In Defense of Donald Sterling

Words have consequences as Clippers owner Donald Sterling found out in a very large way. His 80 years of life experiences should have taught him this lesson. But old beliefs and habits die a hard death. If his bi-racial (eye candy) ex girlfriend V. Stiviano is telling the truth it confirms Sterling's racism.

Mr. Sterling, banned for life from association with the Clippers, and fined 2.5 million dollars by the NBA, might want to consider selling the team and forgo the ultimate pressure that is certain to follow.

Los Angeles Times... NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued sweeping sanctions against Donald Sterling on Tuesday morning in response to controversial remarks about blacks purportedly made by Sterling. Silver said the Clippers owner was banned from any association with the team for life and fined $2.5 million. Silver added that he would urge other owners to force a sale of the team. Silver said the lifetime ban would stand regardless of whether Sterling was ultimately forced to sell the team he's owned for 33 years. The commissioner said the NBA constitution allowed owners to eject Sterling if three-quarters of the owners voted in favor of such a move and that he would commence the process of expulsion immediately. "I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him", said Silver, who appeared visibly agitated throughout his remarks. (Link).

On the other hand, while Sterling is unquestionably an asshole, I am just as much disturbed by the fact that somebody taped him without his knowledge and in his own home. These were private conversations, people, and do you really think that somebody like Al Sharpton would fare significantly better if we were to bug his home?

I mean, he's already uttered such despicable statements as "Greek homos", "Chinamen", "white interlopers", "crackers", and "ni**ers" (part of a slanderous rant against David Dinkins), and that was when he wanted to be heard. Can you even begin to imagine this dude's innermost thoughts?

Byline: This consequential commentary was authored by Lord Lying Lester: Man of Reason (AKA Lester Nation). Purveyor of utter baloney. LLIN-036.