Posted on 04/29/2014 11:46:40 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
On one hand, he's 81 and may decide to pack it in.
On the other hand, I believe Sterling's introduction to the NBA was suing the league for trying to keep him from moving the franchise to LA.
On the third hand, Sterling says the Clippers are not for sale. Hello, litigation.
I just hope when the investigation into all of the NBA activities is over they decide that “Palming” the ball is a racist action (white guys can’t do it) and the rule against it is reinstated for the protection of the NBA’s minority players.... :)
“Seattle” Clippers(if no change to SuperSonics or something else), anyone for that?
Or maybe... “The San Juan Carribians”
...or that...
And that will include the communications of EVERY NBA business owner and home office.
If Stirling sues, the NBA will be looking to cut a deal on Stirling's terms.
Wikipedia says he bought the team for $12.5 million and that it is worth $575 million today.
I hear Sterling is no stranger to litigation... I found this. Is Sterling in violation of any of these a - f. Here, it would have to something that is construed in 'a'.
The 1st Amendment exists to protect individuals from retribution by the government. It does not exist to protect individuals from the consequences imposed by groups who find said speech offensive.
There is no violation in what you’ve posted. This is the NBA covering its *&%. Its not even about if its defendable in court or not. Its just trying to squelch the fall out from the news cycle.
What crime has Sterling committed? A serious breach of politically correct social etiquette at most.
The man has been an NBA owner for thirty-one years. Are we supposed to believe that the league and his fellow owners did not know about him before last weekend?
Oprah Winfrey allegedly called her own father and his ex-wife names including a variation of the “N” word. Will Sharpton or Obama condemn her too?
“Hello...Mr. Hansen? We’d like to talk to you....”
You just KNOW that all of the “Save the Sonics” fans just sat bolt upright at this bit of news.
“(i believe it was she who taped this, right?)”
I’d be willing to bet that she will learn, very soon, the great truth in the admonition: “Revenge is a dish best served cold...”
Thanks for the .pdf. The argument I’ve read is that any termination would be based on applying Paragraph 13(a) to another NBA Constitution requirement that franchise owners conduct business on a “reasonable” and “ethical” level.
I’ve read much higher valuations for the Clippers, such as $800+ million. A $575 million valuation may reflect a ‘must sell’ value.
If the product is basketball, yes, they are a monopoly. If the product is sports entertainment, no it is not.
While I support the right of any pro sports league to oust people detrimental to the league's interests, throwing out someone for what they said in a private conversation sets up a nasty precedent. Will other major figures in the league be similarly punished? How about part Nets owner Jay-Z wearing a racist medallion to a Nets game? And what difference does it make where he wore it? Nobody did anything to Jay-Z. If I was Sterling, I might demand they force Jay-Z to sell his interest in the Nets. Does anyone believe black NBA figures will similarly punished? I doubt it.
How is the NBA going to enforce a $2.5 million fine from someone they’ve suspended for life?
“This is a thoughtcrime.”
A crime is a joint union of act and intent. It isn’t a crime to be an a$$hole. (Yet.)
Arguably, expressing the thought is an act—like defamation—but the Democrats are turning 1000 years of Anglo-American jurisprudence on its head by demanding—as here—that jerks be treated like criminals.
Democracy and its adherents hate liberty. “Hate speech” with jail/prison sentences is next.
Jay-Z is a part Nets owner. Will he be banned for wearing a racist medallion to a Nets game? I doubt it.
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