Sponsors fled the Clippers on Monday in the wake of racist comments allegedly made by owner Donald Sterling. 
 
 
 
 CarMax and Virgin America severed ties with the Clippers, while Aquahydrate, Kia Motors America and State Farm suspended their relationships. 
 
 
 
 In a statement ending its nine-year sponsorship of the Clippers, CarMax called the comments “completely unacceptable.” 
 
 
 
 “These views directly conflict with CarMax’s culture of respect for all individuals,” the company said. “While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for nine years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship.” 
 
 
 
 State Farm said Sterling’s remarks were “offensive” and it will “take a pause” from the Clippers. 
 
 
 
 “While those involved sort out the facts, we will be taking a pause in our relationship with the organization,” State Farm said in a statement released to CNBC. “We are monitoring the situation and we’ll continually assess our options.” 
 
 
 
 State Farm introduced an advertising campaign featuring Chris Paul in 2012. The pause won’t affect the company’s work with the Clippers point guard. 
 
 
 
 In a Twitter post, Aquahydrate described Sterling’s comments as “intolerable,” while Virgin America reiterated its support for Clippers fans and players in an emailed statement canceling its sponsorship. 
 
 
 
 Kia Motors America echoed Virgin America’s support of Clippers players and the NBA but criticized Sterling’s comments. 
 
 
 
 “The comments allegedly made by Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, are offensive and reprehensible, and they are inconsistent with our views and values,” the emailed statement said. 
 
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 Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said Monday that he believes team owner Donald Sterling was the person making racial comments on an audio recording released by TMZ over the weekend. Above, Rivers before Sunday's Clippers game. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / ) 
 
 Clippers Coach Doc Rivers made it clear Monday what he thought about the racist comments attributed to team owner Donald Sterling. 
 
 “Yeah, I believe he said those things,” Rivers said during a conference call with reporters. 
 
 A voice reported to be Sterling is heard an audio recording released by TMZ on Friday night telling a friend that he was upset she posted a picture of Instagram of herself next to Lakers legend and Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson. The man said he didn't want the woman to be associated with black people. 
 
 “I just would like to reiterate how disappointed I am in those comments that are attributed to our owner,” Rivers said. “I can’t tell you how upset I am and our players are.” 
 
 The NBA said that it would hold a news conference Tuesday about its investigation Sterling and the recorded remarks. 
 
 “I think this is a defining moment, but I think we’ll have more defining moments,” Rivers said. “I think this is a very important decision. I hope that it’s a very strong message, and I believe that it will be. But other than that, I’m just going to let the league do what it needs to do. And then after that, I think the players and myself will have a reaction.” 
 
 Rivers said he gave his players Monday off with no practice because he wanted them to “breathe” before Game 5 on Tuesday at Staples Center against the Golden State Warriors. 
 
 But Rivers said all the players came to the team’s practice facility Monday anyway. 
 
 The best-of-seven series is tied at 2-2. 
 
 “The reason [for no practice] is for the players. I just felt like they needed to breathe,” Rivers said. “They’ve been inundated with this. They’ve really had no time with their families. I just think they need time. 
 
 “Obviously in most cases, we would be practicing on the floor and doing a lot of stuff today. I’m at the facility and I would say all of the players are here anyway. I’ll go down and talk to them and make sure they’re in the right place.” 
 
 Rivers was asked what the fans should do at the game Tuesday night. 
 
 “I hope whatever the fans do is as one,” Rivers said. “As one group. Just do it and be one. … But I don’t even know if that’s the right thing, but I think it is.” 
 
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 broderick.turner@latimes.com 
 
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 The NAACP said today they are still willing to work with Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling despite yanking an offer of a lifetime achievement award over an audio tape containing racist comments that Sterling allegedly made. 
 
 At a news conference today, NAACP Los Angeles president Leon Jenkins said that an audio recording that surfaced this weekend on TMZ, which purportedly had Sterling's voice recorded making racist comments, was "devastating." 
 
 But the organization would be open to talking to Sterling, with whom they've worked for nearly 20 years. 
 
 Catch up on Donald Sterling Scandal Here 
 
 What We Know About V. Stiviano, Woman Accused of Leaking Racist Rant 
 
 "God teaches us to forgive, and the way I look at it, after a sustained period of proof to the African American community that those words don't reflect his heart, I think there's room for forgiveness. I wouldn't be a Christian if I said there wasn't," Jenkins said. 
 
 "We are negotiating with him about giving more moneys to African American students at UCLA, and so we are in preliminary discussions," Jenkins said. He also noted, however, they had not spoken since the scandal broke. 
 
