POLITICALLY CORRECT THOUGHT POLICE DANGER: NBA Suspends Clippers’ Owner Donald Sterling For Life, Imposes $2.5 Million Fine
He may be a racist and an asshole, but where is it written that the politically correct thought police can suspend decency and fair play to punish a man who has not committed a crime?
At the worst, Sterling breached his contract with the NBA and should suffer the consequences of his act. All based on a private discussion that was leaked to the media by a person or persons unknown to pursue their own hidden agenda. I hope the authorities investigate the release of this recording as a crime – possibly illegal recording, theft of confidential information, releasing a communication they did not own, extortion, blackmail,etc.
While I understand that the National Basketball Association may have the contractual right to discipline anyone who brings unfavorable publicity to the enterprise and/or damages his teams effectiveness, suspending Donald Sterling for life and imposing a $2.5 million dollar fine seems commensurate with the public’s outrage and the player’s revulsion. And, while I can understand severing his relationship with the NBA and the Clippers, preventing him from attending NBA games as a private citizen is a little much.
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Commissioner Silver has fined Mr. Sterling $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA Constitution. The fine money will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and the Players Association. As part of the lifetime ban, Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings and participating in any other league activity. Commissioner Silver will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team. The discipline issued today is based on the Commissioner's conclusion that Mr. Sterling violated league rules through his expressions of offensive and hurtful views, the impact of which has been widely felt throughout the league. |
If the commissioner attempts to force the sale of the Clippers, that is way beyond the pale. I am sure that the team’s sponsorships and other economic conditions will resolve the issue without the Commissioner’s need to “force” the sale of the team; although his approval is needed for any sale to take place. This is where market forces resolve issues in the private sector rather than the requirement for some government entity to intervene. I can see the billionaires lining up to grab a piece of the action. Providing Sterling with hundreds of millions in profits.
I am pleased that the Commissioner, at the very least, took the step to verify the authenticity of the recording using a forensic audio expert before taking action.
Bottom line …
A man’s reputation, career, and business has been destroyed by remarks made in private – and released to the public by someone with their own agenda. Possibly his alleged girlfriend who was facing a lawsuit for $1.8 million and seeking to recover property, vehicles, and other gifts bestowed by Sterling.
But, since most of us say hurtful or harmful things sometimes in our lives, whether said in the heat of the moment or not, I pray that we do not encounter a vindictive miscreant who will create havoc with our life. As for $2.5 million payday for the grievance industry and race hustlers, I hope the money goes to groups that repair race relations and not the parasites exploiting race and hurt for their own profit.
And, for all of the Blacks dancing around with glee at the downfall of Donald Sterling, what would happen if someone recorded your private conversation about racial issues and whites and released it to your employer? Just saying that this is a very, very slippery slope.
-- steve
“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw
“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”
“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell “Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar “Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS