NBA Suspends Clippers’ Owner Donald Sterling For Life, Imposes $2.5 Million Fine

CBS LA ^ | April 29, 2014 | Unattributed

[Mariner]

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Tuesday Clippers owner Donald Sterling will be suspended for life and fined $2.5 million in response to the racist remarks he allegedly made in a recorded audio clip.

Silver spoke to the press at 11 a.m. news conference from New York, stating he will “do everything in my power” to force the sale of the Clippers.

“The hateful opinions voiced by that man are those of Mr. Sterling. The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful. That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage,” Silver said. “I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers association or the NBA. Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices, he may not be present at any Clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or decisions involving the team.”

[Mariner]

Seems Sports Illustrated thinks he has an anti-trust lawsuit as well:

"The NBA must also be concerned about the possibility of Sterling suing the NBA and owners, such as for breach of the Clippers franchise agreement or for violations of federal and state antitrust law. NBA franchise agreements contain language that limit the ability of owners to sue the NBA and other owners. This language is known as "waiver of recourse", which means that an owner, by virtue of owning an NBA team, voluntarily waives away legal recourses he or she might otherwise have against the NBA and owners.

" The waiver would likely aid the NBA in regards to a contract breach claim, but courts are generally unwilling to extend waivers to antitrust claims. A potential antitrust claim by Sterling against the NBA would be that his competitors (other NBA owners) and the NBA have conspired to expel him. By doing so, the logic goes, Sterling would have to sell his team at less than market value because prospective buyers would know that Sterling "has to" sell. As a result, he would attract lower bids. Under federal antitrust law, any damages Sterling receives would be automatically multiplied by three. He may have additional claims under California antitrust law."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20140426/donald-sterling-la-clippers-adam-silver-nba/#ixzz30JK3OtwV

[Dilbert San Diego]

Interesting. I have to educate myself about franchise business law, and how owning a franchise is different than just owning your own business outright.

[stevie_d_64]

If he does not pay the fine, will they send in the BLM SWAT guys and beat it out of him???

Hey, I would not put it past them...The NBA, might ask for Federal enforcement help on this issue...

[kiltie65]

And Sterling’s wife is suing the girlfriend for the millions she’s milked out of her husband over the past years...and an expensive condo given to the girlfriend, too. Although Sterling and wife are separated, they are still married. Personally, I think Sterling was set up. He said it, that’s how he feels, so what! How about legislating against some of those blacks participating in the knock out games with some whites dying or being left vegetative? These “hate” crimes laws don’t seem to work against black haters. I fear a day of reckoning is coming.

[Forgotten Amendments]

299 posts in 2+ hours.

If this were about the NSA spying on our medical records, or the IRS ruining innocent lives ... maybe 20 posts.

This is why democracy failed in the USA. And we are to blame as much as anyone.

[MadIsh32]

The NBA’s only color is green. I would imagine they will try and sell to the highest bidder

[PapaBear3625]

And in selling the team he will garner a huge profit. Let's face it, the only real punishment in his case is the public humiliation.

Which he will pay a big tax bite on.

[Tallguy]

Oh, absolutely.

Sterling... Democrat

NBA... Run by Democrats

Media... Democrats

I’m almost tempted to sit back and enjoy this and say, “I don’t have a dog in this fight”... except for the privacy issue, that is.

We could all get mouse-trapped like Sterling did if wiretapping laws aren’t properly enforced. A carefully edited tape and the Media could kill your reputation and ruin your life.

[Red Steel]

Seems Sports Illustrated thinks he has an anti-trust lawsuit as well: ...

Under federal antitrust law, any damages Sterling receives would be automatically multiplied by three. He may have additional claims under California antitrust law."

The NBA could commute Sterling's 'suspension for life' to "time served" and/or a lesser punishment if Sterling gives the NBA too much future grief they cannot handle.

[stevie_d_64]

Or, better yet, does the NBA have an armed SWAT type “fine enforcement” team???

If the owners is banned for life, why pay the fine???

What are they “NBA” going to do??? Banned him for double life???

I didn’t see this much outrage when they pounced on Mr. Incognito in Miami???

[Mariner]

"The rest of management is saying “we don’t want you here” which is perfectly legal under the rules Sterling agreed to."

See my post #301.

This has nothing to do with labor v management.

This is a clear-cut case of anti-trust violation and Stirling is very likely to win.

In fact, absent a Congressional Exemption like awarded Baseball, this could likely end the NBA.

But that's no loss.

[Scoutmaster]

It's being reported it was not illegal obtained, but that Sterling was aware he was being recorded.

The fine and expulsion have nothing to do with whether Sterlng's act was illegal. The question is whether Paragraphs 13, 24(l), 24(m), and 35(A)(c) of the NBA Constitution that was adopted by the NBA owners on Oct. 26, 2005, as private parties making an agreement among themselves, apply and are enforceable.

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Magic doesn’t have the money or any interest in buying the cross town rival Clippers.

That theory can be put to rest.

Sterling bought the Clippers for 12 Million and will sell them for 500 Million and disappear with a nice profit and more money than he can ever spend if he lives to be 100.

And that ho bit off way more than she can chew.
Sterling has more than enough money to make the rest of her life miserable, even from his grave.

I believe Sterling will get the last laugh as he will make a huge profit selling the team and getting some revenge out of spite on the ho that leaked the tape.

[Foundahardheadedwoman]

Karma is a bi+ch aint it.

[Borges]

I think NBA By-Laws have Moral Turpitude clauses that allow them to take this sort of action.

[DoodleDawg]

Especially if he keeps chasing 20 something bimbos around. :)

At least he'll die happy.

ESPN Magazine did a profile on him about four or five years ago. They guy's really a pathetic individual.

[Scoutmaster]

Sports Illustrated's anti-trust argument makes more sense than ESPN's argument that Sterling has no anti-trust claim.

[Scoutmaster]

Sports Illustrated's anti-trust argument makes more sense than ESPN's argument that Sterling has no anti-trust claim.

[opentalk]

add...in state of CA the undisclosed recording of a private conversation in his own house may have been illegal

[Red Steel]

So Sterling's personal views were known for years by people in the NBA?

..."The NAACP's Los Angeles chapter has now twice combined an awful decision with even worse timing. On May 15, 2014, Donald Sterling is set to receive another Lifetime Achievement Award. Sterling also won the 2008 NAACP Presidents Award."....

http://deadspin.com/naacp-to-honor-noted-racist-donald-sterling-again-1568142191