So Much for A Peaceful Resolution With The Sterlings

((HT: ABC News/USA Today/The Score))

Donald Sterling has issued a 32-page response to the NBA in the league's fight to oust him from being owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. In the 32-page tome, he is basically telling the league to stick it...

Big time...

Sterling's response claims the recording was made illegally in the state of California and therefore is inadmissable in any court proceeding. The morals clause some feel Sterling violated with his words, in Sterling's view, is meant only as an idea that is associated with the operation of a basketball franchise- not words spoken in the home.

Also, Donald Sterling's attorneys feel the fine given to their client is excessive and, if the team is ordered to be sold, the capital gains taxes would be huge and cause an unnecessary strain on the Sterling's finances...

Got all that...???

Shelly Sterling is planning her own response as well...

From Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today:

Shelly Sterling's response, which is being made separate from her husband Donald, was due by midnight (ET) Tuesday after the NBA filed formal charges last week against Donald Sterling, accusing him of damaging the league with racist remarks.

By reasserting her position as the innocent 50% owner, Shelly Sterling is building on her case that she should be able to retain at least some ownership stake in the team. Meanwhile, she is trying to sell a controlling interest in the team after her husband authorized her to sell it on his behalf.

Oh...

Bank of America was being consulted by the Sterlings on a sale...
The HQ wonders if they have a retainer...

Here's the interview Shelly Sterling did with the "Today Show" about her husband's mental state- just as a refresher for the innocent 50-percent owner...
((HT: NBC News))

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Donald Sterling Talking Was A Bad Idea (UPDATED: Silver Responds)

((HT: CNN/youtube))

A terribly, horrificly-executed, oh-my-GAWD-why-in-the-blue-hell did you do this-and WHO TOLD YOU TO TALK TO CNN- kind of an interview that rambled and proved that the Clippers owner has no business being an owner of anything ever again...

Trying to garner sympathy early, the old man told stories about grandchildren...
This wasn't a bad gambit...


But then denigrating Magic Johnson in a deeply disturbing manner...
The transcript from Deadspin:

Here is a man.. he acts so holy. He made love to every girl in every girl in America in every city and he had AIDS. When he had those AIDS, I went to my synagogue and I prayed for him.

What has Magic Johnson done? He's got AIDS. Did he do any business? Did he help anybody in south L.A.? I think he should be ashamed of himself. What does he do for the black people? I'm telling you he does nothing. It's all talk.

I spent millions on giving away and helping minorities. Does he do that? That's one problem I have. Jews, when they get successful, they will help their people.

And some of the African-Americans, maybe I'll get in trouble again. They don't want to help anybody. What has Magic Johnson really done for Children's Hospital which kids are lying in the hallways. They are sick. They need a bed. What has he done for any hospital? What has he done for any group?

Seriously... that's where Sterling went...

"Those AIDS"

Here is a gentleman who just screams "white guy entitlement" and is out of touch with the rest of us.

He firmly believes his players love him- which they don't...

He is quite enamored with his own successes which lend themselves to, Sterling thinks, the adoration and respect of others.

He bought the team for a mere pittance, wanted nothing to do with San Diego, was involved in a lawsuit with the NBA over the relocation of the franchise- which he was going to do regardless of what anyone thought- even the fellow members of his trade association.

He failed to invest in the franchise early- causing them to be a laughing stock in the league. And when he finally did, shocking no one except maybe Sterling, the team started having on-the-court success. Which is where they are now...

He treated employees with a profound lack of respect (see Elgin Baylor) and thinks of himself as bullet-proof in the consequences.

He thinks V. Stiviano set him up- which may be the only part of truth in this whole proceeding- thinking that either the Sterlings were going to divorce and her gravy train was going to end or she was going to be kicked to the curb outright- and if he wasn't aware of the recording in a two-person state... the person who leaked the recording may be guilty of a crime.

And, regardless of what anyone thinks, the sides in the Sterling marriage are putting up their battle lines for what surely will be some tremendous legal drama over the next however-long-this-will-take. Shelly Sterling and her attorney will almost certainly chase after Donald Sterling's competency as an owner and may even maintain that the statements he has been making publicly are that of someone in the throes of a disease. Donald Sterling will be unfit to own and has been unfit to own for however long the disease has been effecting his brain.

Donald Sterling will battle the competency angle and say he wants a divorce from his wife of 60 years. The divorce proceeding will be running in tandem with the Shelly Sterling lawsuit. And it will all be a test.

It will be a test for the NBA next season for the players who won't play for a Sterling but will have Dick Parsons as a CEO who the Sterlings and their representatives may or may not even want to answer to in questions involving authority and day-to-day operation of the franchise.

Who will want to stay? Who will want to play? And will anyone even be around for the franchise come the beginning of training camp in the 2014-15 season...???

We're not even close to being done...

2245 UPDATE: Commissioner Adam Silver responded and it's what you would expect

"I just read a transcript of Donald Sterling's interview with Anderson Cooper and while Magic Johnson doesn't need me to, I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack. The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible."

