same for the player IMO, a privalege to be playing in the NBA. So the next time a player calls someone the N word or homo slur are they kicked out for being racist.

 

I havent listened to the tape of Sterling but did he ever say the N word?

 

No he didn't and this was way down the racism scale for this man in his history. Not only did nothing come from his past racist actions, which are far stronger than words uttered privately to his half black girlfriend, he was awarded Chris Paul in a trade from a team owned by the rest of the owners after voiding a more fair deal to another team.

same for the player IMO, a privalege to be playing in the NBA. So the next time a player calls someone the N word or homo slur are they kicked out for being racist.

 

I havent listened to the tape of Sterling but did he ever say the N word?

 

Actually, no, it's not the same for a player. Not at all really...

Maybe forcing Sterling to sell the Clippers

 

Adam Silver issues lifetime ban, $2.5M fine to Clippers owner Donald Sterling | The Point Forward - SI.com

I thought this was the only move. Far to important of an issue for the league.

3/4 vote of owners to remove him.

 

Sam Amico ‏@SamAmicoFSO 38s

 

Adam Silver's final thought: "I fully expect to get the support I need (via 3/4ths vote) to remove (Sterling)." Removal now up to owners.

 

If individual voting results are made public, I find it hard to believe it won't be anything but unanimous. Going to be very hard for any other owner to back Sterling's right to ownership, without looking like they're backing him, and subsequently, his thoughts.

I'm shocked how quickly Silver moved on this. Take about making a huge splash right away. Going to be tough to top this during his reign. And I don't mean any of that negatively.

When would that owner's vote take place?

If individual voting results are made public, I find it hard to believe it won't be anything but unanimous. Going to be very hard for any other owner to back Sterling's right to ownership, without looking like they're backing him, and subsequently, his thoughts.

If Cuban chose to NOT back the forced sale I believe he'd make it public.

Dan Woike ‏@DanWoikeSports

 

Had NBPA been unhappy with ruling, players would've boycotted tonight's playoff games.

Jonah Keri ‏@jonahkeri 9m

If Adam Silver were in charge of MLB in 1994, you're damn right we get to find out who wins the World Series that year.

Hogwash!

He has a right to believe whatever he wants. The NBA has a right to act on those racist beliefs. Free speech is not devoid of consequences...

 

Right, but this was a private conversation. Now the league has to be consistent with this for every incident. I know that there aren't a million of them, but there will be more. They may not deal with race, but I could see sexual orientation being a topic of a recorded conversation.

Now it's time for the Clippers to focus on the task at hand. As hard as it might be with all the media wanting soundbites from the players, they have a job to do for each other, get to the NBA Finals. They need to not let this define them as a team, better yet show that they can overcome this as those pioneers of the game before them. Because in the end it's about the game and how it's played, not the look of who plays it.

Edited April 29, 201412 yr by OlDog75

I agree. I get why people are outraged, but I think it is a sad day for America when you can have property forcefully taken away from you for having an unpopular opinion or words. He has a right to believe whatever he wants to. The free market would have punished him and deservedly so.

 

The NBA is not a true capitalist free market enterprise. In a true economic sense the NBA probably violates a lot of economic laws in this country. If the league can collectively decide to fix salaries then this is definitely fine. It's bad for business for the NBA.

 

Right, but this was a private conversation. Now the league has to be consistent with this for every incident. I know that there aren't a million of them, but there will be more. They may not deal with race, but I could see sexual orientation being a topic of a recorded conversation.

 

It was a private conversation that became very public. Apples and anchovies...

The best thing about this is the irony in the fact that Sterling's racist comments were about Magic Johnson and now Magic will probably be the person that buys his team.