Watching GMA this morning, Shelly Sterling talking about husband. He is the owner of the basketball team in trouble for racist remarks. She asked him why he said the things he said. He said he did not remember saying them. She said then she thought he has dementia. I am not saying he doesn't, but that is the first time she thought that? He is in his 80's. Is this an excuse they are using to get past this scandal. If so, I am appalled. He hasn't been tested or has anyone else said he seemed to have it. Barbara Walters said he seemed out of it and repeated things. As I said, I am not saying he doesn't, but get a medical opinion. Don't use this horrible disease to cover up your horrible actions. Just hit me wrong today.
I really hope that is not what is happening. The stigma of Dementia is difficult enough for those who have it and those who care for them without someone using it as an excuse for bad behaviour. If he does have it and it was the reason for his remarks, then I hope she gets him tested and puts those results on GMA as well.
Actually, I had that thought as I watched a little coverage of that this morning. Not that he's deep into anything, but possibly that he's in an early phase and the filters have started to come down.
The only thing about it being recent with his comments is that he has had past behavior where he has been in trouble before with housing and other issues. If this is true it has been there in the past and no one mentioned it before. I know it takes awhile to realize and get a diagnosis. I hope for them that they do not have to deL with this disease.
That's right. He wouldn't rent to black people. These issues have been known for years where the league didn't want to face it and the only reason it was faced now was because it was unavoidable.
The thing about equal rights is they either are or aren't where 85% of the planet - they aren't. If Sterling doesn't like mocha latte colors that's his right. Why he has a mixed skin girlfriend the age of his grandaughter is because he's powerful and rich. Not because he's an attractive human being.
Black people excercised power for once and if Stern was still in there as commissioner I doubt the reaction would have been to the same degree of thoroughness. Mr Sterling's ego toy has been taken away. Money is beyond meaning for him but you can be sure that he is absolutely livid that someone else is dictating what he can and can't do.
All this comes into play soon in all probability. Hillary is going to take a run at proving you can be president AND have a womb. Same Medusa. Different head.
On a similar vein, I often read in "Dear Abby" and other advice columns about spouses who, after years of a good marriage, suddenly become unhappy with the spouse, marriage, become jerks around friends, do odd things, etc. These are not what the public thinks is typical Alzheimer behavior, but after reading most of the threads on this site, these stories sound so much like some of Alzheimer Spouse stories. As in, "DH changed so much in the last several years that I was considering a divorce. He wasn't interested in me, or doing anything. When we got the diagnosis, suddenly it all made sense."
The advice usually says to have said spouse get a check-up from a physician. But really, what average physician is going to pick up on subtle personality changes in someone they only see several times a year. They can hardly send someone in for psych testing on the premise of "has become a jerk" or "doesn't engage in conversation with spouse anymore."
I am having second thoughts about this. Reading another story about this and looking at the comments. One person commented that dementia would not cause this to happen. Someone else posted that yes it could. Maybe, just maybe if we can get people to understand that dementia/Alzheimer can cause someone to become violent/hateful, or speak inappropriate. It is not just forgetting, as we all well know.
Blue That is true I didn't think if it that way. My DH has said very hurtful mean things for years before diagnosis. This man coul have been showing signs for a long time. It would put this issue out there for people to realize all the signs of dementia.