NBA Bans Donald Sterling for Life, Imposes $2.5M Fine

By Anonymous -

By COLLEEN CURRY
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million today by the NBA after he was recorded making racist comments about African-Americans.

"Effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during a news conference in New York.

Silver also said he would immediately recommend to the NBA Board of Governors that they force a sale of the Clippers and that he would do "everything in [his] power to ensure that happens."

NBA players and officials -- including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Steve Nash, and Players Association president Kevin Johnson -- applauded the decision from Los Angeles. 

NBA Players Association Vice President Roger Mason said that players across the league had made it clear they were willing to boycott the playoffs if the NBA didn't take swift, decisive action against Sterling.

Sterling, 80, has owned the team since 1981.

Sterling's lawyer, Robert Platt, declined comment when asked by ESPN whether Sterling would dispute or respond to the NBA's decision.

The money from the $2.5 million fine -- the maximum amount allowed by league rules -- will be donated to anti-discrimination groups, Silver said.

"As part of the lifetime ban, Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings and participating in any other league activity," said Silver. 

The decision comes just days of public outrage directed at Sterling after an audio recording surfaced over the weekend that allegedly contained his voice saying racist comments to his then-girlfriend Vanessa Stiviano.
The tape recorded a man's voice, which the NBA said today is that of Sterling, telling Stiviano not to post pictures of herself with black men to Instagram or bring black men to Clippers games. One of the men mentioned is Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.

"The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful. That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage," said Silver. "Sentiments of this kind are contrary to principles of inclusion and respect that inform our diverse, multicultural and multi-ethnic league."

Silver mentioned the league's role as a pioneer in diversity and acknowledged famous black players including Johnson.

When asked about past allegations of racial discrimination by Sterling, including two prior lawsuits, Silver said that the NBA was acting now because they had concrete evidence.

Sterling settled a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department in 2009 for housing discrimination; in 2011, Sterling won a lawsuit brought by former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor over harassment and discrimination claims.

"Those are the only cases brought to our attention," Silver said. "When that [Baylor] litigation was brought it was watched closely by the league office. It concerned us greatly and we followed the litigation closely, but ultimately Elgin Baylor did not prevail in that litigation."

Silver said that he had been in discussions with Kevin Johnson, head of the National Basketball Players Association, and that the players would be supportive of the punishment.

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting. You email address and IP Address has been recorded for future reference. any anonymous comment which is deemed abusive will be removed and investigated for further action.

Popular posts from this blog

FOX NEWS HOST REFUSES TO BOARD PLANE WITH BLACK FEMALE PILOT

By Anonymous -
conservative commentator and author Ann Coulter has lost her mind! She refused to stay on board a Miami to New York flight after learning the pilot was a Black woman. According to witnesses, Coulter was concerned the experienced, decorated pilot may have gained her position as a result of affirmative action and wasn’t fully qualified to fly. The incident began when Coulter boarded the American Airlines flight and took up her first class seat. After a trip to the bathroom, she noticed the pilot was a black woman and became immediately distraught. According to passengers, at that point Coulter stood at the front of the cabin and began screaming her concerns to the entire flight as they finished boarding. “Aw come on people, a black woman flying a plane? You know she got that job through affirmative action. Am I the only one worried about this? I mean hello? Our lives are at stake here…” The confused passengers weren’t sure what to make of Coulter’s outburst, and rema...
Read more

A Rap Song About Paris Hilton

By -
Image
There's a rap song about the iconic heiress and Hollywood socialite  Paris Hilton  and it crept up out of nowhere, literally. Written and performed by  MC Spice The Legend , the song  Paris Hilton  takes the listener into the world of Hollywood where the rapper shows up for a party at a nightclub and Paris Hilton is the DJ. The catchy chorus "living my best life in Hollywood and Paris Hilton is my deejay", caught the ears of  Ice T  manager and  Art Of Rap  tour co-founder  Mickey Bentson , who signed MC Spice to his  PayUp Records  label. Says Benston, "this guy [MC Spice] has something. He knows what the people want to hear and he's bringing back the artistry of Rap music, with a kaleidoscope of song styles. He's not afraid to be an artist." The radio stations that caught on right away, knew they were dealing with another Hiphop artist who would push the envelope, the way  Lauryn Hill, Black Eyed Peas, Bone-Thugs-...
Read more

McDonald's Mighty Wings NFL commercial is racist bafoonery

By Anonymous -
Image
  There has got to be something said about how McDonald's and so many other corporations lure black entertainers into dancing for chicken. MC Hammer did the Hammer dance for KFC's Popcorn Chicken a few years back, and not a year goes by that another restaurant introduces chicken with a black person dancing on the screen, at the expense of black people everywhere. Many have already expressed their anger over the new TV ad, and McDonald's is obviously not ashamed, otherwise, the ad would have never run in the first place. But McDonald's, here is what you need to know: we are NOT going for it again. And we WILL fight BACK. With all of the racist jokes that have been told about black people and chicken, it's a wonder, the producers of these TV commercials always luck up to find someone willing to do the "nigger dance" for chicken. I'm sure McDonald's will say the dance scenes ideas came from the people who took part in the dancing, and were probab...
Read more