One black guy's opinion...

Sterling may be a racist old pile of garbage, but this is America and he has rights. You're allowed to have a divergent opinion, even an unpopular one. In a way this reminds me of what happened with the dude on Duck Dynasty a little while back (or Paula Deen last year). A public figure has a highly controversial opinion, it gets "outed", and people want to tar-and-feather him and take away everything he owns. The man did nothing illegal, he simply has a very unpopular viewpoint. Not exactly the same situation, and there are indeed a number of ironies associated with Sterling and his viewpoint (like having a black chick on the side and owning an NBA team), but if he is forced out of his job I think it does further an ultimately unfair and dangerous precedent.

I understand the players organizing protests, or advertisers wanting to jump ship and take dollars away, and I completely understand if free agents and coaches voluntarily avoid the Clippers as long as Sterling is the owner. But those are largely business/contractual decisions. The sentiment is different than wanting to destroy this man purely for emotional reasons.

Also, the fact that THIS GUY, of all people, was on the verge of receiving a major award from the NAACP...tells me pretty much everything I need to know about today's NAACP. To me that's at least as disturbing than anything Sterling allegedly said...

[This message has been edited by madd_ag_05 (edited 4/29/2014 6:48a).]

I refuse to visit the politics board here. Hell, the few times I stumble over to the tigerdroppings poliboard is enough to make me question my sanity.

It doesn't even anger me. It amazes me more than anything, the drivel that gets both spewed and clung to on a variety of issues.

ETA: And as a black man, I second madd's opinion on the NAACP. For the record.

[This message has been edited by tbirdspur2010 (edited 4/29/2014 6:47a).]

I'm just going to be honest here. As a white dude, I'm more offended by Larry Johnson's comments (Create an all black league, "do for self", etc) than Sterling's.

Those comments are as offensive and as ridiculous as Sterling's and honestly, probably do more to divide than Sterling. At least Sterling's **** rhetoric united the league AGAINST him. Johnson is trying to unite the black players against everybody else.

Keep in mind, I obviously don't approve of Sterling's comments either. I think they're ridiculous and repugnant but it's not like the guy has a track record of being a saint. Dude's been a vicious ******* forever. We are surprised now because...why?

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It's just here I think what's really happening is that he's jealous and insecure about her hanging out with so many guys.

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Yeap. He sounds like a very insecure and jealous old man on the tapes. I got much less of a "racist" vibe compared to the jealousy/insecurity issues he showed. If I was a Clippers fan or a relative of his, I would be much more disappointed in him for cheating on his wife than anything said on the tapes.

Ronnie doesn't sound like a racist at all.

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Sterling may be a racist old pile of garbage, but this is America and he has rights. You're allowed to have a divergent opinion, even an unpopular one. In a way this reminds me of what happened with the dude on Duck Dynasty a little while back (or Paula Deen last year). A public figure has a highly controversial opinion, it gets "outed", and people want to tar-and-feather him and take away everything he owns. The man did nothing illegal, he simply has a very unpopular viewpoint. Not exactly the same situation, and there are indeed a number of ironies associated with Sterling and his viewpoint (like having a black chick on the side and owning an NBA team), but if he is forced out of his job I think it does further an ultimately unfair and dangerous precedent.

I understand the players organizing protests, or advertisers wanting to jump ship and take dollars away, and I completely understand if free agents and coaches voluntarily avoid the Clippers as long as Sterling is the owner. But those are largely business/contractual decisions. The sentiment is different than wanting to destroy this man purely for emotional reasons.

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You are correct that he did nothing illegal. However, he may be in violation of some policies of the NBA but that is for them to deal with.

I feel you might be using soft language with "divergent opinions", "unpopular" or "ironies". It is very clear that Sterling has a very fouled up view on race issues and is extremely ignorant of flaws in his logic to the point of delusion to cement his perspective on "culture". As for having a black chick on the side, he indicated on the tape that he did not know she was part black at all. He even said she is supposed to be a "delicate white" or "delicate latina". If he is forced out of his job, then it is likely a league policy or bylaws violation or simply an outcome of the democratic process by owners within the league. How is this unfair? What kind of precedent does it set? If any, hopefully a new understanding that "culture" like this has no place in an organization with so much cultural impact. This does not threaten freedom of speech so don't make this about politics. You are free to feel and say what you want and are open to the windfall that follows it. Paula Dean's perspective didn't seem messed up, her word choice was. The issue of Sterling is more than just foot in mouth.

I see no issue with the NBA slapping him with a huge fine and suspending him. But I would draw the line at forcing him to sell or some action more extreme than a fine and suspension.

I agreed with Mark Cuban's take yesterday. Sterling's comments were abhorrent and an embarrassment to the league, and he should be punished within the constitution of the league. In the big picture though, his actions with his team are what matter far more than some opinions he spouts in the confines of his own home. Many people hold opinions that others would find abhorrent (and you might be surprised at what some groups find abhorrent), but it's when those opinions become action and negatively impact others that they become the real problem. And as it relates to his team and how he has managed it, I can't see where there has been a race issue.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 4/29/2014 9:19a).]

What the dude said ought to be mocked and publicly condemned. That said, it is telling that our culture thinks it's no big deal if you run around on your wife. But if you say something racist...well, we can't abide that kind of immorality! (Don't get me wrong...we shouldn't abide racism. If I was in the practice of going to Clippers games, I would stop for as long as this guy owned the team.)

[This message has been edited by Bose Ikard (edited 4/29/2014 9:32a).]

Just to clear something up about his wife. They despise one another and have been legally separated for years.

Yeah, without knowing the history there, I don't really see him any differently than any other estranged/divorced person. Admittedly, currently he's a john paying for a hoar, which is embarrassing. But that's his problem, and he's just one in a long line of rich old guys paying for some young ass.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 4/29/2014 10:09a).]

