Howard Stern dubs himself the “king of all media” but says he never gets the royal treatment for “black players” at NBA games.
The SiriusXM host raised the issue this week on his Howard Stern Show and said he was ignored while sitting on the court during Knicks games.
“The Knicks have been very nice to me. They put me first. That’s when I knew I was famous,” Stern said via Mediated. “When I, you know, I have a short [seats]they put me at the edge of the field and the black players will not come to say hello to me, but they will go to Spike Lee.
Related story: Howard Stern mocks Oprah Winfrey for ‘showing off’ her wealth
Stern has worked in radio since the 1970s and served as a judge on America’s Got Talent. But he said he got no respect from NBA stars.
Stern’s longtime co-host Robin Quivers, who is black, was taken aback by his comments.
“They don’t recognize you at all?” asked Quiver.
“No,” Stern replied. “I’ll be sitting next to Tracy Morgan or Chris Rock. You know, they put you where they put you. And often when I’m there, I’m next to Tracy Morgan, who is so funny. And he’s sitting there and like, a few players are coming. They like to give her that bro shake and stuff. And I’m like – these guys should hug me too. I mean, what am I? I grew up in a black neighborhood, you know what I mean? I mean they should know. But I am ignored.
Quivers, 70, asked Stern if he thought it had anything to do with him being white.
“You think it’s a racial thing? I’m sure they’re talking to white people,” Quivers said.
“No, not that I saw. I want it. I want them to talk to me,” Stern replied. “I want them to come and go, ‘Hey Howard, fan of the show or something.’ I don’t understand. And, you know who sometimes comes to me – the umpires. Whites and blacks, they’ll come up to me, white umpires and blacks. Like, ‘Hey Howard, hey.’
But Stern, 69, said he really wanted a shout out from the players.
“Yeah, maybe they don’t like me. I don’t know,” the legendary radio host said. “I’d like to think it’s a white thing, not my personality. I hope it’s racial. That’s all.”