Protest is turning shooting shirts inside out? LOL

[wdleehi]

The players are somewhat limited in what they can do and stay within the league's different rules. 




I don't get the point of being angry at the players, coaches and other employees.  They still have a job.  They still have a goal.  Should all of that be just forgotten because the owner turns out the be a racist? 



Now, I wouldn't be surprised if players start to demand trades once the season ends. 

[sofutomygaha]

Would you have preferred that they showed up, took the court, then walked off after the jump ball and refused to play?

I think that would have been amazing, and I think there is no way the league would have followed up with fines or a forfeiture.

[Fafnir]

I think the players union has put out a reasonable list of demands for how the league should handle the situation.

If the players viewed the problem as the entire league and its structure then not playing would be the right answer. But I think they view it as a Sterling problem primarily.

[sofutomygaha]

The players union demands are reasonable and cool-headed. The Clippers protest was barely more than a public acknowledgement that, yes, they know something is up and no, they're don't think it's ok.

But this is an actual opportunity to apply pressure, and the aggravated parties are choosing not too. I think that's a shame and a missed opportunity. Sterling owns the team and it's his responsibility to keep his house in order. If his franchise is still making money and meeting its obligations, the league doesn't have any beef with him. If he publicly insults his employees and incites a strike, the league will have beef with him.

[Fafnir]

But this is an actual opportunity to apply pressure, and the aggravated parties are choosing not too. I think that's a shame and a missed opportunity.

Do you think its important for the Clippers players to apply such pressure given the cost of their chance at competing for a NBA title this year? Not to mention potential monetary fines and other career related damage.

I do think that's the players decision to make, and they've clearly made their choice. I think its probably the right choice. I think the pressure will be intense on the NBA no matter what without the personal sacrifice forfeiting the game would require.

[footey]

Most effective thing players can do is win the championship despite their owner.  I don't think Paul, Ray and Kevin came here to win one for Wyc.  I think the players union is handling things quite responsibly.  I feel bad for the new commissioner, he is in a very tough spot.

I did not see Doc's quote as to maybe not coming back next year.  I would be very surprised he would send that message in the middle of a tough play-off series, that could really badly impact team motivation.  That is not very Doc like.  He generally is very composed in these situations. He may have been caught off guard in that press.

[CelticD]

This is turning out to be a farce...

I know they'll be happy taking that game check though lol

and I suspect nothing much will come out of this.  Things will go on as usual and at the end of the day Sterlin will still have his team and the players will continue to play and work.  So sad...

u sound so insensitive. wats funny about the way they protested? that was their subtle measage. and will they collect their game checks? absolutely. they played. i used to think the same way. the idea that a hefty paycheck makes everything ok, but thats too far from the truth.

if u think theres no point in protesting thats ur opinion, but i dont see the humor
in it at all. 

[fairweatherfan]

Would you have preferred that they showed up, took the court, then walked off after the jump ball and refused to play?

I think that would have been amazing, and I think there is no way the league would have followed up with fines or a forfeiture.

Eh, to me it's a little different since they're on the road and the Warriors organization didn't do anything to deserve the multi-million dollar loss they'd take by losing a home playoff game.

Doing something like that at home seems more appropriate since that revenue is much more directly linked to Sterling's pockets.  The fans still don't deserve it but a home boycott is a direct shot to Sterling's profits, and a road boycott much less so.

I do think the league would have to impose a forfeit in either case, though, simply because the playoffs and teams' arenas are so tightly scheduled that making up anything is incredibly difficult, let alone multiple games if this dragged on.

[sed522002]

Retweeted by John Karalis
 Tom Westerholm ‏@Tom_NBA  4m
RIP Cliff. RT @nickfasuloSBN: State Farm is pulling its sponsorship of the Clippers. Wow. Others expected to do the same.

That's too bad if it hurts CP3's pockets because of someone else's ignorant comments.

[fairweatherfan]

Retweeted by John Karalis
 Tom Westerholm ‏@Tom_NBA  4m
RIP Cliff. RT @nickfasuloSBN: State Farm is pulling its sponsorship of the Clippers. Wow. Others expected to do the same.

That's too bad if it hurts CP3's pockets because of someone else's ignorant comments.

I'm pretty sure the Clippers sponsorship and Paul's endorsement ads are two separate things.  They don't mention the Clippers in Paul's ads or anything.  It'd be a PR disaster to cancel an individual player deal because of the owner being an ass.

