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Newly appointed NBA commissioner Adam Silver has
thrown the book at Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, over
racist remarks he made during a telephone call to his girlfriend
Vanessa Stiviano. Sterling engaged in discrimination by demanding
that Stiviano not bring black people to his Los Angeles Clippers
games. TMZ aired the tape on its website and show. Sterling‘s
comments left many appalled.
Donald Sterling and wife Rochelle out to dinner on Sunday
night in downtown Los Angeles
As the NBA is a group of teams that comprise a
franchise, the regulatory commission is able to assess penalties and
fines for inappropriate behavior that brings disrepute on any or all
of its teams by default. Team owners sign binding contracts pledging
to abide by league rules.
Donald Sterling
Sterling has been banned for life from the NBA and
slapped with a $2,500,000 fine. Silver also stated he will do his
best to impress upon other team owners in the league the necessity
to compel Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers. This is the
correct course of action. It is in the best interest of the NBA.
Donald Sterling, pictured here smiling on Sunday night, has
not issued an apology for his offensive comments
Sterling’s comments have upset millions of people,
who don’t want a side order of racism with their basketball. The NBA
has treated black people very well, which is why Sterling’s comments
floored so many members of the public. However, his comments are his
own and the league should work to move on and rebound from his
scandal (and it can).
