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.”

[SeaHawkFan]

The link to the Constitution and bylaws is in post #404.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

"The Commissioner shall, wherever there is a rule for which no penalty is specifically fixed for violation thereof, have the authority to fix such penalty as in the Commissioner’s judgment shall be in the best interests of the Association. Where a situation arises which is not covered in the Constitution and By-Laws, the Commissioner shall have the authority to make such decision, including the imposition of a penalty, as in his judgment shall be in the best interests of the Association. The penalty that may be assessed under the preceding two sentences may include, without limitation, a fine, suspension, and/or the forfeiture or assignment of draft choices. No monetary penalty fixed under this provision"

[Mariner]

"He probably figures that it's more profitable to deal with Sterling's probable lawsuit in the offseason than to deal with a boycott by racist players now. "

Bingo.

The NBA never expected to win on a legal basis.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

Also see Article 35A, sections c and d.

[Taxman]

He is not a BIG Democrap donor, but he is a Democrap donor.

[Red Steel]

Didn’t find anything that permits the NBA to ban Sterling or force him to sell the team under these circumstances. There is no arbitration clause, so if Sterling sues, he will get an injunction against the NBA denying him his right to run his franchise.

Section 2 of the Bylaws is interesting; especially 2.01, which requires the players to be of “good moral character”; whatever that means. Interestingly, there is no requirement for an owner to be of good moral character.

If that's so or it, it's starting to look like a PR stunt by Commish Silver to appease and hold off the pressure from the NBA Player's Association the Media fanning the flames.

[Red Steel]

Owners of pro leagues don’t let the appointed commissioners boss the owners, it usually is the other way around. They don’t let the guy have veto power over the owners.

[SgtHooper]

In that sense, I agree!

[SgtHooper]

Not there either, but we both know that California “leads” in cranking out wacky laws, as does New York. :-)

[SgtHooper]

I hope he sues. Also, Greta needs to shutup and sit down!

[BunnySlippers]

Wikipedia does not write the entries.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

LMAO!!!

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

How about this? This is an actual ad inthe NY Times! LOL!

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Magic isn’t interested in buying the cross-town rival Clips and he doesn’t have that kind of $$$

Some people are giving this ho way too much credit — she’s not smart enough to set up something like this nor predict this type of outcome unless there was a mass conspiracy with the NBA in on it as well.

Remember, the NBA nixed the Chris Paul to the Lakers deal a few years back but approved the deal to send Paul to the Clippers, which would be against Magic’s interests at the time as he was a minority(no pun intended) partner in Lakers ownership.

Magic sold his interest in the Lakers for 10 Million dollars a couple of years ago, a franchise that is worth well over 1 Billion, so that gives you an idea of how small his stake was in the team.

He has a small financial interest in the Dodgers.

I will bet anyone here that Magic is not buying the Clippers or will even be a minority owner.

His loyalties are with the Lakers, not the Clippers.
It would be like Reggie Jackson buying the Mets.

Bottom line is that Magic is a wealthy man as he invested wisely, but he doesn’t have anywhere near the clout to buy the Clips, even at a fire-sale price of 500M

Although he’s worth about 750M, he doesn’t have nearly enough money to buy a controlling interest in any NBA franchise, even the Clips at a fire-sale.

If anything, she probably used Magic as a pawn in her scheme along with other Black athletes.

Sterling was probably more upset that she was pictured with the former Laker star because he was a Laker, not so much because he’s Black.

As for Sterling, I hope he tells the NBA to go pound sand and sues and that ho gets what’s coming to her.

She’s probably wearing that face shield because she’s afraid that Sterling is going to have someone throw acid on her face.

You don’t pull crap like this on someone with his kind of money and clout and walk away clean.

Not saying that’s going to happen, but she either just had plastic surgery and is hiding it, or fears having acid splashed on her face.

You don’t f*** a guy like Sterling and get away with it, especially all the damage she caused him.

[ExSoldier]

Absolutely not true. You cannot secretly record a conversation. Both parties must give consent. ....You also cannot place recording equipment on a PC without consent. Again, wiretapping....

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I'm not asserting that the law doesn't provide sanctions for this activity, what I am asserting is that the Bill of Rights can't be used as grounds to take legal action. Only the government has standing to violate the Constitution, not a private organization or a private individual. The Bill of Rights was designed to limit the powers of government to act unilaterally against the populace.

[Red Steel]

LA Slimes ad? LoL.

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Also, why would Magic sell his interest in the Lakers to buy into the Clippers?

Doesn’t pass the logic test.

[SeaHawkFan]

Behavior not directly related to the running of the franchise is likely not subject to those provisions. A court would likely rule that the provision is overly broad and therefore unconstitutional.

What’s next, a fine or suspension for supporting traditional marriage?

Don’t misunderstand; I think Sterling is a racist, a cad, and a totally amoral person, but I think the NBA has a weak case regarding this particular behavior.