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Lakers Legend Claims Clippers Steered by Racist

Posted Feb 12th 2009 1:40AM by TMZ Staff

Elgin BaylorFormer legendary L.A. Laker Elgin Baylor has just filed a lawsuit against the L.A. Clippers and the NBA, claiming he's the victim of rampant racial discrimination.

In the lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Baylor -- who was unceremoniously dismissed as VP and General Manager last October -- claims the team has "egregious salary disparities" based on race. Baylor claims he was told to "induce African American players to join the Clippers, despite the Clippers' reputation of being unwilling to fairly treat and compensate African American players." Baylor says the owner, Donald Sterling, has a "pervasive and ongoing racist attitude."

Baylor cites the case of NBA player Danny Manning, where Sterling allegedly said, "I'm offering a lot of money for a poor Black kid." The suit claims Sterling repeatedly referred to the team as "poor Black kids" and "he wanted a White coach directing the Clippers." Sterling is being sued as well.

Baylor says he personally got stiffed, only being paid $350,000 a year since 2003, when a "Caucasian head coach was given a 4 year, 22 million dollar contract."

Here's the best part. The suit says, "At all relevant times mentioned here, Mr. Baylor was an African American male over the age of 40."

Tags: Donald Sterling, DonaldSterling, Elgin Baylor, ElginBaylor, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, LaClippers, LaLakers, lawsuit, racial discrimination, RacialDiscrimination, racist

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1. FIRST AGAIN SUCKERS!!!

Posted at 8:21PM on Feb 11th 2009 by toofastforyou!

2. Do you think? Donald Sterling?? Do you have any idea who this guy is - just look at his real estate ads in the LA Times and the blonde models he uses to promute the properties. Also - this is a gentelman the requires you to provide an 8 x 10 head shot when you apply for a job. Also - what happened to his skid row center in LA - ?? Unfortunatly for Baylor - he went withthe program too long.

Posted at 8:29PM on Feb 11th 2009 by San Diego - Clippers

3. JOURNALISM 101: Why are you capitalizing "Black" and "White"? Random...

Posted at 8:29PM on Feb 11th 2009 by HUH?

4. Probably those are direct quotes from the lawsuit.

Posted at 8:41PM on Feb 11th 2009 by mtk

5. I talked to black guy once,there really scarry up close.

Posted at 8:43PM on Feb 11th 2009 by elvin

6. it's their not there you idiot, got back to school before you surf the net.

Posted at 8:47PM on Feb 11th 2009 by the man

7. Would be nice if you would post the complaint

Posted at 8:49PM on Feb 11th 2009 by Anon

8. WHY DIDN'T HE ANYTHING 5 YEARS AGO THEN . WHAT A JOKE

Posted at 8:52PM on Feb 11th 2009 by QUEEN

9. he wasnt let get bc of his race its bc the clippers are never good and comein last every year hey elgin how bought geting better players and paying them like the sixers paid elton brand wa wa wa lol

Posted at 9:01PM on Feb 11th 2009 by steve

10. Nobodys fault but his own, he signed the contract>>> Anyhow, why should I take his word for anything he is the one trying to get the FREE money.

Posted at 3:37PM on Feb 15th 2009 by pissed

11. Elgin Baylor was one of the classiest and nicesst black or white men I've ever met. Uunderstand now, just lite Etta, although the big eared president isn't one I voted for either and I think he's a fraud and a phoney, I loved Elgin. He used to go into the original NICKY BLAIR'S on Sunset and we talked often and what a great man he is. I'm on Team Elgin for he's not a fraud but fine.

Posted at 9:45PM on Feb 11th 2009 by VAL

12. He didn't do a damn thing to make the clippers a better team while he "worked" for them. The only time I ever heard about him or saw him, he was sitting courtside in a colorful sweater with his wife. If he had this grudge against the Clippers, and as a black man new of the rampant racist behavior going on, why didn't he come out with it years ago? Danny Manning hasn't been a clipper in a dozen years! He would have been let go so many years ago, and then he would have had a hard time finding another gig in the NBA because he would have been labeled a trouble maker in the eyes of the white ownership of the teams. He's just pissed because he's joined the ranks of the unemployed. Get used to it, Elgin.

Posted at 9:36PM on Feb 11th 2009 by What??

13. About a year ago i tried leasing an apartment in one of his many buildings in L.A.
I was told all were already sold. I was very suspicious so i had my white friend call
and see if any apartments were open for lease and they said YES!!!
I'm mexican, my friend is white, you do the math. When you call they always
ask for your race.

Posted at 10:03PM on Feb 11th 2009 by essa rios626

14. Elgin Baylor is a joke. He was the worst GM in the history of the NBA and has the track record to prove it. He would've been fired decades ago by any other owner. Luckily, Donald Sterling never cared about winning so Baylor was left in charge to draft new crappy players every year. The list is sheer endless and mindboggling. For Baylor to now sue based on racial discrimination is ridiculous. I guess, Elgin was fine taking money from a 'racist', Donald Sterling, as long as said racist kept him on as an employee. Now that the gravy train has come to an end it'sall sour grapes. Shame on you, Elgin. You are a disgrace to basketball and African-Americans everywhere in the age of Obama.

Posted at 10:06PM on Feb 11th 2009 by Johnny Doe

15. sorry number 11,I wont rent to blacks or mexican because thier nasty and dont like to pay on times so I stick to whites and never have a problem!

Posted at 10:11PM on Feb 11th 2009 by lonnie

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