The NBA basketball thread 2013-2014

[gambit]

Sterling gets lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine. Not sure exactly of all the details but this is big and the new commissioner has some huge huevos, unlike Stern.

[RJRJRJ]

[quote name='gambit' timestamp='1398796060' post='9196789']
Sterling gets lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine. Not sure exactly of all the details but this is big and the new commissioner has some huge huevos, unlike Stern.
[/quote]

The commish said they will force him to sell the team, and the process will begin immediately.

[mnplayer]

Well done by Silver. Also sounds like the lifetime ban will be sustained even if he fights being forced to sell.

[gambit]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1398796233' post='9196811']
[quote name='gambit' timestamp='1398796060' post='9196789']
Sterling gets lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine. Not sure exactly of all the details but this is big and the new commissioner has some huge huevos, unlike Stern.
[/quote]

The commish said they will force him to sell the team, and the process will begin immediately.
[/quote]

Commish is past his first big test with flying colors, but someone correct me if I'm wrong, but all of the owners had to agree that he needs to go right?

[mnplayer]

I think they just need 75%

[RJRJRJ]

yeah 75%, and while they haven't formally voted, he basically made it sound like he had already spoken to them and won't have a problem getting it done.

[RJRJRJ]

Anybody know if the owners votes are anonymous?

EDIT: What I'm getting at was just confirmed with a clip I saw of Mark Cuban where he essentially made it sound like he would not vote to kick Sterling out. While the owners may disagree with Sterling, they would be setting a precedent that could come back to harm any one of them in the future.

[tocino]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1398798817' post='9197143']
Anybody know if the owners votes are anonymous?

EDIT: What I'm getting at was just confirmed with a clip I saw of Mark Cuban where he essentially made it sound like he would not vote to kick Sterling out. While the owners may disagree with Sterling, they would be setting a precedent that could come back to harm any one of them in the future.
[/quote]

I'm going to guess that it is anonymous or at the very least, the owners will know who voted what but the nba will never tell anyone

[somaplr]

Silver dropped the hammer on him!

[mnplayer]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1398798817' post='9197143']
Anybody know if the owners votes are anonymous?

EDIT: What I'm getting at was just confirmed with a clip I saw of Mark Cuban where he essentially made it sound like he would not vote to kick Sterling out. While the owners may disagree with Sterling, they would be setting a precedent that could come back to harm any one of them in the future.
[/quote]

Cuban also tweeted today that he fully supported Silver, but you're right his tweets yesterday made it seem as if he was worried about the precedent they would be setting.

[baseballfrk8998]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1398737141' post='9192021']I wonder if the league now wishes that they would have allowed CP3 to Lakers vs giving him to Sterlings Clippers.[/quote]

You ever gonna let that go?

[tocino]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1398795874' post='9196759']
Well apparently they're forcing Sterling to sell. Wonder how this is gonna play out. I don't see him stepping down without a fight.
[/quote]

he's going to sue. at least this time, the nba has deeper pockets than all those former tenants/employees he's had. He's not going to win this one

[gambit]

A gold digger brings an NBA franchise to its knees and could have seriously crippled the league.

Word of advice: if you got one on the side don't trust her...she's just a side trick.

[MtlJeff]

The reaction from people has been professional, Just now Kenny and Charles and the TNT crew made some good points. And obviously i agree with the decision by the league.

What was unfortunate was the amount of baiting and insults basically thrown at all the other owners (and america in general) over the last 4-5 days by the mainstream media.

At the end of the day the league punished Sterling---severely, for his comments. It's the most significant punishment handed to an owner, maybe ever, based on 1 action. And from the sounds of it he will have the support of the other owners to force him out

So it's disappointing that more people (especially sites like ESPN and Grantland) did not wait to see this swift decision, before comparing the NBA to a plantation, or the "old south", implying that the league somehow promoted "old boy" owners like Sterling.

Charles said it, the owners and the players are in this together. And they showed today there's no place for Sterling. Really there is no story here other then justice was appropriately served

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

If the Thunder want to win tonight, they need to bench ball hog Fisher and give the rock to Durant every possession.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

It's an abomination that Joey Crawford is still officiating in this league. He is a bigger embarrassment to the sport than Sterling.

[scratchswinger]

Wow just beautiful stuff that the entire league was willing to sit tonight! Sterling finally got what he had coming for years, it simply baffles my mind that this came as a surprise to anyone that lives near/around LA. The man has been a known racist for years.

Anyone that has not seen Snoop Doggs reaction needs to watch it.