Donald Sterling Needs To Stop Talking: Round 400 Preview

((HT: CNN))

The full interview with Anderson Cooper will air this evening on CNN and it appears to have all the cringe-worthy value that the soundbite below will give you...

Here's his thoughts on Magic Johnson and his apparent worth to the LA community to Sterling


So, there's that...

There are other soundbites up on the website, and the HQ will have a full report later on this evening once the interview airs, but it appears that Donald Sterling continues in his fight to be an old, white guy who is out of touch with the modern day.

But that's just us...

V. Under Investigation For Blackmail On Sterling

((HT: KABC-TV))

And, maybe, this is the origination of the quote attributed to Clippers owner Donald Sterling...

Someone who has six separate identities is now being looked at by the LA County DA's Office for possibly blackmailing the embattled owner. V. Stiviano admitted that there are hours of conversation on tape between herself and her confidant...


The HQ is asking: "And this woman is allowed to be a foster parent?"

Just saying...

Tommy Lasorda Says What He Thinks About V.

((HT: WPBF-TV))

And, sometimes, you don't need any kind of set-up or explanation...
Just letting the man go...


And how does the HQ think that Lasorda is not in the minority opinion...???

NBA Will Say Sterling Violated Signed Contracts, Team President On Indefinite Leave, Stiviano Trying To Stay Relevant

((HT: ESPN))

So, owners sign morals clauses, too...

That's one of the tacks that the NBA will take when chasing after Donald Sterling and their desire to have him no longer be owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Here's Darren Rovell with Jim Basquil to discuss...


It was also announced that Clippers President Andy Roeser will be taking an indefinite leave of absence, effective immediately.

“This will provide an opportunity for a new CEO to begin on a clean slate and for the team to stabilize under difficult circumstances,” said NBA spokesperson Mike Bass in an e-mail.

Then, there's this bit of news involving V. Stiviano in her attempt to move the news cycle forward...
((HT: KCBS))


No word on whether or not she has welding visors for the two kids or if we actually will see their faces in public

Donald Sterling Gives The Wrong Answer And Hasn't Fulfilled Charity Promises

((HT: KCBS-TV))

There isn't a whole lot to this particular update, so we'll just let Sandra Mitchell tell you...


That's not the right answer to give unless we're looking at a man who feels that he doesn't have a whole lot to lose at this point... and that quote is the money quote for the May issue of "DuJour Magazine"

And the NBC Los Angeles Investigative Unit has come across something else that may be dogging the current Los Angeles Clippers owner. Joel Grover talks about a $50-million idea that hasn't even left the ground floor...


The HQ gets the feeling that the LA media senses blood in the water and isn't going to give up soon...

Stiviano Wants To Be President

((HT: KABC-TV))

And she says that she'll change a lot of legislation...

This stuff writes itself...

She roller skates
She wears welding helmets
And she avoids commenting about the tape that she claims she didn't send out...

Sterling's Next Steps: Banned For Life, Big Fine, No Sale Yet...But Silver Thinks He Can Get The Votes

((HT: TMZ Sports))

According to Harvey Levin, the Clippers owner is indefinitely suspended from his activities as owner of the NBA franchise. He is not being forced to sell the team at present and the fine that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has put forth is $2.5-million. For a man, in Sterling, that is worth almost $2-billion, a $5-million fine is like handing over a few hundred bucks...

Which the HQ feels he may have in between the cushions of the first couch he finds...

The Commish also had a forensic expert review the tapes that included a voice that was confirmed to be Sterling's. Silver offered a follow-up discussion for Sterling, but he backed out.

TMZ also says that Sterling's girlfriend, V. Stiviano, had Sterling's permission to record their conversation.

The best description that has been given to the Sterling situation and its multiple levels was given by Bomani Jones, who EIGHT YEARS AGO, exposed the Clippers owner for who he is. He pipe-bombed him yesterday on the "Dan LeBatatard Show" on ESPN Radio


Current head coach Doc Rivers has said that he will not return next season if Sterling is still around.
The HQ doesn't quite know how an indefinite suspension will play with "still being around."

Silver addressed the large group of assembled media in New York City Tuesday afternoon. Sterling had not been told of his fate before the press conference in midtown Manhattan. The investigation is complete, in Silver's terms, and the voice on the tapes is Sterling's.

Silver called the words on the tape "deeply offensive and harmful" and the fact that they came from an owner "heightened the damage." He apologized on behalf of the league and banned Sterling.

Sterling is barred from Board of Governors meetings and fined $2.5-million- the maximum amount allowed by the NBA Constitution.

Silver will urge the BoG to force a sale of the team... 22 of 30 owners would have to vote for such a transfer.

From the NBA their own self:

As part of the lifetime ban, Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings and participating in any other league activity.

Commissioner Silver also announced that he will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team.

The discipline issued today is based on the Commissioner’s conclusion that Mr. Sterling violated league rules through his expressions of offensive and hurtful views, the impact of which has been widely felt throughout the league.

