Donald Sterling, Clippers Owner, Banned For Life, Fined $2.5M

[casmith07]

That isn't as practical as you think. While CP3, DeAndre Jordan and Griffin will likely exceed the value in their contracts, what happens when no one wants to pay Matt Barnes the $10 million he is owed, or any other players with inflated contracts? Make the league less valuable and still have to garuntee the pay roll? Not happening.

Just how the league bought the Pelicans, they could buy out the contracts of the remaining players at value.

If a new franchise stood up in Seattle, I like Matt Barnes' chances to get a contract there as well, thereby doubling his income for at least one season.

This is getting way into the weeds and speculation, though. It's not going to happen. Sterling will lick his wounds, go away, and the league will continue on.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Mark Cuban keeps getting mentioned, but he actually agreed with this ruling:

 

[Eric_Boyer]

A few couch lawyers in here, I see.

If you believe that Adam Silver, a former lawyer, just arbitrarily decided to ignore all the rules and bylaws of the U.S. and the league he governs to ban one bigot, you aren't giving the guy enough credit.

Reminds me of when Goodell fined us and the Commanders and there were a bunch of people claiming it was illegal and that Jerry was gonna sue the league, etc, etc etc. How'd that one turn out?

Supreme court cases are largely settled with 5-4 decisions. In lieu of that fact, the above post is truly idiotic.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

Various thoughts

His reputation is ruined but I bet he still wants his toy.

What good is his toy if he can't use it?

Pretty good comment: requiring Sterling to attend every game - but how long would be live?

For the other commissioners: It makes it easier for them to deal with questionable owners.

“Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words for they become actions.
Watch your actions for they become habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
What we think, we become....

... and this is what Sterling has become

 

[casmith07]

Various thoughts



What good is his toy if he can't use it?

Pretty good comment: requiring Sterling to attend every game - but how long would be live?

For the other commissioners: It makes it easier for them to deal with questionable owners.

... and this is what Sterling has become

Great post.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

And in case you were wondering how much legal ground Sterling would have to stand on if he challenged this? Not much:

Q: Sterling is notoriously litigious. Can he go to court to stop Silver from punishing him?

A: Not effectively. When Silver issues his punishment to Sterling, the decision is final. The constitution provides in Paragraph 24(m) that a commissioner's decision shall be "final, binding, and conclusive" and shall be as final as an award of arbitration. It is almost impossible to find a judge in the United States judicial system who would set aside an award of arbitration. Sterling can file a lawsuit, but he would face a humiliating defeat early in the process. There is no antitrust theory or principle that would help him against Silver and the NBA. He could claim an antitrust violation, for example, if he were trying to move his team to a different market. But under the terms of the NBA constitution, he has no chance to succeed in litigation over punishment.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10852199/challenge-donald-sterling

 

[Hoofbite]

A few couch lawyers in here, I see.

If you believe that Adam Silver, a former lawyer, just arbitrarily decided to ignore all the rules and bylaws of the U.S. and the league he governs to ban one bigot, you aren't giving the guy enough credit.

Reminds me of when Goodell fined us and the Commanders and there were a bunch of people claiming it was illegal and that Jerry was gonna sue the league, etc, etc etc. How'd that one turn out?

Yeah. You are a part of a group that can basically vote you off the island. He will take his punishment and like it.

 

[casmith07]

And in case you were wondering how much legal ground Sterling would have to stand on if he challenged this? Not much:



http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10852199/challenge-donald-sterling

I've said it like three times in this thread, but nobody wants to listen to the lawyer -- when you collectively bargain, you give up a lot of the rights (and in turn, gain new rights) within and outside of the boundaries of the law.

The only thing they can't do is "force" him to sell it. Unless they vote to terminate the Clippers franchise, but that's taking a scorched earth approach that would be more trouble than it's worth.

Sterling's best bet? Sell the team to Magic Johnson and his investment firm.

 

[TheCount]

I prefer the term Holiday Inn Express lawyers, hehe..."I'm not a lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

I can't even win an argument against my wife, so you've still got one up on me, that's for sure.

 

[casmith07]

I can't even win an argument against my wife, so you've still got one up on me, that's for sure.

My girlfriend has no law degree, no formal legal training aside from middle school civics, and has no desire to learn the law in depth or ever go to law school.

I still lose (all) arguments against her too, lol. I feel your pain.

 

[RastaRocket]

What good is his toy if he can't use it?

He bought the team for around $13 mil, it is now worth over $500 mil. If you look at the NBA, it is expanding in popularity every year around the world. The Clippers will continue to rise in value. That is what his toy is good for, Sterling was never a guy that cared about winning. He just cares about his investment appreciating.

 

[TheCount]

Supreme court cases are largely settled with 5-4 decisions. In lieu of that fact, the above post is truly idiotic.

Uh huh. Please, go on.

 

[erod]

Months from now, when the immediacy and emotion surrounding this situation subsides......

A man just lost his company because of what he said in his own kitchen to his girlfriend.

Regardless of the worthless puke this guy is, that is a very dangerous precedent. What's next?

The Soviet Union used to operate this way.

 

[Eric_Boyer]

Uh huh. Please, go on.

It goes to show that nine of the most knowledgeable “lawyers” in the country disagree on legal interpretation all the time.

So using that as a guide, it shows that your prior rant was pretty stupid

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

He bought the team for around $13 mil, it is now worth over $500 mil. If you look at the NBA, it is expanding in popularity every year around the world. The Clippers will continue to rise in value. That is what his toy is good for, Sterling was never a guy that cared about winning. He just cares about his investment appreciating.

I wish half this outrage would be directed at an owner recently saying a team dear to most of us is the #1 TV show, confirming his narcissism and craving for publicity trumps winning. It's not racism, but it's still contempt for the fans.

 

[Rockport]

I long gave up on predicting how courts will work, but it is hard to imagine this sticking.

In essence, a person is being penalized for his thoughts.

Long ago, if people openly expressed support for homosexuality, or interracial marriages, they were publically ostracized for sharing thoughts so outside the realm of acceptable thought.

You are doing the same. the difference is not as great as you think it is. Someone said things that the public at large find to be disgusting and the pitchforks are gathering.

Defending his behavior is again, the same as supporting his behavor. It's your right.

 

[Rockport]

Mark Cuban keeps getting mentioned, but he actually agreed with this ruling:

One of his handlers must've spoken to him because this is not what he was saying yesterday. Quite the opposite.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

The Soviet Union used to operate this way.

Not exactly.

This is not just rumor or one isolated slip of the tongue, but a confirmation of years of actions - including housing discrimination.

 

[casmith07]

Months from now, when the immediacy and emotion surrounding this situation subsides......

A man just lost his company because of what he said in his own kitchen to his girlfriend.

Regardless of the worthless puke this guy is, that is a very dangerous precedent. What's next?

The Soviet Union used to operate this way.

Spare me. Attempting to paint this situation with a broad brush of comparison with Soviet Russia is so far from what we have here.

 

[erod]

One of his handlers must've spoken to him because this is not what he was saying yesterday. Quite the opposite.

Yup, or he was staying tight-lipped because of the private discussions going on between owners before this decision was reached.

Either way, I think Cuban is conflicted here. He hates what Sterling represents, but he understands the slippery slope of punishing a man for his private thoughts in his own home.