2012年时，老鹰的老板 Bruce Levenson写了一封带有种族歧视的email
part 1

part 2

我觉得黑人比例太高，观众70%黑人，BAR90%黑人，嘻哈音乐，啦啦队都黑人
part 3

我的实证研究发现黑人会吓跑白人
part 4

我告诉管理团队，我希望啦啦队有白人
我不管演奏者的种族，音乐除了嘻哈外，有能够适合40岁以上白人观众的音乐
我发现休息时间的娱乐活动每次都是黑人在玩
我猜测现在观众比例有40%是黑人，是其他队4-5倍
我也认为，对某些白人来说，40%的黑人他们感觉像70%
我们的bar照样被黑人给包围了
→→→我推论出为什么我们票的销量基础是如此的低
我还发现，黑人没钱消费，白人敢花钱
part 5

part 6

Sent from my iPad
(整篇email重点主要是评论球迷组成跟对特定族群的行销计画)
西佛表示是Bruce Levenson自己向NBA自首这封email的
而NBA针对这个email进行调查
但Adrian Wojnarowski的消息则指出西佛并没说实话(说谎)
在这封带有种族歧视的email曝光后，Bruce Levenson决定卖出他在老鹰的持股
暂由STEVE KOONIN继续监督老鹰的营运
讽刺的是
在快艇老板的种族歧视案
Bruce Levenson表示‘Sterling (if he is on the recording) should be given the
maximum penalty for his comments’
译:若史特林录音为真，史应该要为他的评论(种族歧视)获得最大惩罚
目前Bruce Levenson、老鹰官方(STEVE KOONIN)、亚当西佛分别针对这个案子做出声明
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.
简译:
我对我的email非常不适当且冒犯人的内容非常抱歉
你若生气我是应该的，因为我也很气我自己
NBA应该对种族主义零容忍，这就是为什么我自愿提交这份不适当的EMAIL给NBA
老鹰官方:
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
简译:Bruce Levenso的做为让人失望且无法接受，没有反映老鹰团队的价值跟纪律

南部州黑人特别多因为种族歧视(尤其是白人对黑人)在美国是大忌只要是黑白问题，就会特别被放大检视