Silver, Sterling, Cano, Fallon and The Code

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned L. A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling from the NBA for life for the racist remarks he made a few days ago – remarks so offensive and familiar to all that they need not be repeated. Jimmy Fallon, anticipating the boos that may well greet Robinson Cano upon his return to Yankee Stadium (the former Yankee accepted a higher offer from the Seattle Mariners) decided to try an experiment. He had a large poster of Cano on a street in New York, and asked fans how they would react when Cano took to the field. Numerous fans said they would “boo” and proceeded to do so at the poster. To their surprise Cano then stepped out from behind the poster. All of the fans then smiled, laughed, and welcomed him to New York. Sterling and the fans all acted one way when they thought their words would not be known. The Code says “I will respect the dignity of every human being, and will not be abusive or dehumanizing of another either as an athlete or as a fan.” Respecting others is not a “suggestion” or an “idea” in the Code – the Code says “I will…” Do you mean the things you say? Will you say the same things publicly that you say privately?