NBA Commish: 'I Fully Expect' To Get Votes To Strip Sterling's Ownership (+ several more articles)
DYLAN SCOTT – APRIL 29, 2014, 2:46 PM EDT
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that he fully expects to get the necessary votes from the league's other owners to strip Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling of his ownership of the team.
Sterling was banned for life after his racially charged remarks, and Silver announced Tuesday that he would ask the other league owners to remove him as an owner.
The NBA constitution requires three-fourths of the league's 30 owners to vote to strip Sterling of his ownership, Sterling said.
"I didn't poll the owners. I spoke to several owners and I have their full support," Silver said Tuesday at the news conference announcing the sanctions. Asked again later, Silver added: "I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him."
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/adam-silver-strip-ownership-donald-sterling
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LA Mayor Thanks NBA For 'Bringing Down The Hammer'
IGOR BOBIC – APRIL 29, 2014, 2:50 PM EDT
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti thanked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for "bringing down the hammer" by deciding to fine and ban LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life after he made racist comments to his girlfriend.
"I want to make clear that what we just heard today isn't just about basketball," he said in a press conference. "It stands for tolerance, diversity, it stands for civil rights, break-throughs, and most of all it stands for basketball excellence."
"We may be a two-team town, but today we're behind one team, and the players of the Los Angeles clippers who tonight we want to know that we love you, we are behind you, and that today we feel like justice has begun to be served," he added. "Today we say we will not tolerate this from anybody, from any company, least of all one that bears this great city's name. I want to thank commissioner silver for bringing down the hammer, for being as strong as he could be, for saying that none of us as Americans and certainly not as Angelenos will stand for the sort of racism that we heard articulated."
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/la-garcetti-sterling-hammer
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Kevin Johnson: Let Sterling Be An Example To 'Every Bigot In This Country'
CATHERINE THOMPSON – APRIL 29, 2014, 3:00 PM EDT
Former NBA All-Star and current Sacramento, Calif. Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's lifetime ban from the NBA should serve as an example to "every bigot in this country."
"It doesn't matter if you are a professional basketball player worth millions of dollars, or a man or woman who works hard for their family," Johnson said in an NBA Players Association press conference. "There will be zero tolerance for institutional racism, no matter how rich or powerful."
"I want to also say this is a very stark reminder that we still have a lot of work to do," he later added. "Yes, we have an African-American president. Yes, justice happened in a swift manner and forceful, yes, that occurred today. But these events remind all of us that hatred and bigotry are far from over. I hope that every bigot in this country sees what happened to Mr. Sterling and recognizes that if he can fall, so can you."
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/kevin-johnson-donald-sterling-an-example-for-bigots
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 'Thrilled' With NBA Decision To Ban Sterling
CAITLIN MACNEAL – APRIL 29, 2014, 3:12 PM EDT
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Tuesday praised NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's decision to ban Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his racist comments.
"I'm just thrilled with what Commissioner Silver did. He got on the case immediately and got to the bottom of whatever mysteries that there were involved in this, and figured out what the truth was and his actions and focus were so on the mark. It was unbelievable," he said in a press conference following the NBA's announcement.
"I think most of the players I've spoken to just since the press conference feel the same way, and we're looking forward to some very positive changes that will make this city an even more wonderful place than it already is."
On Monday, Abdul-Jabbar suggested in a blog post for Time that Sterling's racist rant was at least partially his girlfriend's fault.
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/kareem-thrilled-sterling-banned
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NAACP: Sterling Sanctions Are 'Welcomed And Supported'
DYLAN SCOTT – APRIL 29, 2014, 3:09 PM EDT
The NAACP praised the National Basketball Association's decision Tuesday to ban Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life and seek to strip him of his ownership.
"The NAACP is pleased the NBA is taking swift and strong action against Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his racist and offensive remarks," the group said in a statement.
The scope of the sanctions -- lifetime ban, maximum $2.5 million fine and a vote to remove Sterling as an owner -- "is both welcomed and supported," it said.
The NAACP's Los Angeles chapter had attracted questions after Sterling's racially charged remarks were reported because it had been planning to give him a lifetime achievement award. After the remarks became public, the branch chose not to give him the award.
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/naacp-welcomes-sterling-sanctions