Sterling Losing His Clippers?

Donald Sterling is currently the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, professional NBA team. He has been the owner for 33 years and that may come to an end pretty soon. He is not the youngest in the business but he loves his team with all of the heart he has, which nowadays nobody sees. Not long ago, an audio of Sterling that shocked many was released. In the audio he was making racist comments about people on his team and other teams. So the commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver, had to make a tough decision and what to do about Sterling. He came up with a decision that everybody wanted to happen, he banned Sterling from the NBA for life and is possibly forcing Sterling to sell the NBA.

Sterling, though, will do anything to get away from his ban and keep his team. But if the 75% of the 29 teams vote to ban him, he is gone. Many of the LA Clippers fans also want Sterling gone from the NBA, storming the headquarters and Staples Center, home of the Clippers (and Lakers), with signs saying Sterling needs to go and the Clippers need a new owner. Even players want Sterling gone, from his own team and others in the NBA. The owner of the Sacramento Kings, Vivek Ranadive, says he would be surprised if the vote to ban Sterling was not unanimous.

Sterling plans to sue the NBA if he is voted to be banned and is forced to sell the team. This is an extreme thing that people think would take years to settle if he does decide to sue them. If Sterling sues, he would likely base his case on language in the NBA constitution that deals with conduct that constitutes “willful acts,” a term that can be difficult to interpret and enforce. Sterling will not stop until he is 100% forced to sell his team or has his team back so this could take a very long time to settle. If he is forced to sell, though, there are a few buyers of the team. Ex-Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer is willing to buy the franchise for $2 billion, but Sterling is will not oppose a sell at all. Sterlings wife, Shelly Sterling, seems to also want to sell some, if not all of the team. That is because she said herself, “I am delighted that we are selling the team to Steve, who will be a terrific owner.” Ballmer said he loves basketball and will do “everything in my power to ensure that the Clippers continue to win — and win big — in Los Angeles.”

So Sterling may have messed up big, and whether it will cost him his team or not has yet to be decided. If he does sue the NBA it will be broadcasted everywhere and will be something big because this is a huge deal in the world today. Sterling does not want to sell his team what-so-ever although his wife does not seem to mind. There are buyers, but Donald Sterling is a hard headed man who does not want to sell the team he loves. Where this will go next, nobody knows but all we can do is wait and find out.