ESPN: Sterling OKs Clippers sale.

[D.o.s.]

Looks like Sterling is backing out of letting his wife sell the team, and is threatening to fight to the "bloody end".

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10993013/donald-sterling-strongly-responds-nba-draconian-penalties

and this seems to be the slippery slope that Cuban warned about.

Sterling specifically references Orlando Magic owner Richard DeVos, who, in his words, "has made highly controversial comments against individuals with HIV/AIDS and generously supports anti-homosexual causes with impugnity."

Yeah DeVos is a creep who donates millions to things like Prop 8.

That still affects the NBA's bottom line way, way less than an owner being recorded asking his mistress/assistant/whatever not to bring black people to his games.

Also, given Cuban's recent history with incredibly shortsighted false equivocations, I'm not sure he's the best guy to be citing in a case like this.

But it still affects the NBA's bottom line.  That is the point.  Where do you draw the line?  You can't speak badly against blacks, but against the gays is ok even where you donate millions of dollars to anti-gay causes.  I mean is that really the position the NBA wants to be in.  That is the rub.

It really doesn't matter what DeVos does if it doesn't end up in the public eye. That's the rub. For better or worse, the fact that an owner is speaking out against bringing black people to games when the game's best players are all black is significantly worse for the NBA than donating to political campaigns.

[nickagneta]

Gay rights is a hot button issue in American society right now. Sterling is only playing on the public outrage that will occur if the Magic's owner's comments are made public.

Suddenly, Sterling has at least one ally as the Magic's owner can probably understand the situation Sterling feels he is in, that being, saying something about his personal feelings in private shouldn't be enough to take a franchise away.

Sterling digs up enough dirt on enough owners or if enough owners have enough dirt that they might feel is dangerous to them and possibly the NBA doesn't have the votes they thought they did.

You had to figure this type of stuff was going to happen eventually.

[footey]

Looks like Sterling is backing out of letting his wife sell the team, and is threatening to fight to the "bloody end".

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10993013/donald-sterling-strongly-responds-nba-draconian-penalties

and this seems to be the slippery slope that Cuban warned about.

Sterling specifically references Orlando Magic owner Richard DeVos, who, in his words, "has made highly controversial comments against individuals with HIV/AIDS and generously supports anti-homosexual causes with impugnity."

Yeah DeVos is a creep who donates millions to things like Prop 8.

That still affects the NBA's bottom line way, way less than an owner being recorded asking his mistress/assistant/whatever not to bring black people to his games.

Also, given Cuban's recent history with incredibly shortsighted false equivocations, I'm not sure he's the best guy to be citing in a case like this.

But it still affects the NBA's bottom line.  That is the point.  Where do you draw the line?  You can't speak badly against blacks, but against the gays is ok even where you donate millions of dollars to anti-gay causes.  I mean is that really the position the NBA wants to be in.  That is the rub.

It really doesn't matter what DeVos does if it doesn't end up in the public eye. That's the rub. For better or worse, the fact that an owner is speaking out against bringing black people to games when the game's best players are all black is significantly worse for the NBA than donating to political campaigns.

Do you appreciate the irony of what you just said, inasmuch as Sterling's comments were private and illegally recorded, while the Magic owner's comments were made publicly?

[footey]

Gay rights is a hot button issue in American society right now. Sterling is only playing on the public outrage that will occur if the Magic's owner's comments are made public.

Suddenly, Sterling has at least one ally as the Magic's owner can probably understand the situation Sterling feels he is in, that being, saying something about his personal feelings in private shouldn't be enough to take a franchise away.

Sterling digs up enough dirt on enough owners or if enough owners have enough dirt that they might feel is dangerous to them and possibly the NBA doesn't have the votes they thought they did.

You had to figure this type of stuff was going to happen eventually.

Actually, the Magic owner is pretty strongly on record of wanting to get rid of Sterling, which is why Sterling takes particular pleasure in singling out that owner's hypocrisy.

One of Sterling's arguments is that any procedure in which he is asked to present evidence for the consideration of an adjudicative body  (the NBA owners) is a farce if such arbiters are already on record as saying they will vote to remove him.  These owners were trying to outdo one another to get in front of the story to appease their fan base, and players, and that very action could actually serve to strengthen Sterling's position in a court of law.

[LarBrd33]

I think Sterling has some valid points.   It wouldn't hold up in a court of law.  But if a private country club bans a member, can you really take them to court on it?...  If a Frat kicks out a kid, can he really sue them?  And what kind of awkward situation would everyone have to suffer through if they succeeded in reversing the ban?   

I'm still under the impression that the NBA can kick any owner out at any time if the rest of the owners vote on it.  Probably a slippery slope indeed, but if it happens I don't think Sterling can fight it in court. 

It's probably in everyone's best interest if he sells the team.  I think he'll potentially devalue his franchise (and lose lots of money) if he doesn't willingly sell right now. 

[Kane3387]

It's probably in everyone's best interest if he sells the team.  I think he'll potentially devalue his franchise (and lose lots of money) if he doesn't willingly sell right now.

