“Effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life…. Adam Silver

Concentration, focus and belief in self are what make individuals mentally tough to perform successfully and over come adversity. These components are essential to the development of the kind of mental toughness in takes to be successful in any arena.

The enemy of mental toughness and strength is distraction. While there are distractions around every corner in life, the kind of distractions the Los Angeles Clippers must deal with as they try and make a deep run into the NBA playoffs this year are not only substantial but cut deep into the hearts and souls of the players and the athletic community.

Just because Clipper’s Owner Donald Sterling has been banned from the NBA for life by Commissioner Adam Silver and must pay a $2.5 million fine, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers still have to deal with the storm of distractions Sterling’s racist remarks created.

The entire Clipper’s organization must concentrate, focus and be mentally tough despite this betrayal and perform in one of the most competitive sports arenas in the world—The NBA Playoffs.

“Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multi-ethnic league,” Silver said.

While it is easy for us to watch the events unfold and take stock in Silver’s carefully crafted words from the comfort of home, the players have to put aside a scar that has plagued all Americans for centuries and play basketball.

This not only takes courage, dedication and commitment, it requires a level of mental toughness and psychological savvy many African Americans and other minorities are forced to muster every day to meet the challenges racism in America. As a real and seemingly endless part of American culture, racism may be here to stay.

“…Just 72 hours after the release of Sterling’s Pillow Talk Tapes by TMZ, a rookie commissioner imposed a lifetime ban on a flawed man whose rights were violated,” wrote seasoned journalist Jason Whitlock of espn.com. Whitlock goes on to maintain that, “Removing Donald Sterling from the NBA solves nothing. It sets a precedent that will likely boomerang and harm black players and coaches who are shocked and outraged that an 80-year-old man with a documented history of bigoted actions also has bigoted private thoughts.”

In short, the commissioner’s ban will undoubtedly be perceived by some as just a band aid on an amputated leg or just another case of race card politics.

And as these sentiments, ideas and opposing views bounce about Twitter, Instagram and the blogosphere minute by minute, Los Angeles Clippers players make the most important statement—in addition to their game five win Tuesday night over the Warriors—which echoes the idea that mental toughness derived from focus and concentration will over come adversity.

The team replaced their website’s main page with their logo and a statement that says, quite simply, “We Are One.”