 The news conference was held to discuss the organization's decision to cancel plans to honor to Sterling with a lifetime achievement in the wake of the tape, which allegedly contained an argument between Sterling, 80, and his girlfriend, Vanessa Stiviano, 31, in which the male voice on the recording makes many racist comments. 
 
 The male voice is heard telling Stiviano not to post pictures of herself with black people to Instagram or bring black people to Los Angeles Clippers games, including Magic Johnson. Stiviano's lawyers claim the recording is authentic and contains the voice of Sterling. 
 
 LA Clippers President Andy Roeser said in a statement Saturday the team did not know if the tape is legitimate or has been altered. Roeser said that Donald Sterling told him that Stiviano had previously said she would "get even" for the lawsuit brought by Rochelle Sterling. 
 
 The team released a statement saying, “Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life." 
 
 The recording sent shock waves through the NBA. The Clippers players protested Sterling by wearing their jerseys inside out at a playoff game Sunday, and the league is investigating what actions it may take against Sterling if the voice on the tape is verified to be his. 
 
 The Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP posted on its website over the weekend that it would not give Sterling the Lifetime Achievement award after all. 
 
 Jenkins said that the NAACP had been working closely with Sterling on contributions to the black community in southern California, including creating an endowment at a predominantly black college in the LA area and a scholarship program for black students at UCLA. 
 
 "The mission of the NAACP is to eradicate discrimination and racial hatred in all its forms, and each year our executive board votes on who we decide that we are going to honor," Jenkins said. "Mr. Sterling has given out a tremendous amount of scholarships, he has invited numerous African American kids to summer camps, and his donations are bigger than other sports franchises." 
 
 "That is something that shows that there is a consciousness of the plight of African Americans in this country," Jenkins said. 
 
 Jenkins noted that Sterling had previously been awarded a humanitarian honor from the group and that it would not revoke that. 
 
 In 2009, ESPN Magazine went with Sterling to the awards ceremony for that honor, which the magazine described as Lifetime Achievement Award, though Jenkins denied that term today. The magazine profiled Sterling amid legal allegations by the Justice Department that he discriminated against minorities in housing units he rented. Sterling ultimately settled with the government. 
 
 Jenkins was quoted in the 2009 article saying that Sterling had donated $10,000 to $15,000 in that year alone to the NAACP. 
 
 Sterling is quoted in the story saying about the reporter, "Do you know why they're here? They want to know why the NAACP would give an award to someone with my track record." 
 
 Jenkins said at the press conference today that the NAACP has worked with Sterling for 15 to 20 years and that Jenkins' predecessor nominated Sterling for the 2009 award. 

 More alleged comments from Donald Sterling surface Sunday. (USATSI) 
 
 More on Sterling: KJ meets with Silver | Latest Sterling news 
 
 The NBA announced Monday that it will hold a press conference Tuesday with an announcement about the investigation into alleged racist comments from Clippers owner Donald Sterling released over the weekend. The move comes in the wake of public outcry over comments released first to TMZ and then Deadspin over the weekend from a recorded conversation between Sterling and his girlfriend. 
 
 Adam Silver said over the weekend that the league intends to find a resolution before Game 5 of the Clippers-Warriors series Tuesday night. It's not known as of yet whether the NBA is ready to issue punishment in the event that Sterling is identified as the person on the tape. 
 
 The outrage over the comments grew like wildfire after the recording was first leaked Friday. Players from all across the league, current and former, spoke out against it. Kevin Johnson met with Silver on Sunday to represent the players' union. Sponsors began pulling their support from the Clippers Monday morning. The Clippers players reportedly considered boycotting Game 4, and they staged a silent protest on Sunday before Game 4 vs. the Warriors by turning their warmups inside out.
– The NAACP is still willing to work with Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling despite his alleged racist remarks, ABC News reports. Having denied him a lifetime achievement award over his comments (see here and here), the organization held a press conference today where NAACP Los Angeles President Leon Jenkins called Sterling's words "devastating." Still, the NAACP could forgive the man it has worked with for nearly 20 years, Jenkins said: "God teaches us to forgive. ... I think there's room for forgiveness. I wouldn't be a Christian if I said there wasn't." But Jenkins said he would need to see "a sustained period of proof to the African American community that those words don't reflect his heart." He said the NAACP is negotiating with Sterling about him giving more money to black students at UCLA, but they haven't spoken since the scandal broke. In other developments, sponsors like CarMax, Virgin America, and State Farm have either severed or paused their relationship with the Clippers, the LA Times reports. Clippers coach Doc Rivers said today that he "believed [Sterling] said those things," the LA Times reports, and CBS Sports reports that the NBA will make an announcement about its investigation tomorrow. (Click to read about Sterling's history of alarming comments.)