Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Look, I admire any effort to defend legendary Los Angeles Clippers broadcaster Ralph Lawler and his partner Mike Smith after they were suspended for some off-the-cuff remarks they made about Memphis’ Iranian player, Hamed Haddadi. It was an overreaction to some light-hearted remarks, and as a League Pass aficionado, there are few better announcing tandems in the league.
But it’s also possible to go too far in defending someone. Why am I not surprised that Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers crossed that line?
Memphis has a player from Iran, and who else would have a player from Iran but one of the worst teams in the league?
The Clippers also have a season-ticket holder, and I’m as surprised as you are to learn of it.
Stereotyping that the Clippers have no fans? Check. Insinuating that Iran is a second-class country because only one of the NBA’s worst teams would ever employ a basketball player from there? Check. Nicely done, T.J.
(As to his actual argument — that the Clippers didn’t stand up for Lawler enough — I guess he didn’t consider that the Clippers gave him the game ball after their win over Denver Friday).
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