What to Do About Donald Sterling?

Who says money can't buy everything?


I don't have a favorite NBA team and I have never pulled for an LA team even though I was born and raised there. In the last couple of years, however, it has been nice to see the LA Clippers, perennial doormats and playing in the shadow of the Lakers, rise to near the top. I was hoping to see either the Clippers, Spurs, or Bobcats go all the way. Well, make that the Clippers or Spurs.

Now comes Donald Sterling, the 81-year-old billionaire jerk who owns the Clippers with his comments, apparently taped by his erstwhile girlfriend and turned over to TMZ. It seems Sterling has (or had) a comely young hottie for a girlfriend who is of mixed black and Mexican heritage, which was OK for Sterling as long as she didn't publicize having black or Hispanic friends-or bring them to the Clipper games.

All that has come out in the now-famous 9-minute taped conversation which she secretly recorded.


https://movies.yahoo.com/news/clippers-respond-racist-remarks-attributed-owner-donald-sterling-230000577.html

"We are investigating this matter.”
-Clippers statement

Right. And the Justice Department is investigating Eric Holder. Donald Sterling is the Clippers.

Sterling has owned the Clippers for 30 years, and this is far from the first time he has embarrassed the franchise. Assuming the tape is authentic, I don't know what the NBA can do to get this guy to sell the team. Sterling lives in his own bubble and seems immune to what others think about him.

But how do you have an owner of a professional sports franchise who says these things-especially in a sport where black players are so prominent? How in the world are the Clippers going to attack black players to join their team in the future as long as Sterling is the owner?

Today, sports radio was all over this even interviewing guess who-Al Sharpton, who opined that the league either has to get rid of Sterling or consider disbanding the Clipper franchise. (Wouldn't the Lakers love that at this point in time?)  No word on how Al Sharpton would do as an owner if he had Korean or Jewish players.

I feel particularly bad for the Clippers' players and their coach Doc Rivers, who is also black. How they go forward in the playoffs with this added pressure added on is unknown. I still plan to root for the Clippers (the players) to win their series with Golden State. For the sake of the franchise, which has finally achieved excellence after so many dysfunctional years both on the court and in the front office, I hope that Sterling can be forced to sell the team.