RACISM AND PRO SPORTS

It’s been a tough 48 hours for two of North America’s biggest pro sports leagues, with the spotlight again on how they’re addressing racism issues. Here’s what happened:

Wednesday:

During a conversation with Inc. magazine in front of 900 people, controversial Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the NBA had no choice but to ban Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life after his racist comments. But Cuban warned the ban was putting the league on a “slippery slope.” Later in the interview, while generally discussing the subject of prejudice, Cuban said: “I know I’m bigoted in a lot of different ways. If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it’s late at night, I’m walking to the other side of the street. And if on that side of the street, there’s a guy that has tattoos all over his face — white guy, bald head, tattoos everywhere — I’m walking back to the other side of the street. No one has pure thoughts ... but it’s about recognizing when you have thoughts that aren’t right.” Cuban later apologized to the family of U.S. shooting victim Trayvon Martin, saying the “black kid in the hoodie” example wasn’t a wise choice.

Thursday:

Half the U.S. Senate urged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to change the Washington Redskins’ name, saying it is nothing less than a racist slur and the time is ripe to replace it. In a letter, 49 senators suggested Goodell follow the NBA’s lead and push to rename the Redskins. “We urge you and the National Football League to send the same clear message as the NBA did: that racism and bigotry have no place in professional sports,” read the letter, which did not use the word “Redskins.”