I don’t blame him.
He said something which was stupid.
He did nothing that was criminal.
What ever happened to the concept of private property rights?
Whatever happened to due process?
The concept of private property rights is thrown out, in this politically correct world we live in.
In this world, you say something which is considered objectionable by the politically correct crowd, and you are history. That’s the plan.
RE: He said something which was stupid.
In the privacy of his home.
You don't have private property rights when you purchase an NBA team.
When this goes to court, the Contract and NBA League Agreement that Sterling was required to sign when he purchased the Clippers will be examined by the Courts.
If the courts find that Sterling violated the contract or league agreement, they'll likely uphold the fine imposed and demand for sale also.
If the courts find that Sterling did NOT violate the contract or league agreement then Commisioner Silver and the rest of the League Owners are going to be in quite a pickle aren't they?
Then again, so will Sterling. He'll either run that team into the ground via diminishing sale price and a team no one wants to play for, or he'll cut his personal/emotional losses and sell the team for 800+ million dollars.
NBA teams are not private property. Each owner had to sign a league agreement which specifies terms of ownership of the team. If those terms of ownership are violated, the league does have it in its power to fine an owner and force sale.
That's one of the "costs" of being an NBA owner.
Exactly. He did NOTHING CRIMINAL. Stupid? Yes! Criminal? No! Tell them to take their fine and shove it.
He owns a franchise, which isn’t private property.
More importantly, where did the recording come from and who released it? In California the way in which the recording was made is illegal. Mark Levin did a commentary in this, where he pointed out that according to the NBA’s constitution the commissioner did not have the authority to levy a $2.5 million fine. I would fight it too and force the issue. Again, how was the conversation recorded and obtained? The law is squarely on Sterling’s side.