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