Phoenix Suns’ suspended owner Robert Sarver should go for good, some say : NPR
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Phoenix Suns majority owner Robert Sarver is facing growing pressure to leave the NBA franchise after a federation investigation uncovered multiple cases inappropriate behavior at workincluding the use of racial slurs, demeaning, and rough treatment of employees.
After announcing the findings on Tuesday, the NBA suspended Sarver from all franchise-related activities for a year and fined him $10 million, the maximum allowed under league law. fight – punishment that some say is not far enough.
PayPal announced in a statement that it will withdraw from its sponsorship of the team, ESPN reported a $3 million deal last season, should Sarver return from suspension.
“We have reviewed the report of the NBA’s independent investigation into Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and have found his behavior to be unacceptable and at odds with the values of the Phoenix Suns.” us,” said PayPal CEO and President Dan Schulman.
A top team executive is reportedly calling for Sarver’s resignation
ESPN reports that Suns Vice President Jahm Najafi, who owns the second largest stake in the team, wrote a letter to the staff members of the group calling for Sarver’s resignation. Sarver’s 35% stake in the team will be valued at $630 millionbased on Forbes estimates.
“Similar conduct by any chief executive officer, chief executive officer, president, teacher, coach or any other leadership position warrants immediate termination,” Najafi wrote in the letter. letter, ESPN reported. “Robert Sarver ‘owning’ the team does not give him the right to be treated differently from others.”
Suns star Chris Paul calls Sarver’s behavior unacceptable
The Suns’ most popular player, veteran point guard Chris Paul, wrote on Twitter that he also believes that sanctions are not enough because “what we can all agree on is brutality.”
Paul wrote: “I was horrified and disappointed with what I read. “This behavior especially towards women is unacceptable and should never be repeated.”
Like many others, I reviewed the report. I was and am appalled and disappointed by what I read. This behavior especially towards women is unacceptable and should never be repeated.
– Chris Paul (@ CP3) September 15, 2022
Among the report’s findingsNPR’s Tom Goldman reported:
- Sarver, on at least five occasions during his tenure with the Sun/Mercury, repeated the N-word when recounting the statements of others.
- He participated in cases of unfair behavior against female employees, made numerous gender-related comments in the workplace, made inappropriate comments about female employees’ appearance, and other women, and in some cases inappropriate physical behavior toward male employees.
- Sarver engaged in demeaning and rough treatment of employees, including yelling and swearing at them.
The NBA ordered an investigation after ESPN published a story last year reported many similar allegations about Sarver’s conduct.