The NBA expels Sterling and will be fine with almost two million

Banned for life. The NBA was quick and sudden as a guillotine with the racist comments of Donald Sterling. No matter whether the billionaire owner of the Clippers; Dean, since acquired the franchise in Los Angeles in 1981. Never mind the legal conditions which may lead to lengthy litigation. Never mind that the investigation into phone records that Sterling made the comments in question has only lasted a couple of days.

Adam Silver, NBA commissioner David Stern relieved that last February, no pulse trembled when taking the first big and tricky decision that has faced. Direct and unambiguous, issued within minutes the largest penalty imposed on a manager in the history of professional sports in the United States by racism: the expulsion of Sterling NBA and the maximum fine of $ 2.5 million, EUR 1.8 million of which will be dedicated to the fight against discrimination. “We are united in condemning the opinion of Mr. Sterling. These comments simply do not belong in the NBA. This league is much larger than one owner, a coach or any player,” said Silver. Sterling will have to sell the team if three quarters of the other 29 owners agree with the recommendation of Silver.

The expulsion of the owner of a sports franchise is unprecedented in the United States. Marge Schott, the president and owner of the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball, was suspended for two years, in 1996, by making a pro-Nazi comments and slandering blacks and Jews.

Players, owners clubs, spokespersons of the struggle for civil rights and to the U.S. President, Barack Obama, had cried out against racism in Sterling and had requested a quick and exemplary punishment. Numerous sponsors Clippers announced their determination to break their contracts with the franchise.

In essence, the most hurtful phrases Sterling in his conversation April 9 with his Mexican girlfriend, V. Stiviano, after it published a photograph on Instagram with the legendary player Magic Johnson, were: ” It really bothers me that you spread you’re interacting with black people. Have to? You can sleep with them. You can get them here. You can do whatever you want. The little that I ask is that promotions do not, do not take them to my parties, which do not bring the flag. Magic Do not put there in Instagram, for the world to see and then have to have to call me. And do not bring him to my party Why do you do pictures with minorities? “. The conversation was recorded by TMZ Sports, a U.S. media.

The penalty was announced hours before the fifth game of the playoffs will be played between the Clippers and Golden State at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Players from the Clippers in the fourth match in Oakland, appeared with training shirts inside out, threw their tracksuits at center court before the game started and wore black armbands or wristbands to protest comments the owner the franchise.

Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks, tweeted shortly before the decision, a photo with the rules of the NBA and the text: “There is for some reason.” After the penalty, LeBron James, Miami known star and the NBA said: ” Thank you for protecting our Silver powerful and wonderful Liga. Great leader. “

Sterling is a billionaire octogenarian – Saturday was his birthday – which has often been accused of strange and inappropriate behavior. In 1986, however, was one of the first owners of NBA teams that hired a black general manager Elgin Baylor, who, two decades later, he filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination based on age and racial discrimination.

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Posted by Abdul Basit Abbasi on May 2 2014. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.