Mark Jackson Wouldn't Have People Show Up For Game 5, Sponsors Starting To Leave

((HT: Dan Patrick Show/Youtube))

Golden State head coach Mark Jackson was a guest on the "Dan Patrick Show" this morning- fresh off his 21-point Game 4 win in the firestorm that is now the Clippers-Warriors series...

He played for the Clips for two seasons in the '90s and had an interesting thought on what the proper protest should be for the next home game in Los Angeles...


And now, the corporate sponsors of the Clippers are starting to go:

"CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers' owner completely unacceptable," the company said in a statement through public relations manager Catherine Gryp. "These views directly conflict with CarMax's culture of respect for all individuals. While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for nine years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship."

State Farm is thinking about it as is Kia and Virgin America and Amtrak are out now as well...

THAT'S where the NBA will take notice from this moment forward. Commissioner Adam Silver is set to have a press conference tomorrow to discuss where the league may go from here...

2PM eastern time...

DEVELOPING: Now, THERE'S A Protest... Stiviano Denies Leak...

((HT: ESPN))

"It's just us, only us, we're all we got."

The LA Clippers took off their shooting shirts in pre-game warm-ups and dumped them on the floor- revealing shirts inside-out (presumably, to cover up the Clippers script logo)

From BayAreaNewsGroup's Marcus Thompson via Instagram


And we have some news from the girlfriend...

From Rachel Zarrell at BuzzFeed:

“This office understands that the currently released audio tape of approximately 15 minutes is a portion of approximately one (1) hour of overall audio recording of Mr. Donald T. Sterling and Ms. Stiviano, and is in fact legitimate,” said Mac E. Nehoray of the Nehoray Legal Group.

He added, “Ms. Stiviano did not release the tape(s) to any news media.”

Calling the lawsuit involving Stiviano and Sterling’s wife “absurd,” Nehoray said they have no further comments.

The HQ maintains that anyone else close to the girlfriend could have done the same thing...
Just says "she didn't do it..."

The players, in game have gone to black recognition...

According to the LA Times Bill Plaschke and his Twitter:

Clippers wearing black bands on their left wrist...Chris Paul's sleeves are black...all players's socks are black...

Sterling's nightmare, indeed...

Magic Johnson addressed the situation this afternoon on ESPN

Saturday PM Sterling Update: No One Is Happy About It...

((HT: KABC-TV))

And let the spin begin...

The opinion is, from the Sterling camp, is that it is all the fault of Stiviano- who is being charged with embezzling almost $2-million- and that the Clippers owner is not the kind of person portrayed on the tape released to TMZ Sports...

Melissa Macbride is in the Satellite Center to read full screens


Doc Rivers, representing the team, was not pleased...
((HT: ESPN))


Chris Paul, the Executive Director of the NBPA, says the matter is going to be handled by the players in a timely fashion...

"On behalf of the National Basketball Players Association, this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively," it read. "We have asked [Sacramento] Mayor Kevin Johnson to expand his responsibilities with the NBPA, to determine our response and our next steps. As players, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and a drive to the Finals."

No lie... for this part of irony...

Sterling was to be honored in May with a lifetime achievement award by the NAACP in Los Angeles. The prganization is monitoring the Clippers situation right now as well...

Donald Sterling Needs To Stop, Barkley Addresses It...

((HT: TMZ Sports))

Somehow, and the HQ has an idea how, an audio recording surfaced where it appears that (someone who might be) LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling cannot get out of his own way- again...

When he first bought the Clips in 1981, he didn't invest in them and they were an awful franchise...

Then, he invested, and you see how things are when you leave the franchise alone and let people do their job...

But, Sterling just reinforced he is an old, white owner with plantation tendencies...

Here is an exchange with his current girlfriend, V. Stiviano, about her Instagramming habits that included a picture of Magic Johnson. Sterling didn't like Stiviano- who is of mixed race- having blacks on her account...and doesn't want them at HIS games.

Clippers Owner Donald Sterling to GF - Don't Bring Black People to My Games, Including Magic Johnson
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There's an obvious background that we all have no idea about that caused "someone" to record the conversation in the first place. But, regardless of the recording surfacing, one person being aware or two (which lends itself to the legality of the recording in some states in the first place)- the content is troubling...

Very troubling... from an older, white gentleman discussing the races...

NBA spokesman Mike Bass had this statement: "We are in the process of conducting a full investigation into the audio recording obtained by TMZ. The remarks heard on the recording are disturbing and offensive, but at this time we have no further information."

Sterling has a history of not playing well with others. In 2006, he was sued by the Justice Department for allegations of housing discrimination in the Koreatown part of Los Angeles. Three years later, he was told to pay almost $3-million to settle the case. And in 2011, he was involved in an age discrimination case with his former GM, Elgin Baylor. Sterling would, eventually, win that case.

Ugh...

Charles Barkley was Charles Barkley and he was 100-percent correct...as were Shaq, Kenny, and EJ...
((HT: Inside The NBA/TNT/youtube))