In the midst of one of the biggest investigations in recent NBA memory comes perhaps one of the most ironic side stories associated with it.
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The New York Daily News reported Saturday that the Los Angeles Chapter of the NAACP is planning on giving Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 100th anniversary celebration gala of the chapter's formation.
The gala is set for May 15.
TMZ unloaded an audio recording that went viral in a hurry, depicting what is alleged to be Sterling talking to his girlfriend, identified by multiple media outlets as only as V. Stiviano. On the audio, the person depicted as Sterling tells the person depicted as Stiviano not to post photos of her with minorities on her Instagram account nor bring African Americans to Clippers games.
Magic Johnson reacts to alleged comments by Donald Sterling
The audio singled out former Los Angeles Laker and current Los Angeles Dodgers minority owner Magic Johnson as someone not to bring to a Clippers game.
According to the Daily News, the NAACP issued a statement to the Los Angeles chapter to remove Sterling from its honoree list and recommends that "African-Americans and Latinos should honor his request and not attend any the games."
"If these allegations are proven true, we are extremely disappointed in Mr. Sterling," said Alice Huffman, president of the NAACP California State Conference.
The Los Angeles NAACP website, however, has yet to take down the graphic of its 2014 honorees on its website.
Los Angeles Clippers team president Andy Roeser issued a statement on Sterling's behalf, vehemently denying the allegations and that the team does not know whether the man recorded is Sterling.
Roeser said:
"We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or [if] it has been altered. We do know that the woman on the tape -- who we believe released it to TMZ -- is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would "get even." Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life. He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them. He is also upset and apologizes for sentiments attributed to him about Earvin [Magic] Johnson. He has long considered Magic a friend and has only the utmost respect and admiration for him -- both in terms of who he is and what he has achieved. We are investigating this matter."
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