The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, University of Central Florida, gave the NBA a grade of B-plus for gender hires in its August report card. However, the league has serious problems with female hires. Three high-ranking NBA officials were suspended last week for mistreating female employees.
After the franchise began investigating allegations of workplace misconduct involving a former female employee, the Detroit Pistons placed Rob Murphy, assistant general manager, on leave. This isn’t an isolated incident.
Boston suspended Ime Udoka, its head coach, for a year last month after he had an inappropriate relationship with a female member. Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Suns, was fined $10million and suspended for a year for racist and sexist charges. He then decided to sell his team.
Now, Detroit is in scandal. This clearly shows that the NBA is not a model of virtue. These scandals have impacted the start of a new NBA Season to say the least.
Adrian Wojnarowski, an ESPN senior NBA insider, broke the story of Detroit suspending Murphy just a few days back. Murphy has been the assistant general manager of the team since June. The investigation was confirmed by the Associated Press. The Pistons have not spoken out about Murphy’s current situation.
Sarver was exposed for using demeaning language towards female employees. Sarver told a pregnant employee that she wouldn’t be welcome back to the company after becoming a mom. He also made offensive comments and jokes about anatomy and sex, and bullied and cursed employees. Sarver also made inappropriate racial comments towards employees.
Udoka was the coach whose second season with the Celtics ended in disarray. After leading Boston to the NBA Finals his first season, a lengthy investigation revealed that he had repeatedly violated team policies. One of his offences was a crude comment directed at a woman in the organization with whom he was involved.
The Associated Press was told by an anonymous source that Udoka was in an inappropriate relationship with a female employee of the organization.
The NBA seems to have its own “me too” problem, aside from its cozy relationship to communist China, declining popularity, and polarizing Republicans due to its Democrat-heavy politics.