Sterling is getting ready for war. The man is a billionaire narcissistic ego maniac. If anyone thinks he's going quietly at 80 then they're wrong. Dead wrong.

Keep that clippers pick DA.

[D.o.s.]

Looks like Sterling is backing out of letting his wife sell the team, and is threatening to fight to the "bloody end".

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10993013/donald-sterling-strongly-responds-nba-draconian-penalties

and this seems to be the slippery slope that Cuban warned about.

Sterling specifically references Orlando Magic owner Richard DeVos, who, in his words, "has made highly controversial comments against individuals with HIV/AIDS and generously supports anti-homosexual causes with impugnity."

Yeah DeVos is a creep who donates millions to things like Prop 8.

That still affects the NBA's bottom line way, way less than an owner being recorded asking his mistress/assistant/whatever not to bring black people to his games.

Also, given Cuban's recent history with incredibly shortsighted false equivocations, I'm not sure he's the best guy to be citing in a case like this.

But it still affects the NBA's bottom line.  That is the point.  Where do you draw the line?  You can't speak badly against blacks, but against the gays is ok even where you donate millions of dollars to anti-gay causes.  I mean is that really the position the NBA wants to be in.  That is the rub.

It really doesn't matter what DeVos does if it doesn't end up in the public eye. That's the rub. For better or worse, the fact that an owner is speaking out against bringing black people to games when the game's best players are all black is significantly worse for the NBA than donating to political campaigns.

Do you appreciate the irony of what you just said, inasmuch as Sterling's comments were private and illegally recorded, while the Magic owner's comments were made publicly?

Sure, except that has exactly zero bearing on the situation at hand.

Being in the public eye is different from making a statement in public. You might want to consider that.

If DeVos was illegally recorded saying equivocal things about gay people as Sterling was about black people, and it was leaked through TMZ the reaction would be similar -- and it would be an identical reaction to the one he'd get if word got out (through TMZ) that he paid for a billboard that said "Say No To Gays" or whatever. The same way Sterling would've seen the same hammer come down if he'd said "keep black people out of my games" in public.

[Moranis]

Looks like Sterling is backing out of letting his wife sell the team, and is threatening to fight to the "bloody end".

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10993013/donald-sterling-strongly-responds-nba-draconian-penalties

and this seems to be the slippery slope that Cuban warned about.

Sterling specifically references Orlando Magic owner Richard DeVos, who, in his words, "has made highly controversial comments against individuals with HIV/AIDS and generously supports anti-homosexual causes with impugnity."

Yeah DeVos is a creep who donates millions to things like Prop 8.

That still affects the NBA's bottom line way, way less than an owner being recorded asking his mistress/assistant/whatever not to bring black people to his games.

Also, given Cuban's recent history with incredibly shortsighted false equivocations, I'm not sure he's the best guy to be citing in a case like this.

But it still affects the NBA's bottom line.  That is the point.  Where do you draw the line?  You can't speak badly against blacks, but against the gays is ok even where you donate millions of dollars to anti-gay causes.  I mean is that really the position the NBA wants to be in.  That is the rub.

It really doesn't matter what DeVos does if it doesn't end up in the public eye. That's the rub. For better or worse, the fact that an owner is speaking out against bringing black people to games when the game's best players are all black is significantly worse for the NBA than donating to political campaigns.

Do you appreciate the irony of what you just said, inasmuch as Sterling's comments were private and illegally recorded, while the Magic owner's comments were made publicly?

Sure, except that has exactly zero bearing on the situation at hand.

Being in the public eye is different from making a statement in public. You might want to consider that.

If DeVos was illegally recorded saying equivocal things about gay people as Sterling was about black people, and it was leaked through TMZ the reaction would be similar -- and it would be an identical reaction to the one he'd get if word got out (through TMZ) that he paid for a billboard that said "Say No To Gays" or whatever. The same way Sterling would've seen the same hammer come down if he'd said "keep black people out of my games" in public.

DeVos doesn't have to be illegally recorded, he has said those things publically.  Heck there was even a boycott in 2012 of the Magic as a result of his views.  http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/orlando-magic-amway-boycotted-anti-gay-marriage-donation/story?id=16812037

http://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/while-were-on-the-subject-the-orlando-magics-owner-is-vehemently-opposed-to-gay-rights/

[Moranis]

Looks like Sterling is backing out of letting his wife sell the team, and is threatening to fight to the "bloody end".

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10993013/donald-sterling-strongly-responds-nba-draconian-penalties

and this seems to be the slippery slope that Cuban warned about.

Sterling specifically references Orlando Magic owner Richard DeVos, who, in his words, "has made highly controversial comments against individuals with HIV/AIDS and generously supports anti-homosexual causes with impugnity."

Yeah DeVos is a creep who donates millions to things like Prop 8.

That still affects the NBA's bottom line way, way less than an owner being recorded asking his mistress/assistant/whatever not to bring black people to his games.

