Donald Sterling

From his last interview he sound like he feel that he is too old and too tired to fight even if his wife is more the willing to do so.

Hell of a precedent to be set without challenge and once more if I was an owner I would not be happy about the idea that my ownership rights could be removed in such a manner over a private conversation that was likely illegally recorded.

His wife is now trying to grab control of the team, but the team is demanding that neither Sterling nor his wife should retain control.

We had a couple hundred thousand dead and wounded,

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From his last interview he sound like he feel that he is too old and too tired to fight even if his wife is more the willing to do so.

Hell of a precedent to be set without challenge and once more if I was an owner I would not be happy about the idea that my ownership rights could be removed in such a manner over a private conversation that was likely illegally recorded.

They aren't considering forcing the sale of the team just because of the comments he made to his girlfriend in a private conversation. That's your simplistic view of it.

The NBA had nothing to do with the making of the recording or its release. Their action is based on the harm Sterling's comments caused to them, to their organization, after those remarks became public. The harm to them is not somehow less because the remarks were initially made "in private"--so I'm not sure that entire issue is relevant from the position of the NBA.

This isn't an issue just between Silver and Sterling either. There was financial harm in the immediate withdrawal of corporate sponsorships--at least $2 million worth, because those sponsors didn't want their corporate images damaged by any association with Sterling. The players threatened a walk-out if Sterling wasn't gone, so Sterling's biased remarks were damaging to professional basketball because of the dissension his comments caused in a sport with predominantly black players. And all of that threatens the interests of the other owners as well. Silver had to act/react rather quickly, which he did with the lifetime ban, in order to contain the damage that was being done to the NBA.

Unless you understand the NBA's position, which you don't seem to, you really can't comprehend their actions, or why other owners might vote to force a sale. They are on the receiving end of the damage caused by Sterling's remarks after they became public. The only option they may have, to protect themselves from still further damage, may be to sever all association with him by forcing a sale of his team.

I've only seen snips of Sterling's interview with Anderson Cooper, I'll try to watch the entire interview when it is broadcast tonight.

But, from the little I've see, it's a mea culpa, although not a very convincing one. He says he knows he's hurt people, including the people on his team, and he's sorry for that.

Unlike you, Sterling knows this isn't just about the legal issues, it's about the content of what he said--his remarks about blacks--and the emotional impact of what he said on the players and fans--not to mention the corporate sponsors.

And he admits what he said in that conversation was wrong, he just tries to chalk it up as "one mistake" for which he "asks forgiveness". He also claims his girlfriend "baited" him into saying these things, and that he's not "a racist". His past history of racial discrimination in housing seems to make this not a one-time thing, and it's not something that's just "a mistake".

To make matters worse, he takes another pot shot at Magic Johnson in that interview, which is likely to throw more fuel on the racial fire. This man really doesn't get it.

Donald Sterling is a man who is desperately trying to deal with the fact that his chickens, in terms of his racial biases, have come home to roost--and in a sport that is dominated by black players. He's damaged his own brand and name, and he knows this isn't just about the legal issues.

As I had already stated the idea that players should have some say in who the hell the owner of the Clipper is I am sure is not making the other owners happy.

Former NBA great, Hall-of-Famer, and current Bobcats owner Michael Jordan issued a statement Sunday regarding the alleged racist comments from Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

"I look at this from two perspectives -- as a current owner and as a former player. As an owner, I'm obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views. I'm confident that Adam Silver will make a full investigation and take appropriate action quickly.

As a former player, I'm completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA -- or anywhere else -- for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed. I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level. "

The statement comes as a change in M.O for the Bulls legend, who has always shied away from political situations and controversy. The strength of the language illustrates the widespread outrage at the alleged comments.
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24541870/michael-jordan-issues-statement-on-alleged-sterling-racist-remarks

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As I had already stated the idea that players should have some say in who the hell the owner of the Clipper is I am sure is not making the other owners happy.

Really? You do realize that Michael Jordan is one of those other owners.

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Former NBA great, Hall-of-Famer, and current Bobcats owner Michael Jordan issued a statement Sunday regarding the alleged racist comments from Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

"I look at this from two perspectives -- as a current owner and as a former player. As an owner, I'm obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views. I'm confident that Adam Silver will make a full investigation and take appropriate action quickly.

As a former player, I'm completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA -- or anywhere else -- for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed. I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport. In a league where the majority of players are African-American, we cannot and must not tolerate discrimination at any level. "

The statement comes as a change in M.O for the Bulls legend, who has always shied away from political situations and controversy. The strength of the language illustrates the widespread outrage at the alleged comments.
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24541870/michael-jordan-issues-statement-on-alleged-sterling-racist-remarks

Tune into reality, BillRM.

They aren't considering forcing the sale of the team just because of the comments he made to his girlfriend in a private conversation. That's your simplistic view of it.

Really? You do realize that Michael Jordan is one of those other owners.

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Really? You do realize that Michael Jordan is one of those other owners.

Surely and he is not completely safe from, in the moment, of making a slur toward some group in a private conversation!!!!!!!!

Or are you claiming that only a slur and not even a slur for that matter toward blacks call for this kind of media driven outrage?

footnote the polls already have more for Stirling keeping his team then not.

I am "appalled" at anyone that supports gun control.
No one that supports it shud be allowed to attend a ball game; "no room".

He tells us that there is only room in sports for HIS OPINION.
Everyone else shud censor himself.

I am "appalled" at anyone that supports gun control.
No one that supports it shud be allowed to attend a ball game; "no room".

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He tells us that there is only room in sports for HIS OPINION.
Everyone else shud censor himself.

I am "appalled" at anyone that supports gun control.
No one that supports it shud be allowed to attend a ball game; "no room".

But, his opinion is that of an owner, so he's going to have a vote on whether to force a sale of the Clippers.

That alone makes his opinion more important than yours in deciding whether Sterling should be forced to sell his team.

Jordon's not saying anyone should be censored.

"I look at this from two perspectives -- as a current owner and as a former player. As an owner, I'm obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views. I'm confident that Adam Silver will make a full investigation and take appropriate action quickly.

As a former player, I'm completely outraged. There is no room in the NBA -- or anywhere else -- for the kind of racism and hatred that Mr. Sterling allegedly expressed. I am appalled that this type of ignorance still exists within our country and at the highest levels of our sport.

This isn't simply about the legalities of recorded conversations,
or things that were said "in private". It's about a racial firestorm
that was set off after Sterling's remarks became public--his remarks,
not the media, set off that firestorm . . .

He did not take out an ad in the NY Times.
That his remarks became public was beyond his control.

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He did not take out an ad in the NY Times.
That his remarks became public was beyond his control.

That's true.

But that really doesn't matter in terms of the impact of those remarks on the NBA, once the remarks did become public. The NBA had a consequent need to then take self-protective action because of the impact to them and their interests, as a result of the remarks and their association with Sterling.

You seem to miss that very simple point.

Also, Sterling has a track-record of other racially discriminatory actions and statements, in his functioning as a real estate owner. But this time he made statements saying he didn't want black people brought to a game, in which most of the players on the court are black--so those remarks, by a team owner, brought about direct, and immediate, negative effects within the NBA and for the NBA.

The NBA didn't ask for any of this either.

David, stop sounding like a jerk.

You know that's not what this situation is about.

David, stop sounding like a jerk.