Clippers owner Donald Sterling allegedly makes racist remarks: Weekend Timeline

It's the time of year when the focus around the basketball universe is usually on the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but now the attention has been temporarily shifted to one of the league's longest-tenured owners.

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling set off a firestorm of criticism after TMZ released audio recordings over the weekend of the 80-year-old allegedly making racist remarks against African-Americans to his then-girlfriend V. Stiviano.

Since the news broke Saturday morning, prominent figures from Magic Johnson, who was mentioned in the recording, to the President of the United States of America Barack Obama have expressed their outrage towards the outdated worldviews of a man who is no stranger to controversy.

Since the news and backlash from the alleged comments have come fast and furious over the last couple days, here's a quick recap of the events as they transpired.

Friday April 25

• TMZ Sports releases the shocking recording of a conversation from April 9, where Sterling allegedly tells Stiviano that he's bothered by her association with black people, specifically Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson after she posted an image of the two on Instagram.

"...Don't put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me.  And don't bring him to my games."

[Courtesy: TMZ]

• Johnson was quick to respond, via TMZ Sports, saying he felt pity for Sterling's views towards black people and pointing out the talented black basketball players and minority fans associated with the Clippers.

Saturday April 26

• DeAndre Jordan was the first member of the Clippers to acknowledge the remarks by simply posting a black image on his Instagram page.

• Johnson elaborated on his earlier response and took to Twitter to announce his boycott of Clippers' games and said Sterling's comments were a "black eye" for the league and offered his sympathy to Clippers coach Doc Rivers and point guard Chris Paul.

• After various players around the league expressed their outrage, it was time for the Inside the NBA crew of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith to offer their views during halftime of the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks game.

[Courtesy: mij305]

• Doc Rivers meets with the media during Clippers practice to talk about his thoughts and the team's reaction, saying there was a 45-minute meeting before they started practice and that it wasn't just the black players on the team that were angry with the alleged comments from their employer.

• The Clippers organization offers their response to the remarks when they released a statement on their website from president Andy Roeser. He says, “We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered," and alleges that the woman on the tape could possibly be the defendant in a case brought by the Sterling family where she's accused of embezzling the family out of $1.8-million. The statement concludes with the team and Sterling condemning the accusations and that they're investigating the matter.

• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media, reading a prepared statement from the league. He declined to offer comments on a possible punishment for Sterling, but said the league would "move extraordinarily quickly" in their investigation.

Sunday April 27

• President Obama denounces the comments at a news conference in Malaysia and expresses his confidence in commissioner Silver's ability to handle the situation.

• Deadspin publishes an extended version of the audio recording purportedly between Sterling and Stiviano

V: Do you know that you have a whole team that's black, that plays for you?Man: You just, do I know? I support them and give them food, and clothes, and cars, and houses... 

• Arguably the greatest player in the NBA's history and Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan says, " I’m obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views," and offered his confidence in the commissioner's ability to reach a conclusion on the matter.

• The Clippers team took part in a silent protest before Sunday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Players huddled at center court and removed their jackets with the word "Clippers" printed on the front, tossing them on the floor to reveal a plain red shirt that was turned inside out to hide the team's nickname.

• The Clippers get embarrassed in Game 4, losing 118-97 to the Warriors, with shooting guard J.J. Reddick saying the team's "focus wasn't in the right place..." They're set to return to their home court, with Rivers saying after the game, "We're going home now. And usually that would mean that we're going to a safe haven. And I don't even know if that's true to be honest."

Monday April 28

• Yahoo! Sports reports Magic Johnson is interested in a chance to purchase the Clippers. One source says that Johnson is "absolutely interested," and that he and a group of investors have expressed an eagerness to become NBA owners for some time.