Also, given Cuban's recent history with incredibly shortsighted false equivocations, I'm not sure he's the best guy to be citing in a case like this.

But it still affects the NBA's bottom line.  That is the point.  Where do you draw the line?  You can't speak badly against blacks, but against the gays is ok even where you donate millions of dollars to anti-gay causes.  I mean is that really the position the NBA wants to be in.  That is the rub.

It really doesn't matter what DeVos does if it doesn't end up in the public eye. That's the rub. For better or worse, the fact that an owner is speaking out against bringing black people to games when the game's best players are all black is significantly worse for the NBA than donating to political campaigns.

He wasn't speaking out against bringing black people to games, he was speaking out against his girlfriend bringing black people to games.  To the best of my knowledge, Sterling has never denied the sale of a ticket to a black person.  His team is comprised of mostly black people, including is head coach.  He had a black GM for what 30 years.  It isn't like Sterling has gone out of his way to discriminate against blacks with respect to the Clippers.  He didn't want his half black girlfriend to attend a Clippers game with Magic Johnson.  He was in the heat of the moment in what should have been a private conversation. 

[D.o.s.]

Is this the part where you say Sterling's not racist because he has black friends?
 

Anyway, I'm going to quote the pertinent parts in bold.

Being in the public eye is different from making a statement in public. You might want to consider that.

If DeVos was illegally recorded saying equivocal things about gay people as Sterling was about black people, and it was leaked through TMZ the reaction would be similar -- and it would be an identical reaction to the one he'd get if word got out (through TMZ) that he paid for a billboard that said "Say No To Gays" or whatever. The same way Sterling would've seen the same hammer come down if he'd said "keep black people out of my games" in public.

[Moranis]

Is this the part where you say Sterling's not racist because he has black friends?
 

Anyway, I'm going to quote the pertinent parts in bold.

Being in the public eye is different from making a statement in public. You might want to consider that.

If DeVos was illegally recorded saying equivocal things about gay people as Sterling was about black people, and it was leaked through TMZ the reaction would be similar -- and it would be an identical reaction to the one he'd get if word got out (through TMZ) that he paid for a billboard that said "Say No To Gays" or whatever. The same way Sterling would've seen the same hammer come down if he'd said "keep black people out of my games" in public.

Oh no I firmly believe Sterling is a racist.  Just like I firmly believe DeVos is a homophobe.  I just don't think that should matter and have a real issue with the NBA dictating their beliefs (even if I agree with them) on others, especially when there doesn't appear to be any real discrimination at play (if Sterling was refusing to allow blacks at his games or if he was refusing to draft or sign black players, that is a different issue, but he isn't here).  It is a dangerous game the NBA is playing and a very slippery slope. 

I also have a problem with the total and utter hypocrisy of the league's position.  DeVos has for years publicly spoken against homosexuality and has donated millions of dollars to anti-homosexual causes.  Yet the league does nothing.  Jordan, as a player, said things far more offensive than anything Sterling said, yet the league embraces him with open arms.  Cuban apparently went as far to hire a FBI investigator to investigate the league's officials, yet the league does nothing. 

[D.o.s.]

Again, it's about the economic bottom line. Jordan, DeVos, etc. never had the fallout potential that Sterling's tapes did. Some of that is timing, some of it is what he said, and some of it is that the Clippers are now LA's marquee team, but none of it has to do with morality.

[Moranis]

Again, it's about the economic bottom line. Jordan, DeVos, etc. never had the fallout potential that Sterling's tapes did. Some of that is timing, some of it is what he said, and some of it is that the Clippers are now LA's marquee team, but none of it has to do with morality.

But is there really an economic bottom line?  Last time I checked all of the Clippers games, post-tapes, were sell outs.  People still watched their games on tv. 

[nickagneta]

I am a firm believer that the NBA would be better overall without Sterling. He's a racist and needs to go. But so does a homophobe like DeVoes.

That said, I don't see that Sterling's comments have caused undue economic distress on the league as much it has his own team. I believe the league is disguising a moral stance on racist comments by Sterling in a package of possible economic ramifications to get the outcome they want from the moral perspective. If they could have thrown him out just for the racist comments they would have but they can't. They have to show it has broken NBA by laws and contracts, financial stuff.

So if they are going to take the moral ground and do the right thing with Sterling, they should do the right thing with all owners that have counter current societal views, such as racism, homophobia, sexism, etc. If they want to wrap those proceedings in a blanket of excuses about possible lost money for the league as a whole, go ahead and do it. But what you do for one issue, they should do for all issues or none at all.

Just the way I see it.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

DeVos doesn't have to be illegally recorded, he has said those things publically.  Heck there was even a boycott in 2012 of the Magic as a result of his views.  http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/orlando-magic-amway-boycotted-anti-gay-marriage-donation/story?id=16812037

http://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/while-were-on-the-subject-the-orlando-magics-owner-is-vehemently-opposed-to-gay-rights/

Re: the Sports Grid story by Jake O'Donnell: I love it when non-Christians tell Christians how Christians are supposed to act.