him from the team’s day-to-day operations) and fining him $2.5 million. He was gone and fans rejoiced, while keeping an eye on the larger picture that there is still a debate and discussion needed on race and race relations in the wake of this controversy.
We’re appreciative to Adam Hawk (@ImAdamHawk) for getting a good look at the atmosphere as fans filed in:
A fan outside Staples Center protests Donald Sterling’s comments that got him suspended from the league. Photo by Adam Hawk on April 29, 2014
A fan likens Donald Sterling’s comments about race to the movie “12 Years a Slave.” Photo by Adam Hawk on April 29, 2014
A civil rights group protests outside Game Five of the Clippers-Warriors series at Staples Center. Photo by Adam Hawk on April 29, 2014.
A fan protests Donald Sterling outside Game Five of the Clippers-Warriors game on April 29, 2014. Photo by Adam Hawk.
A group of Clippers fans protest Donald Sterling and support their team before Game Five. Photo by Adam Hawk on April 29, 2014.
A fan wears a shirt protesting Donald Sterling and his comments before Game Five. Photo by Adam Hawk on April 29, 2014.
