Should racist comments force LA Clippers owner to sell team?

JonnyPistachio
JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
in A Moving Train
I was wondering what you all thought of the LA Clippers owner situation. I suppose depending on the outcome of an investigation of course--- there is a lot of talk of forcing him to sell the team for his alleged racist comments.

Should he be forced out of ownership if found guilty?
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Comments

  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    edited April 2014
    No. Can't take property for private conversations and social views. Allow free market to run its course. Will be interesting to see what happens.
    Post edited by callen on
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  • The Waiting Trophy Man
    The Waiting Trophy Man Niagara region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,158
    A racist who owns and employs black people? 100%
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  • Idris
    Idris Posts: 2,317
    Of course (2 my mind) he should not be forced out, we don't even know all the facts yet. Anyway, freedom of speech, let him say what he wants, no fines no pressure to sell team.




  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    I'm curious if the league does not force him to relinquish control of the team how the fans will react.
    Something tells me they should not be able to force him out, but business will never be the same for this guy.
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  • Last-12-Exit
    Last-12-Exit Charleston, SC Posts: 8,661
    No, his bigotry is not illegal. And after all, it was a private conversation that was illeagally recorded and released. But he will get blackballed. No free agents will sign with that team and no teams will trade with that team as long as he is the owner.
  • polaris_x
    polaris_x Posts: 13,559
    i suspect he will be fined and forced to go through some sensitivity training course ... in the end, most of these owners are assholes anyways ... it's not like his racism was s secret ... it's just out in the open now ...
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,314
    polaris_x said:

    i suspect he will be fined and forced to go through some sensitivity training course ... in the end, most of these owners are assholes anyways ... it's not like his racism was s secret ... it's just out in the open now ...

    It's been out in the open for some time. Odd that the public AND players have waited this long to give him his due. He was a known bigot / slumlord / cheap skate as far back as I can remember. I think the only reason players chose to sign contracts in the past is because it was a last resort to play for a bottom feeder team or no team at all.

    It's only in the past few years that he opened the pocketbook and his past reputation didn't seem to matter at that time.
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  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,314
    Also, there is no way the owners or NBA will force him to sell for this. It would set a precedent where any morally wrong deed could be used to force an owner to sell.

    My guess is that he avoids the spotlight, pays a fine, and keeps the team until the day he dies.
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  • Wobbie
    Wobbie Posts: 31,305
    sure....force him sell and pocket his $700+M profit. way of the world...the rich get richer.
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  • pjhawks
    pjhawks Posts: 12,922
    edited April 2014
    can't force him to sell the team. suspend him for a year. he is 81 years old. a suspension would almost force him to sell

    now i'll probably get ripped on here for saying this but i think the outrage over this is way overblown. do we really need everyone to weigh in on this including the freakin president? do we really need another team like the Heat having their own protest about this? the guy is a dick and said some shit about who is then gold digging girlfriend was hanging around with. is it really that bad?
    Post edited by pjhawks on
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Good thread, JP - I attempted a start at it yesterday but relegated it to drafts. Damn the need to properly articulate my thoughts!

    It's been all over the place here.

    First, I'd like to hear from Sterling himself. For a blowhard, he's been pretty quiet.

    Second, I'd like to know how and why the NAACP - with all of Sterling's not-so-great past out in the open for ages - would plan to bestow a lifetime achievement award on him. Do they not review his life when planning this momentous occasion or is it based on money given? Trying to save face now? They're as full of shit as Donald.

    (sidenote - how about the term "colored people" be stricken from their name? seems a weird term to me, think it would be to the organization as well)

    Anyway, I'm in the "speak out" camp, no matter your view. I want to see and hear people for who they are, for better or worse. Silencing any voice is dangerous, as are wearing blinders or earmuffs.

    Mark Cuban, who I'm not a huge fan of, actually made sense to me when he said this - "In this country, people are allowed to be morons...they're allowed to be stupid. They're allowed to think idiotic thoughts. ... "

    Of course - say and/or do what you will - and then let the chips fall.

    I'd also toss in that Sterling's ex?wife is no gem herself. This IS all about her wanting his money.


  • JimmyV
    JimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 19,600
    These comments didn't make him a racist. He was known to be one long before this and still allowed to be part of the precious fraternity of NBA owners. The outrage now should have been outrage for years before this.

    I don't think his team can or should be taken away. Even if it were possible it would be overreach. What the owners can do is make life miserable (or, more realistically, slightly less wonderful) for him. Make him understand he is no longer wanted. Eventually he will cash in and go away.
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  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    I like this quote from President Obama:

    "When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything, you just let them talk. That's what happened here."

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/27/david-sterling-clippers-racist-recording-obama-backlash
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  • Cliffy6745
    Cliffy6745 Posts: 34,029
    How is this any different from Marge Schott? I don't see how it is at all

    I think the goal will be a punishment harsh enough that the only recourse is to sell the team, as was the case with Schott
  • Cliffy6745
    Cliffy6745 Posts: 34,029
    pjhawks said:

    can't force him to sell the team. suspend him for a year. he is 81 years old. a suspension would almost force him to sell

    now i'll probably get ripped on here for saying this but i think the outrage over this is way overblown. do we really need everyone to weigh in on this including the freakin president? do we really need another team like the Heat having their own protest about this? the guy is a dick and said some shit about who is then gold digging girlfriend was hanging around with. is it really that bad?

    I mean, saying that you don't want people you are close with to associate with black people in public is pretty awful. As is saying that you buy houses, cars and everything else for the players as if their skills are meaningless.
  • JimmyV
    JimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 19,600
    I will say that the NBA is a strange business to be in if you have a problem with black people.
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  • unsung
    unsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    callen said:

    No. Can't take property for private conversations and social views. Allow free market to run its course. Will be interesting to see what happens.


    Agreed. The market will decide correctly.
  • gimmesometruth27
    gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 24,161
    i say make him keep the team.

    why make him sell and reward him with the profits he will get?

    what is done is done. his business will never be the same. corporate sponsors are abandoning him faster than fox news abandoned cliven bundy.

    racism is something that will not go well in sports. especially in basketball where the majority of the players are of ethnic minority descent. players would refuse to be drafted by this team. free agents will not sign. current players will opt out. fans will not buy the merch, unless they are racist assholes doing it for a joke. maybe the players should just refuse to play? the league would have to act then, because too many teams would lose money when the clippers no show at the away games.

    interesting situation for sure.

    and just think, two weeks ago the supreme court declared that racism is over and then we get bundy and this dude resurrecting it from the dead.
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  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    brianlux said:

    I like this quote from President Obama:

    "When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything, you just let them talk. That's what happened here."

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/27/david-sterling-clippers-racist-recording-obama-backlash

    Obama LED the backlash?

    I don't think so - people were speaking out on this before and with him.

    Sorry man, while I totally agree with his quote, that was one oddly-worded article (not to mention - David Sterling?).


  • lukin2006
    lukin2006 Posts: 9,087
    what i find interesting is that naacp has honored him in the past and was about to honor him again ... hmmm. Also his sponsors will eventually come back once this all blows over and players will play for him, those are 12 highly paid jobs he has available ... money talks these days ... imo.
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