The NFL May Have a Donald Sterling Problem

Psychology of the Game Series

By: Jimmy

7/26/2020

Woody Johnson has been the owner of the New York Jets since 2000 and U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom since 2017.

Last week it was reported that he was investigated by the U.S State Department for allegedly making racist, sexist, and misogynistic remarks while serving as Ambassador. It was also reported by the New York Times that in 2018 he was asked by President Donald Trump to use his position to secure golf’s Open Championship at his Turnberry Resort in Scotland and Johnson made a failed attempt to do so. Johnson vehemently denied all allegations in a statement following the report on these allegations.

We remember a similar occurrence from April of 2014 when TMZ released a recording of a conversation between Donald Sterling (then the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers) and his girlfriend V. Stiviano wherein he made racist and derogatory remarks about African-Americans. This subsequently cost him ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers shortly thereafter when NBA commissioner Adam Silver forced him to sell his team (ultimately to Steve Ballmer).

Many wonder if Woody Johnson will experience the same fate as Donald Sterling if these allegations are proven to be fact not fiction as Johnson says they are.

A State Department spokesperson recently told CNN they “stand by Ambassador Johnson and look forward to him continuing to ensure our special relationship with the U.K. is strong.” When asked for a statement on the allegations made against him an NFL spokesperson stated the NFL was aware of the report and referred all further questions to the State Department, which is a very curious response given the NFL’s recent willingness to address issues pertaining to institutional racism and sexism.

What this may mean is the State Department was unable to prove that Woody Johnson made these statements and the NFL is therefore content to let this issue disintegrate like pre-game smoke into the atmosphere since they are currently attempting to navigate how to safely have a 2020 NFL season amidst the global pandemic, appropriately participate in the sociopolitical protests and reform nationwide, and address the multiple fiascoes surrounding the Washington Football team.

But the NFL must not rely on the U.S State Department when independently investigating the behavior of one of its’ owners much as it wouldn’t for a player being investigated for egregious behavior. And it is even more important that they investigate Johnson given that he controls the employment of numerous people working for the New York Jets organization who represent the communities he is alleged to have disparaged. Reports say the Jets players are furious about these allegations with former Jets pro bowl safety Jamal Adams stating “wrong is wrong.”

If Johnson is found to have said uttered these awful things about African-Americans and women at the conclusion of what should be the NFL’s independent investigation, then they have only one choice, but at least it’s a choice with a precedent set. Either a known racist-sexist-misogynist is allowed to retain ownership of an NFL franchise or they follow the lead of the NBA and ban Johnson from the game forevermore making the air as fresh as it became when the NBA cleared itself of the stench of Donald Sterling.