2012年時，老鷹的老闆 Bruce Levenson寫了一封帶有種族歧視的email
part 1 http://ppt.cc/5y82
part 2 http://ppt.cc/TYfy
我覺得黑人比例太高，觀眾70%黑人，BAR90%黑人，嘻哈音樂，啦啦隊都黑人
part 3 http://ppt.cc/IyBm
我的實證研究發現黑人會嚇跑白人
part 4 http://ppt.cc/Zn1M
我告訴管理團隊，我希望啦啦隊有白人
我不管演奏者的種族，音樂除了嘻哈外，有能夠適合40歲以上白人觀眾的音樂
我發現休息時間的娛樂活動每次都是黑人在玩
我猜測現在觀眾比例有40%是黑人，是其他隊4-5倍
我也認為，對某些白人來說，40%的黑人他們感覺像70%
我們的bar照樣被黑人給包圍了
→→→我推論出為什麼我們票的銷量基礎是如此的低
我還發現，黑人沒錢消費，白人敢花錢
part 5 http://ppt.cc/zToE
part 6 http://ppt.cc/nKXz
Sent from my iPad
(整篇email重點主要是評論球迷組成跟對特定族群的行銷計畫)
西佛表示是Bruce Levenson自己向NBA自首這封email的
而NBA針對這個email進行調查
但Adrian Wojnarowski的消息則指出西佛並沒說實話(說謊)
在這封帶有種族歧視的email曝光後，Bruce Levenson決定賣出他在老鷹的持股
暫由STEVE KOONIN繼續監督老鷹的營運
諷刺的是
在快艇老闆的種族歧視案
Bruce Levenson表示『Sterling (if he is on the recording) should be given the
maximum penalty for his comments』
譯:若史特林錄音為真，史應該要為他的評論(種族歧視)獲得最大懲罰
目前Bruce Levenson、老鷹官方(STEVE KOONIN)、亞當西佛分別針對這個案子做出聲明
BL:
In trying to address those issues, I wrote an e-mail two years ago that was
inappropriate and offensive.
I trivialized our fans by making clichéd assumptions about their interests
(i.e. hip hop vs. country, white vs. black cheerleaders, etc.) and by
stereotyping their perceptions of one another (i.e. that white fans might be
afraid of our black fans). By focusing on race, I also sent the unintentional
and hurtful message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans.
If you're angry about what I wrote, you should be. I'm angry at myself, too.
It was inflammatory nonsense. We all may have subtle biases and
preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge
them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them.
I have said repeatedly that the NBA should have zero tolerance for racism,
and I strongly believe that to be true. That is why I voluntarily reported my
inappropriate e-mail to the NBA.
簡譯:
我對我的email非常不適當且冒犯人的內容非常抱歉
你若生氣我是應該的，因為我也很氣我自己
NBA應該對種族主義零容忍，這就是為什麼我自願提交這份不適當的EMAIL給NBA
老鷹官方:
To the City of Atlanta and Hawks Fans,
Today’s statement from Controlling Owner Bruce Levenson is extremely
disappointing and the email that he sent over two years ago was alarming,
offensive and most of all, completely unacceptable and does not reflect the
principles and values of the Hawks organization. In partnership with the NBA,
we will work to ensure that a new ownership team will be put in place that is
united and committed to the Atlanta community.
Steve Koonin
簡譯:Bruce Levenso的做為讓人失望且無法接受，沒有反映老鷹團隊的價值跟紀律