Adam Silver stepped to the podium to make this first big decision as NBA Commissioner. Silver didn't even get to give away the Larry O'Brien Trophy yet before dealing with a massive crisis. Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling banned for life from the NBA, fined 2.5 million dollars and Silver requests the owners will make him sell the basketball team. Silver brought the hammer gaining immediate respect from the players, but you have to wonder what kind of precedent he setting going forward, Doc Rivers playing the 'Boy who cried wolf' and what would have David Stern done?
Silver had to make a statement. He has been commissioner since February 1st which is almost three months for those who care curious. If he came out and looked weak, other owners and players would want to take advantage of him. If Silver came in slight favor of Sterling saying 'We are going to continue to review it and suspend Sterling for the playoffs," Silver would lose the players in his first three months of having what could be a long-term job. Did he really want to go against the players in this case? Absolutely not.
He knew gaining their support would mean the world for other ventures Silver is planning in the coming years. Sure, it is about what Sterling said and did and how it cannot be tolerated yet at the same time, Silver knows damn well he now has some leeway with the players. He isn't a dumb man. Silver becoming a friend of the players and former players will help him in so many ways, and he can regain the owner's trust even though I really don't think many owners are thinking this morning that Silver went against them unless they are worried about the idea of 'forcing someone out for a private conversation.' And if that's the case, Silver needs to reassure them this is an extreme situation.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spoke out yesterday disowning Sterling's comments, but recognizing there would be a 'slippery slope' if the NBA forced an owner out in this type of situation. We first have to know if V. Stiviano had permission to tape things due to what Sterling told her, or if she did this out of spite because she finally had with his racism. It could be a mix of both honestly. But now owners might have to be even more careful with everything they say or do whether it be interactions with people, extramarital affairs (If you think Sterling is the only owner with a sidepiece, you are naive) and all sorts of business whether it be team-related or not. Owners will now be on red alert knowing they could get 'Sterling'd' if they take a wrong step in their private life.
It is such a tough line to walk here because you want everyone to be good, and if they are a piece of shit, there is no reason they should own a professional sports franchise. But at the same time, not everyone is a good human being. If you think otherwise, you live in a world where everyone eats candy all the time and unicorns roam freely. The fact of the matter is there are a lot of owners who know in their heart of hearts that they're kind of an asshole when not in the public eye. Maybe not a racist, but they probably have some awful things. As Kareem Abdul Jabbar put on Monday to TIME, 'This girl will get a book deal, reality show...' And guess what someone else will want to be the next V. Stiviano whether she or he is personally involved with the owner.
Doc Rivers has become a sympathetic character in this whole scenario because he didn't tow the company lie and said what he felt about the situation plus him being a black head coach adds a complete other element. But for Rivers to say, he didn't really know about Sterling's background is wrong and ridiculous. Doc knew damn well the owner he was working for when he inked the deal to be the Clippers coach. He just saw it as 'out of sight, out of mind' sort of thing. And then for Rivers to speak after Los Angeles' win against Golden State about Donald's wife, Shelly, who isn't not clean in this situation by any means about her 'love for the players' seems so flawed. Once again, Rivers escapes criticism because he is a lovable media type and went off the beaten path enough.
I keep coming back to David Stern. What would he have done? Stern and Sterling weren't enemies during his long tenure. Stern let him get away with MURDER in owner terms by allowing the Clippers to be hapless for so many years and all of his digressions throughout the years. No one will probably ever know as Stern remains completely mum on the situation. But there is a part of me that thinks he would not have went to the extremes of which Silver did on Tuesday afternoon.
It's a new era in Los Angeles.
Charlie.
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