Donald sterling racist comments have led to a new turn in the developments leading to a forced sale of the Clippers. The big question in the aftermath of Donald Sterling's racist remarks recorded in a phone conversation with his girlfriend Vivian S. was if the Sterlings could avoid a legal battle with the NBA, which would diminish the value of the team?
"Among other things, Mr. Sterling disparaged African-Americans and 'minorities'; directed a female acquaintance not to associate publicly with African-Americans or to bring African-Americans to Clippers games; and criticized African-Americans for not supporting their communities," the NBA said in a recent statement.
Mr. Sterling agreed to have his wife Shelly Sterling oversee the sale of Clippers. Several reports from AP, Arab News, Bloomberg News and CNN have surfaced, but the NBA has not formally made an announcement. Two people close to the story told Bloomberg about the agreement.
In comments emanating from the news, Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane University Sports Law Program, called it "the rational decision." "A long, drawn-out legal battle was in no one's best interest," Feldman said in a telephone interview. "The business decision was the way out. Hopefully this puts it to rest." The Associated Press reported.
David Sterling bought the team in 1981 for approximately $12 million. Adam Silver, the NBA Comissioner said on May 20, that the Sterling's should sell saying, "It is their team to sell."
However, Silver has established a date, June 3 when Sterling can deliberate or convince the rest of the league on his desire to keep the team.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement, "We continue to follow the process set forth in the NBA Constitution regarding termination of the current ownership interests in the Los Angeles Clippers and are proceeding toward a hearing on this matter June 3."
According to estimates, Clippers have to sell or at least $763 million. However, the Sterlings are asking $1billion and more for their team. Many investors have expressed an interest to buy Clippers, despite the popularity of the LA Lakers.
According to an online report on Arab News, "Among the would-be buyers are music executive David Geffen, whose bid group would include Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Officer Larry Ellison and Oprah Winfrey. Other interested parties include Live Nation Entertainment Inc. Chairman Irving Azoff and basketball hall of famer Magic Johnson who, along with Guggenheim Partners executives, bought baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers for a record $2.15 billion.
Donald Sterling racist comments aftermath leads to the lifetime ban of Donald Sterling from the NBA, with unprecedented sanctions and a fine for $25 million against the Clippers owner, a slew of rumors followed as tweets surfaced from NBA heavy-weights.
Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA, referred to Sterling's "racist comments as "deeply offensive" and "hateful," Reuters reported.
Silver acquiesced that he expects other owners in the game to get the support of Clippers owners to proceed with Sterling's lifetime ban.
"I believe the players will be satisfied with the decision," Silver said.
A Reuters report said, "The NBA conducted a three-day investigation following the leak of a recording of him telling his former mistress, V. Stevin, that he doesn't want her bringing black people to games, among other racist statements."
Silver said in his announcement of the ban that he has forensic people have confirmed Sterling's voice on the tape and that it has not been modified. The $2.5 million is the maximum fine allotted under the Constitution of the NBA.
NBA.com updated its site with the following statement to show their solidarity in their ruling
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The Clippers updated the team website Tuesday to simply read "We Are One" and released a statement:"We wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver today. Now the healing process begins."
The Boston Celtics managing partners said in a statement, "The entire Boston Celtics organization and our ownership group fully support the decisive action taken by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today. The Celtics stand for inclusion and equality, and we are proud to be a part of a league that shares the same values."
Magic Johnson who was shown in a photo with Sterling's girlfriend was one of the figures that Sterling asked her not to associate with. Later, in an attempt to apologize on CNN with Anderson Cooper, he made things worse by saying that Johnson was not a good role model for American kids because he was HIV+.