And his wife is piling on him more than anyone at his point. Forget throwing someone under a bus. She threw him under a landing 747. Just brutal.

The happy couple:

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And his wife is piling on him more than anyone at his point. Forget throwing someone under a bus. She threw him under a landing 747. Just brutal.

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She's a scorned woman and is gonna try to take control of the team as part of the divorce settlement. She got her son in law who works for the a Clippers to do a hate job on him yesterday, it's all part of her trying to get control.

When you have someone that is 100% interested in fame and money, watch out. You will eventually get monetarily f***ed.

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One black guy's opinion...

Sterling may be a racist old pile of garbage, but this is America and he has rights. You're allowed to have a divergent opinion, even an unpopular one.

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Bravo to you, sir! So many sheep in this country and the media is basically telling them what they should or shouldn't be OK with. This guy didn't hold a news conference to say "I don't like Black people". How many NBA players have ever said a derogatory thing about white people when they thought nobody was listening/recording them?

In short, it feels like the media and people that can make headlines are trying to define this country as, "it's OK to have your own beliefs... but being a racist, a homophobe, etc. are off limits and we will ruin you if you don't comply!!!!"


PS: I know nothing about this Sterling guy and would probably not like him one bit if I knew him.

Saw on the news this morning where Sterling's wife may have backtracked a bit on her harsh comments from yesterday.

Also read an article on Yahoo by Adrian Wojnarski that said the NBA has some kind of "nuclear option" which would allow them to strip Sterling of his ownership, the NBA would take control of the franchise while a buyer is found. Can't recall if it said in the article what would have to happen for this, maybe a unanimous onwer vote or something.

The main thing facing the NBA with just a fine/suspension of Sterling is that no player or coach wants to play or coach there now if Sterling retains ownership, nor do sponsors want anything to do with the Clippers with Sterling at the helm, so that type of punishment essentially punishes the Clipper franchise and the fans. By the same token, stripping a guy of something he rightfully owns on the basis of a private conversation that may have been illegally recorded seems like it goes too far.

Would not want to be Adam Silver.

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Sterling may be a racist old pile of garbage, but this is America and he has rights. You're allowed to have a divergent opinion, even an unpopular one. In a way this reminds me of what happened with the dude on Duck Dynasty a little while back (or Paula Deen last year). A public figure has a highly controversial opinion, it gets "outed", and people want to tar-and-feather him and take away everything he owns. The man did nothing illegal, he simply has a very unpopular viewpoint. Not exactly the same situation, and there are indeed a number of ironies associated with Sterling and his viewpoint (like having a black chick on the side and owning an NBA team), but if he is forced out of his job I think it does further an ultimately unfair and dangerous precedent.

I understand the players organizing protests, or advertisers wanting to jump ship and take dollars away, and I completely understand if free agents and coaches voluntarily avoid the Clippers as long as Sterling is the owner. But those are largely business/contractual decisions. The sentiment is different than wanting to destroy this man purely for emotional reasons.

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Pretty similar to what Chuck said on the TNT show last night. Shaq and Kenny were all about making sure Sterling gets punished to the fullest extent possible, but Barkley had a more reasonable take (like yours) grounded in "it's not against the law to be stupid; it is against the law to take away someone's stuff because you disagree with them."

I somewhat like a variation on Van Gundy's idea to let all the Clippers players be free agents at the end of the year, although Sterling did have something of a history.

@daldridgetnt: Source: NBA will issue lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine.

So does a lifetime ban include stripping his ownership rights or is it just banned from coming to games, practices, Clippers/NBA events, etc?

This guy is obviously responsible for what he says and how he acts, but wow, this 'ho really did a number on him.

[This message has been edited by MemAg92 (edited 4/29/2014 1:20p).]

wow, strong action.....will urge BOG to force sale of team

They are forcing him to sell silver said

Not sure if they can legally do that

Again, I think there is a 'nuclear option' in the NBA bylaws along the lines of forcing the sale of the team but I think it probably has a really high bar for approving that route and Sterling seems like the type of guy to fight this to the bitter end.



[This message has been edited by MemAg92 (edited 4/29/2014 1:22p).]

They aren't forcing him to sell. He's urging owners to force him to sell using the 3/4 rule. It's all in the joint owners hands for that.

The owners can vote to force a sale.

if their BOG votes him out, he's out. according to what i've read, he doesn't have many legal options to appeal.

That punishment is pretty extreme if you ask me

The punishment is a way of making him sell. How can you be an owner of a team and not attend any games? And if he sells, do you really think the NBA will try to pursue the $2.5m fine?

"This has been a painful moment for all members of the NBA family"

Seriously? Did a team plane crash and everyone die?

The man said something ignorant and foolish, but can we call mainstream media what it has become, a modern-day lynch mob?

Silver had pissed off shake voice going.

The liberal media got what they wanted. Sterling should've been faithful to his wife and none of this would've happened, that was his only real mistake.

The question is will the lifetime ban and fine be enough for players, coaches, fans, and sponsors going forward. If Sterling retains ownership, do players and coaches still want to play for and/or coach the Clippers? Do fans still come to the games? Do sponsors sign on or sign back on?

If the answers to those questions is no, then the franchise is dead until it is sold and another ownership group takes over. Sterling showed for years that he didn''t really care about winning but he was at least making money on the franchise. With sponsors abandonment, ticket sales maybe drying up, and no winning, maybe he will decide its best to sell it at this point. But then again, maybe he is the type of guy to go down with the ship.

everything depends on how much or how bad Sterling wants to fight all of this. And how strong are his friendships with his fellow owners. He's been in the league 30+ years

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but can we call mainstream media what it has become, a modern-day lynch mob

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Indeed!!!