[TheGameChanger]

Disappointing end to the season. Atleast Boozer won't be around next season I hope.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

Is Silver going to go after the homophobic owner now? I think it's the Magic owner that made those comments. Hope so. Bigotry of any kind has no place in society.

[RJRJRJ]

[quote name='Rock Chalk Jayhawk' timestamp='1398827211' post='9201075']
Is Silver going to go after the homophobic owner now? I think it's the Magic owner that made those comments. Hope so. Bigotry of any kind has no place in society.
[/quote]

See though, this is the problem I think a lot of owners will have when it comes time to vote him out. Do they want to fear that something they say at a party or that some of their beliefs might wind them up in the exact same situation?

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1398827447' post='9201101'][quote name='Rock Chalk Jayhawk' timestamp='1398827211' post='9201075']
Is Silver going to go after the homophobic owner now? I think it's the Magic owner that made those comments. Hope so. Bigotry of any kind has no place in society.
[/quote]

See though, this is the problem I think a lot of owners will have when it comes time to vote him out. Do they want to fear that something they say at a party or that some of their beliefs might wind them up in the exact same situation?[/quote]

Welcome to the world of us normal people. If I get caught on tape saying something bigoted and my boss or HR dept finds out, I'm getting fired.

[somaplr]

It's a slippery slope. Some claim religious beliefs...so where is the line drawn. Can Silver ban anyone now with a little bit of pressure? If an owner makes an off color comment at a cocktail party is that going on the record? How many of us have said something stupid after a few cocktails before?

I fully support Silvers decision I'm just not sure where you draw the line. The difference between Silver and the Magic owner is that Sterling has a very developed history of behavior. It amazes me that people in the media are shocked by this - as Sterling has been like this for 3 decades. I'm very supportive of all equal rights, but I'm just not sure where you draw the line.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

Wow what a steal by Westbrook!

[tocino]

If this was the first instance of sterlings racism coming out I could see a temp ban. But with his past actions he should've been punished awhile ago

[TheWoat]

This game is hard to watch as a Warrior fan.

Interesting to hear ex players tell their "Sterling" stories now, when they were silent while in the league. Sterling was a known cancer years ago by many, yet no one did anything. That part still bothers me.

[scratchswinger]

[quote name='somaplr' timestamp='1398829323' post='9201281']
It's a slippery slope. Some claim religious beliefs...so where is the line drawn. Can Silver ban anyone now with a little bit of pressure? If an owner makes an off color comment at a cocktail party is that going on the record? How many of us have said something stupid after a few cocktails before?

I fully support Silvers decision I'm just not sure where you draw the line. The difference between Silver and the Magic owner is that Sterling has a very developed history of behavior. It amazes me that people in the media are shocked by this - as Sterling has been like this for 3 decades. I'm very supportive of all equal rights, but I'm just not sure where you draw the line.
[/quote]

Yeah I can see both sides of it... If they kick him out they are sending a message, but what message are they sending? Just like you mention the cocktail party I am sure the owners are thinking the same thing. Flip side is that every situation is unique and these things are normally treated on a case by case scenario, so I think most reasonable people would have empathy towards one drunken comment vs Sterling and his decades of prejudice allegations.

If they don't vote him out does that mean he still profits off the Clippers and is just banned from attending or having and stake in the team other than profit? If that is the case then won't all players and coaches want to leave so they are not contributing to his bank account?

[sefus12]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1398827447' post='9201101']
[quote name='Rock Chalk Jayhawk' timestamp='1398827211' post='9201075']
Is Silver going to go after the homophobic owner now? I think it's the Magic owner that made those comments. Hope so. Bigotry of any kind has no place in society.
[/quote]

See though, this is the problem I think a lot of owners will have when it comes time to vote him out. Do they want to fear that something they say at a party or that some of their beliefs might wind them up in the exact same situation?
[/quote]

And this is the exact point Cuban was making. Yes, everyone agrees that Sterling deserved to be punished as severely as possible, but now that a precedent is set, how far will the league take it when someone cries discrimination or simply being offended? Again, I agree with the Sterling punishment but I really hope the league doesn't use that as a springboard to try and impose some sort of singular-minded all-encompassing moral code. It's easy to offend people and I just don't want to see punishment being thrown around anytime someone says something that may offend someone. I don't think it will happen, but I also 100% see where Cuban was coming from.

On, and big congrats to the Wizards. Good to see my boy John Wall (big UK fan here) helping get that team to the second round. The game was tough to watch, but I'm glad the Wizards are advancing.

