The finest human being in sport is also, thank God, the most powerful.
On February 1, 2014 Adam Silver became commissioner of the NBA. On April 25, less than three months on the job, Donald Sterling exploded in Adam's lap. The Sterling racist audio recordings presaged the rise to power in America of racists like Donald Trump and his supporters including my-brother-the-Klansman. The Sterling audios were to the NBA, 70% of whose players are black, as Trump was to the former U.S.A., a threat to its continued existence. Players on the Los Angeles "Clippers," the franchise Sterling owned, turned their jerseys inside out to hide the team name and logo. There was talk of players boycotting games.
Adam's response on April 29 was a terrible swift sword:
Shortly after the release of an audio recording this past Saturday morning of a conversation that allegedly included Clippers owner Donald Sterling, the NBA commenced an investigation, which among other things, included an interview of Mr. Sterling.
That investigation is now complete. The central findings of the investigation are that the man whose voice is heard on the recording and on a second recording from the same conversation that was released on Sunday is Mr. Sterling and that the hateful opinions voiced by that man are those of Mr. Sterling.
The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful; that they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage.
Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league.
I am personally distraught that the views expressed by Mr. Sterling came from within an institution that has historically taken such a leadership role in matters of race relations and caused current and former players, coaches, fans and partners of the NBA to question their very association with the league.
To them, and pioneers of the game like Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, Sweetwater Clifton, the great Bill Russell, and particularly Magic Johnson, I apologize. Accordingly, effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life
from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA. Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices. He may not be present at any Clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team.
He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings or participating in any other league activity.
I am also fining Mr. Sterling $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA constitution. These funds will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and its Players Association.
As for Mr. Sterling's ownership interest in the Clippers, I will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team and will do everything in my power to ensure that that happens. This has been a painful moment for all members of the NBA family. I appreciate the support and understanding of our players during this process, and I am particularly grateful for the leadership shown by Coach Doc Rivers, Union President Chris Paul and Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento, who has been acting as the players' representative in this matter.
We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views. They simply have no place in the NBA.
Thank you.
And, "everything in my power" was enough to force the sale of the "Clippers" to Steve Ballmer exactly one month later. Glory, glory hallelujah. In less than four months on the job Adam had removed the greatest existential threat ever posed to the NBA, exercised such commanding leadership, acted with more moral suasion, and exhibited bigger cojones than anyone in American sport since Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Mine eyes have seen the glory.
Comes now the failing National Concussion League whose future with CTE deniers, like climate deniers is following the trajectories of boxing and cock fighting into the dustbin of history and of bankrupting lawsuits. In search of a non-concussed commissioner of their own, various jackals and hyenas among ownership in Trump's favorite sport have approached Adam repeatedly since his stand atop Kennesaw Mountain. Take our league. Please! No. Adam immediately said no. The jackals cometh...No and hell no, Adam has repulsed the repeated comings of the repulsive jackals of the concussed white and red racist league. Adam is white on the outside but he's covered with black and blue. You stole the country, you’re not getting Adam Silver. Ring up Trump, he'll be looking for work soon.
On February 1, 2014 Adam Silver became commissioner of the NBA. On April 25, less than three months on the job, Donald Sterling exploded in Adam's lap. The Sterling racist audio recordings presaged the rise to power in America of racists like Donald Trump and his supporters including my-brother-the-Klansman. The Sterling audios were to the NBA, 70% of whose players are black, as Trump was to the former U.S.A., a threat to its continued existence. Players on the Los Angeles "Clippers," the franchise Sterling owned, turned their jerseys inside out to hide the team name and logo. There was talk of players boycotting games.
Adam's response on April 29 was a terrible swift sword:
Shortly after the release of an audio recording this past Saturday morning of a conversation that allegedly included Clippers owner Donald Sterling, the NBA commenced an investigation, which among other things, included an interview of Mr. Sterling.
That investigation is now complete. The central findings of the investigation are that the man whose voice is heard on the recording and on a second recording from the same conversation that was released on Sunday is Mr. Sterling and that the hateful opinions voiced by that man are those of Mr. Sterling.
The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful; that they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage.
Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league.
I am personally distraught that the views expressed by Mr. Sterling came from within an institution that has historically taken such a leadership role in matters of race relations and caused current and former players, coaches, fans and partners of the NBA to question their very association with the league.
To them, and pioneers of the game like Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, Sweetwater Clifton, the great Bill Russell, and particularly Magic Johnson, I apologize. Accordingly, effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life
He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings or participating in any other league activity.
I am also fining Mr. Sterling $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA constitution. These funds will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and its Players Association.
As for Mr. Sterling's ownership interest in the Clippers, I will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team and will do everything in my power to ensure that that happens. This has been a painful moment for all members of the NBA family. I appreciate the support and understanding of our players during this process, and I am particularly grateful for the leadership shown by Coach Doc Rivers, Union President Chris Paul and Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento, who has been acting as the players' representative in this matter.
We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views. They simply have no place in the NBA.
Thank you.
And, "everything in my power" was enough to force the sale of the "Clippers" to Steve Ballmer exactly one month later. Glory, glory hallelujah. In less than four months on the job Adam had removed the greatest existential threat ever posed to the NBA, exercised such commanding leadership, acted with more moral suasion, and exhibited bigger cojones than anyone in American sport since Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Mine eyes have seen the glory.
Comes now the failing National Concussion League whose future with CTE deniers, like climate deniers is following the trajectories of boxing and cock fighting into the dustbin of history and of bankrupting lawsuits. In search of a non-concussed commissioner of their own, various jackals and hyenas among ownership in Trump's favorite sport have approached Adam repeatedly since his stand atop Kennesaw Mountain. Take our league. Please! No. Adam immediately said no. The jackals cometh...No and hell no, Adam has repulsed the repeated comings of the repulsive jackals of the concussed white and red racist league. Adam is white on the outside but he's covered with black and blue. You stole the country, you’re not getting Adam Silver. Ring up Trump, he'll be looking for work soon.
