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NBA Can't Legally Terminate Sterling's Ownership
Breitbart's Sports ^ | April 30, 2014 | Ben Shapiro

Posted on 04/30/2014 9:23:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)

On Tuesday, the National Basketball Association released its Constitution and By-laws – and the release of the text demonstrates clearly that despite media reports, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling cannot be voted out of ownership of his team by colleagues for his racist statements.

Yesterday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver fined Sterling $2.5 million and suspended him for life from the league. He certainly has that power under the Constitution and By-laws. Under Article 24(l), the commissioner has the power to do that which is in his best judgment with regard to remedies not covered by the Constitution or By-laws:

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 shall exceed $2,500,000.

Provision 35A(d) spells this out further:

The Commissioner shall have the power to suspend for a definite or indefinite period, or to impose a fine not exceeding $1,000,000, or to inflict both such suspension and fine upon any person who, in his opinion, shall have been guilty of conduct prejudicial or detrimental to the Association.

In other words, Silver’s peremptory power is limited to Sterling’s suspension from the NBA and a fine of $2.5 million. It does not extend to booting him from ownership of his team. Furthermore, the association by-laws do not grant the power for owners to force Sterling to sell his team. Termination provisions can only be initiated for violation of specific rules....

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: basketball; california; clippers; donaldsterling; donsterling; losangeles; losangelesclippers; naacp; nba; privateproperty; rochellesterling; sports; vanessastiviano
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To: ReaganÃœberAlles

He violated the terms I posted in #34, which means that the clause I posted in #8 pertains as one of the stated reasons that they can force a sale.


41 posted on 04/30/2014 10:14:21 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: ReaganÃœberAlles

PS But hey, I presume you didn’t attend Harvard Law. Ben Shapiro doesn’t have that excuse. He’s embarrassed himself with this article.


42 posted on 04/30/2014 10:15:13 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: Finalapproach29er

Wait for it......

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/04/30/nba-ruling-on-clippers-owner-sterling-may-lead-to-long-legal-fight/


43 posted on 04/30/2014 10:19:47 PM PDT by ReaganÜberAlles (Remember, you can't spell "progressive" without "SS".)
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To: 9YearLurker

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2014/04/30/nba-ruling-on-clippers-owner-sterling-may-lead-to-long-legal-fight/

Ok, you fight him in court Perry Mason


44 posted on 04/30/2014 10:20:27 PM PDT by ReaganÜberAlles (Remember, you can't spell "progressive" without "SS".)
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To: nickcarraway
Everyone acknowledges that he's a racist pig. He is no saint by anyone's standards.

What people including myself are so outraged about is that this case proves that thought crimes are alive and well, and will cost you in a huge way.... that your opinions, no matter how unsavory, give people the right to take what you have.

No one's defending him because they like him. They're defending him because the Leftist fascists have that kind of power.

45 posted on 04/30/2014 10:20:28 PM PDT by Lizavetta
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To: sheik yerbouty

He just scratches himself after having sex with a thousand women like V. Stiviano....


46 posted on 04/30/2014 10:20:47 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: 9YearLurker

What “contractual obligations” are you saying he violated?

He had the team ready to play, competitively, at the place and time they were designated to be at, at the time they were designated to be there.

You “believe” there is something about the “best interest of the game” involved? Do better next time.


47 posted on 04/30/2014 10:24:21 PM PDT by ReaganÜberAlles (Remember, you can't spell "progressive" without "SS".)
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To: ReaganÃœberAlles

If what I pointed out wasn’t in there, there’d be no possible tie-up in court. A billionaire can spend a lot of money disputing, for example, whether his statements were detrimental to the the game. You’re talking about reputation here, which can be argued.


48 posted on 04/30/2014 10:24:24 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: nickcarraway

It’s about defending this DIRTBAG’S right to FREE THOUGHT AND FREE SPEECH nothing more!!!! WE ALL should be VERY RABID about
this regardless of who it is!!!! This is simply trying to control someones
thoughts and speech!!!!!!


49 posted on 04/30/2014 10:24:32 PM PDT by Kit cat (OBummer must go)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m guessing that Adam Silver’s lawyers, the NBA’s lawyers and the lawyers of the other 29 billionaires who own NBA teams would not take such drastic action if they knew it was not permitted within the NBA Constitution.


50 posted on 04/30/2014 10:25:11 PM PDT by Oliviaforever
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To: 9YearLurker

“A billionaire can spend a lot of money disputing, for example, whether his statements were detrimental to the the game.”

Yes, a billionaire can tie a matter up in court for years however, an 81 year old billionaire does not have the luxury.


51 posted on 04/30/2014 10:27:05 PM PDT by Oliviaforever
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To: Kit cat
So, I take it you will be defending President Obama's, Jesse Jackson's, Jimmy Carter's free thought and free speech. You support the idea that President Obama will never be criticized on Free Republic again, and no one will do anything to impede what he thinks or says??
52 posted on 04/30/2014 10:29:04 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: ReaganÃœberAlles

This is a contractual obligation:

“”Any person who gives, makes, issues, authorizes or
endorses any statement having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of basketball or of the Association or of a Member or its Team”, which is why an owner can be subject ot a fine if it is violated.

Then, as quoted in Ben’s article, under Article 13, “(a) Willfully violate any of the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws, resolutions, or agreements of the Association.” What Sterling can argue is whether his statements were a willful violation, since he may not have expected that his statements would have ended up broadcast as they were. But that is the clause that the owners could use to try to force a sale.


53 posted on 04/30/2014 10:29:42 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: Lizavetta

So what you are saying is conservatives should be punished for thought crimes, but progressives should not be held to the same standard?


54 posted on 04/30/2014 10:30:14 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Oliviaforever

If he can hold out until ownership passes to his heirs that may feel like victory to him.


55 posted on 04/30/2014 10:30:48 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: 9YearLurker

The wife if she divorces him will hold 50% ownership of the team.


56 posted on 04/30/2014 10:34:00 PM PDT by Oliviaforever
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Silver and the NBA knew this wouldn't fly in a court of law but they had to keep the show going.

I believe the NBA owners are fearful if they don't immediately take a popular stance that the playoffs going on NOW would be immediately boycotted by the NBA players and those owners with teams in the playoffs would be liable for refunding millions in ticket sales, etc.

Silver made a "keep the show" going move for now, all the while knowing that later, when the playoffs are over, they'll lose gracefully in a court of law and it will be what it will be.

57 posted on 04/30/2014 10:35:16 PM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: nickcarraway
So what you are saying is conservatives should be punished for thought crimes, but progressives should not be held to the same standard?

Have no idea how you deduced that from what I said.

NO ONE should be punished for thought crimes. I don't care what Sterling is or isn't. He's being nailed for having a politically incorrect attitude. Punished for not toeing the party line. Doesn't that bother you?

58 posted on 04/30/2014 10:36:00 PM PDT by Lizavetta
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To: Lizavetta

He’s being nailed for the commercial effects of having voiced his thoughts in such a way that he has harmed his fellow Owners. Do you not believe the owners have the right to form an association that gives them recourse for such damage?


59 posted on 04/30/2014 10:39:22 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: VideoDoctor

Why wouldn’t it fly in a court of law—though Sterling could probably tie them up in court for some time, at least?


60 posted on 04/30/2014 10:40:37 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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