But these are some of the early dominos falling for Sterling.  Good, I hope the sponsor pressure ramps up with the league pressure.  Whatever happens will be much easier if he cooperates.

[sed522002]

Retweeted by John Karalis
 Tom Westerholm ‏@Tom_NBA  4m
RIP Cliff. RT @nickfasuloSBN: State Farm is pulling its sponsorship of the Clippers. Wow. Others expected to do the same.

That's too bad if it hurts CP3's pockets because of someone else's ignorant comments.

I'm pretty sure the Clippers sponsorship and Paul's endorsement ads are two separate things.  They don't mention the Clippers in Paul's ads or anything.  It'd be a PR disaster to cancel an individual player deal because of the owner being an ass.

But these are some of the early dominos falling for Sterling.  Good, I hope the sponsor pressure ramps up with the league pressure.  Whatever happens will be much easier if he cooperates.

In some of the ads they vaguely mention the Clippers or he'll have on Clippers paraphernalia, but they can still use him without mentioning the Clippers. I guess it depends on how the contract was written.

[jambr380]

Retweeted by John Karalis
 Tom Westerholm ‏@Tom_NBA  4m
RIP Cliff. RT @nickfasuloSBN: State Farm is pulling its sponsorship of the Clippers. Wow. Others expected to do the same.

That's too bad if it hurts CP3's pockets because of someone else's ignorant comments.

I'm pretty sure the Clippers sponsorship and Paul's endorsement ads are two separate things.  They don't mention the Clippers in Paul's ads or anything.  It'd be a PR disaster to cancel an individual player deal because of the owner being an ass.

But these are some of the early dominos falling for Sterling.  Good, I hope the sponsor pressure ramps up with the league pressure.  Whatever happens will be much easier if he cooperates.

In some of the ads they vaguely mention the Clippers or he'll have on Clippers paraphernalia, but they can still use him without mentioning the Clippers. I guess it depends on how the contract was written.

Yeah, if State Farm pulled away from Paul due to Sterling's idiocy, then I think there would be a lot of people currently insured with State Farm changing to any other insurance company. If anything, I expect them to back Paul even more and make sure there is nothing to do with the Clippers in their ads (frankly, this happens all the time in endorsements with pro athletes).

[erisred]

i suppose its horrible of me to mention that theres a little voice in the back of my head thats saying, "Hey, if Doc leaves after this year and this whole team goes in the crapper.......we own their unprotected 2015 first rounder"

Shoot, man, we're all thinking it!

The NBA  tells Stirling to sell the team, he refuses and a nasty fight drags on all summer. By the end of the summer Doc quits, Jordan, Paul and Griffin all demand a trade and no matter what happens the Clippers stink in 2015. Nah! Not going to happen, but it's a nice fantasy about a nasty awful situation.

[blink]

It's a pretty big deal.  Doc is dropping hints that he might not be back next year.  It's not going away quietly.

Wouldn't make too much of Doc's comments. If I had a penny for each time Doc said he doesn't know what he'll do next season...

But I do agree this is probably not going away quietly.

The difference was when Doc was in Boston, he was just the coach, and for the last few years it was unclear if PP and KG were coming back year to year for various reasons.  For the LAC he is their coach and their Senior VP for BBall operations.  He is the DA role as well...he has more responsibility.  He also has his stars in place for the next few years at the LAC.

If you were Doc wouldn't you at least consider not coming back?  I sure would.  I don't see how this is just waffling or idle talk.  This is different.

[cons]

i suppose its horrible of me to mention that theres a little voice in the back of my head thats saying, "Hey, if Doc leaves after this year and this whole team goes in the crapper.......we own their unprotected 2015 first rounder"

Shoot, man, we're all thinking it!

The NBA  tells Stirling to sell the team, he refuses and a nasty fight drags on all summer. By the end of the summer Doc quits, Jordan, Paul and Griffin all demand a trade and no matter what happens the Clippers stink in 2015. Nah! Not going to happen, but it's a nice fantasy about a nasty awful situation.

It's not that far fetched though. That's why it was a good deal to get a LAC first rounder. they've mostly sucked forever, at least partially bc this guy Sterling has been a jerk forever, so betting that the Clippers will be in the lottery has historically been a very good bet.  No one could've foreseen this exact scenario, but betting the clippers will mess up is usually a safe bet.