From [HERE] and [HERE] For the second time since April, the N.B.A. has been rocked by a disclosure from a team owner that the presence of blacks at games negatively affects the bottom line. Bruce Levenson, a white man who had a controlling interest in the Atlanta Hawks, sent an email in August 2012 to the team’s general manager, Danny Ferry (also white), and other members of the club’s ownership, complaining about the team’s struggle to “get 35-55 white males and corporations to buy season” tickets.

“My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base,” Levenson wrote in the email. Levenson, who announced Sunday that he would sell his stake in the Hawks, complained that his franchise was drawing an “overwhelmingly black audience.” That is, the black fans at the games caused white fans to not attend games and/or to otherwise be uncomfortable at the games.

[this of course is reality. White people have a profound sense of numerical inadequacy and color inferiority when they are around a large group of non-whites (the rest of the world). According to Dr. Welsing, "always, in the presence of color, whites will feel genetically inferior." Indeed, "throughout history when whites encountered Blacks, "whites defen­sively developed an uncontrollable sense of hostility and aggression. This attitude has continued to manifest itself throughout the history of mass confrontations between whites and people of color." MORE]

Levenson self-reported the email and the NBA was investigating the situation, but Levenson has already told Silver he will sell the team, according to the commissioner (who is also white).

The Sterling saga ended last month when Steve Ballmer, the former chief of Microsoft (also white), completed a $2 billion purchase of the Clippers. Levenson will most likely make plenty of money from the sale of the Hawks, as well. Atlanta CEO Steve Koonin, another white man,  will now oversee all team operations. The Hawks become the third NBA team to hit the market this year.  In other words what is the real penalty for racism here? Sterling's $2 Billion sale is a windfall jackpot. How much will this racist suspect make? 

“Prior to the completion of the investigation, Mr. Levenson notified me last evening that he had decided to sell his controlling interest in the Atlanta Hawks,” Silver said in the statement. “As Mr. Levenson acknowledged, the views he expressed are entirely unacceptable and are in stark contrast to the core principles of the National Basketball Association. He shared with me how truly remorseful he is for using those hurtful words and how apologetic he is to the entire NBA family – fans, players, team employees, business partners and fellow team owners – for having diverted attention away from our game.

“I commend Mr. Levenson for self-reporting to the league office, for being fully cooperative with the league and its independent investigator, and for putting the best interests of the Hawks, the Atlanta community, and the NBA first.”

USA Today’s Jeff Zillgit tweeted out portions of the Levenson email, which makes specific references to the racial make-up of game crowds, arguing that the crowds include too many black fans and that the Hawks’ game operations, including music choices, attract black fans at the expense of affluent white men and corporate sponsors:

At one point, Levenson says specifically that his “theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites,” but Levenson paints the problem as a result of the racism of “southern whites,” not his own.

Levenson released a statement announcing his decision to sell and apologizing for the email.

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.

After much long and difficult contemplation, I have decided that it is in the best interests of the team, the Atlanta community, and the NBA to sell my controlling interest in the Hawks franchise.

The Hawks are the second team that will change ownership hands this year after racism from an owner. Silver banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life and announced that the NBA would force Sterling to sell his team following the release of audio recordings in which Sterling made racist comments about NBA legend Magic Johnson and African-American fans. Sterling’s wife, Shelly, negotiated a $2 billion sale to ex-Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer that was completed in August.

Levenson announced in April that he would vote in favor of stripping Sterling’s ownership. NBA owners never had to take that vote because of the sale.

Owners discussed the email and investigation at a meeting last week and Levenson decided to sell afterward, according to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski.