Reaction: Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Banned for Life

p Apr 29, 2014; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media regarding the investigation involving Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling (not pictured) at New York Hilton Midtown. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Today, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver dropped the hammer on LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling by banning him for life for his racist comments over the weekend. Sterling is banned from ever attending any NBA game or practice for the rest of his life.

Silver will also ask the other franchise owners to strip Sterling from ownership of the Clippers. The other owners, who are likely to unanimously vote for removal, can make a motion to have any owner removed from ownership of an NBA team.

Silver and his staff determined the voice on the audio on the alleged recording was indeed Sterling and acted appropriately. Silver looked visibly upset during the press conference, as if he was holding back a tremendous amount of rage.

Sterling has a long history of racism and has no place in the NBA or any other similar organisation. His comments were ignorant and hateful. This is not the first time he has done something of this nature, and it begs the question as to why he wasn’t punished in the past by former commissioner David Stern.

The LA Clippers, who are in the middle of a first round playoff series with the Golden State Warriors, made an impactful statement on Sunday. The players came out for warmups, removed their Clippers warm-up jackets and threw them in the middle of the court. They were wearing an inside out shirt where you couldn’t see the logo as well as black socks and armbands during the game.

Players from around the league have expressed their displeasure with being in any way associated with Sterling. Pacers guard George Hill stated that if his owner had made those statements, his season would have been over.

Pacers forward David West has been very vocal about his ire towards Sterling.

“I’m glad they did something to remove him.,” West said. “He still has ownership, still will profit, but it’s a step in the right direction. We’re not going to tolerate people like him associated with the game we play, and I’m glad that process has started.”

People from all around the country have reacted to the news:

Early reports indicated that Sterling has no intention of selling the team and will fight to retain ownership. There is even a report that he plans to sue the NBA. If this man had any sense, he would give in and slink away, never to be heard in public again.