Joe Barry Carroll, who spent ten seasons in the NBA during the 80's, lost his suit against a bar in Atlanta.
In a random episode, he and a friend were asked to give up their seats at the bar for female customers (a rule in that bar in exchange for a free round of drinks). When Carroll and his fiend refused, they were asked to leave. This didn't sit well with Carroll
who, in turn, sued the bar for discrimination.
The two African-American men felt that the bar used this policy to 'keep the patio white' as the two women were caucasian. The defense said it was Carroll that injected race into the situation. A racially-tense situation in progressive Atlanta to say the
least.