[sanjaygolf]

[quote name='somaplr' timestamp='1398829323' post='9201281']
It's a slippery slope. Some claim religious beliefs...so where is the line drawn. Can Silver ban anyone now with a little bit of pressure? If an owner makes an off color comment at a cocktail party is that going on the record? How many of us have said something stupid after a few cocktails before?

I fully support Silvers decision I'm just not sure where you draw the line. The difference between Silver and the Magic owner is that Sterling has a very developed history of behavior. It amazes me that people in the media are shocked by this - as Sterling has been like this for 3 decades. I'm very supportive of all equal rights, but I'm just not sure where you draw the line.
[/quote]

That's my problem with such a big penalty. If the ban was for an accumulation of Sterling being a d-bag then I'm fine with the outcome but if it was for this one isolated incident of him being privately taped, saying racist stuff then it's a little harsh. I'm sure plenty of players and others say the N-word and homophobic slurs (Kobe) but it shouldn't be a rule that everybody should like everyone else. Now if he's actively discriminating then that's a different thing. The NBA and Clippers are better off without Sterling but it does make it a slippery slope.

[somaplr]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1398833133' post='9201515']
[quote name='somaplr' timestamp='1398829323' post='9201281']
It's a slippery slope. Some claim religious beliefs...so where is the line drawn. Can Silver ban anyone now with a little bit of pressure? If an owner makes an off color comment at a cocktail party is that going on the record? How many of us have said something stupid after a few cocktails before?

I fully support Silvers decision I'm just not sure where you draw the line. The difference between Silver and the Magic owner is that Sterling has a very developed history of behavior. It amazes me that people in the media are shocked by this - as Sterling has been like this for 3 decades. I'm very supportive of all equal rights, but I'm just not sure where you draw the line.
[/quote]

Yeah I can see both sides of it... If they kick him out they are sending a message, but what message are they sending? Just like you mention the cocktail party I am sure the owners are thinking the same thing. Flip side is that every situation is unique and these things are normally treated on a case by case scenario, so I think most reasonable people would have empathy towards one drunken comment vs Sterling and his decades of prejudice allegations.

If they don't vote him out does that mean he still profits off the Clippers and is just banned from attending or having and stake in the team other than profit? If that is the case then won't all players and coaches want to leave so they are not contributing to his bank account?
[/quote]

If they vote him out, he has to sell ("has to sell" is a rudimentary term at this point, do they think Stern is going to take this laying down and fade away? That man loves the spot light - this is a same guy that takes his jump-off chick to courtside games) and pay the viable state of California capital gain tax on his business, which he bought in 1981 for like $20M. So he has a capital gain tax of 25% + the 1.2% new tax + a few other that coincide. When all said and done he'll be paying about 35% tax on the gain of $700-800 million dollars (I think we'll have a bidding war - the Buck just went for $600M - The Bucks!).

If they do not reach the 75% majority, which they probably will...because what NBA owner is foolish enough to vote against that and be vilified by the media, but let's just say they don't - he can keep the team and profit from it but can not go to games, can not be involved in financial decisions and can not hire or fire coaches/players.

[somaplr]

[quote name='sanjaygolf' timestamp='1398867828' post='9203035']
[quote name='somaplr' timestamp='1398829323' post='9201281']
It's a slippery slope. Some claim religious beliefs...so where is the line drawn. Can Silver ban anyone now with a little bit of pressure? If an owner makes an off color comment at a cocktail party is that going on the record? How many of us have said something stupid after a few cocktails before?

I fully support Silvers decision I'm just not sure where you draw the line. The difference between Silver and the Magic owner is that Sterling has a very developed history of behavior. It amazes me that people in the media are shocked by this - as Sterling has been like this for 3 decades. I'm very supportive of all equal rights, but I'm just not sure where you draw the line.
[/quote]

That's my problem with such a big penalty. If the ban was for an accumulation of Sterling being a d-bag then I'm fine with the outcome but if it was for this one isolated incident of him being privately taped, saying racist stuff then it's a little harsh. I'm sure plenty of players and others say the N-word and homophobic slurs (Kobe) but it shouldn't be a rule that everybody should like everyone else. Now if he's actively discriminating then that's a different thing. The NBA and Clippers are better off without Sterling but it does make it a slippery slope.
[/quote]

Yeah - that's the thing though. Adam Silver said yesterday that they didn't take into consideration any prior actions - they said they were using the evidence in front of their face. It was a Cover Your Butt move by the NBA, but it inadvertently set a precedent for years to come.