Official NBA thread

[rjortiz]

So punish the fans, the media, and all the other playoff teams just because Sterling is a retard?

 

Why do you think it would be a punishment?

[rjortiz]

They should care, but why sweep it under the rug before? Might as well let the Clippers get bounced and have the 24 hour news cycle find something else to fixate on.

 

That's probably what will happen. Sterling gets fined/suspended. Story goes away in a week. Chris Paul and the rest of the toothless NBA reminisce about their black sock defiance, which put that ******* Sterling in his place. Sterling still makes millions of their talents. They sure showed him.

[mvp 78]

They turned their shirts inside out!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?!

[rjortiz]

They turned their shirts inside out!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?!

 

The idea of doing something has replaced actually doing something in this society. Clippers should be embarrassed.

 

f*** the fans who think that watching players put a ball through a hoop is more important than sending a message to a racist owner who thinks black people are nothing more than commodities to buy.

[mvp 78]

If John Henry said this, it'd be really hard to watch NESN for a while as my viewership dollars are going straight into his pocket (yes, I realize I'm not a Neilsen family though I have filled out Neilsen viewer surveys in the past few years). I'd probably go to more PawSox games though.

[rjortiz]

If John Henry said this, it'd be really hard to watch NESN for a while as my viewership dollars are going straight into his pocket (yes, I realize I'm not a Neilsen family though I have filled out Neilsen viewer surveys in the past few years). I'd probably go to more PawSox games though.

 

I don't really care if people watch the rest of the NBA playoffs. NBA TV contracts are already locked in. The players have the most influence on what happens in this situation. It is up to them to make the first move. What I was referring was the fans that would get angry if the players decided to strike. They should be slapped.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Why do you think it would be a punishment?

Because there's a shitload of NBA fans out there who want to watch (and maybe even attend) playoff games? And a shitload of media members getting paid for covering those games? And a shitload of arena workers getting paid to work those games? But no, let's throw all that away because Donald Tokowitz the self-hating Jew is a senile cuckold.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Jacoby_Ellsbury

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

The idea of doing something has replaced actually doing something in this society. Clippers should be embarrassed.

 

f*** the fans who think that watching players put a ball through a hoop is more important than sending a message to a racist owner who thinks black people are nothing more than commodities to buy.

It's adorable that you think a leaguewide "NEAUX!! NOT PLAYING!!" movement would do anything productive at all, but it wouldn't. The Clippers already have sponsors pulling out. Chris Paul, Doc Rivers, and everyone important on the Clippers will be packing their bags at season's end (if any of them are still on the roster in the fall they may well refuse to report), and there will be no one in line to replace them if Sterling still has ownership. The other owners already want Sterling gone. The NBA can absolutely make a hostile takeover of the franchise happen with or without a strike. If worst comes to worst and Sterling steadfastly refuses to sell and there are no bylaws around it, they can just contract the team, and start another franchise in Los Angeles and give it to Magic Johnson and his guys.

 

f***, Marge Schott was worse than Sterling and nobody went on strike over her. That's a hell of a message to send to racists and bigots everywhere, that their beliefs have the power to move the earth and bring a pro sports league to a screeching halt.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10852199/challenge-donald-sterling

 

Q: Is it possible for Silver and the NBA to terminate Sterling's franchise ownership?

 

A: Yes. Under the terms of Paragraph 13 of the constitution, the owners can terminate another owner's franchise with a vote of three-fourths of the NBA Board of Governors, which is composed of all 30 owners. The power to terminate is limited to things like gambling and fraud in the application for ownership, but it also includes a provision for termination when an owner "fails to fulfill" a "contractual obligation" in "such a way as to affect the [NBA] or its members adversely." Silver and the owners could assert that Sterling's statements violated the constitution's requirements to conduct business on a "reasonable" and "ethical" level.

 

Any owner or Silver can initiate the termination procedure with a written charge describing the violation. Sterling would have five days to respond to the charge with a written answer. The commissioner would then schedule a special meeting of the NBA Board of Governors within 10 days. Both sides would have a chance to present their evidence, and then the board would vote. If three-fourths of the board members vote to terminate, then Sterling would face termination of his ownership. It would require a vote of two-thirds of the board to reduce the termination to a fine. Terminating a franchise would obviously be a drastic remedy, but the potential of the termination procedure gives Silver and the other owners vast leverage in any discussion with Sterling about an involuntary sale of his team.

 

Q: Sterling is notoriously litigious. Can he go to court to stop Silver from punishing him?

 

A: Not effectively. When Silver issues his punishment to Sterling, the decision is final. The constitution provides in Paragraph 24(m) that a commissioner's decision shall be "final, binding, and conclusive" and shall be as final as an award of arbitration. It is almost impossible to find a judge in the United States judicial system who would set aside an award of arbitration. Sterling can file a lawsuit, but he would face a humiliating defeat early in the process. There is no antitrust theory or principle that would help him against Silver and the NBA. He could claim an antitrust violation, for example, if he were trying to move his team to a different market. But under the terms of the NBA constitution, he has no chance to succeed in litigation over punishment.

 

The ball is in the owners' court. And Silver's.

[rjortiz]

It's adorable that you think a leaguewide "NEAUX!! NOT PLAYING!!" movement would do anything productive at all, but it wouldn't. The Clippers already have sponsors pulling out. Chris Paul, Doc Rivers, and everyone important on the Clippers will be packing their bags at season's end (if any of them are still on the roster in the fall they may well refuse to report), and there will be no one in line to replace them if Sterling still has ownership. The other owners already want Sterling gone. The NBA can absolutely make a hostile takeover of the franchise happen with or without a strike. If worst comes to worst and Sterling steadfastly refuses to sell and there are no bylaws around it, they can just contract the team, and start another franchise in Los Angeles and give it to Magic Johnson and his guys.

 

f***, Marge Schott was worse than Sterling and nobody went on strike over her. That's a hell of a message to send to racists and bigots everywhere, that their beliefs have the power to move the earth and bring a pro sports league to a screeching halt.

 

It's adorable? Do you have any familiarity with the history of the labour movement?

[rjortiz]

Because there's a shitload of NBA fans out there who want to watch (and maybe even attend) playoff games? And a shitload of media members getting paid for covering those games? And a shitload of arena workers getting paid to work those games? But no, let's throw all that away because Donald Tokowitz the self-hating Jew is a senile cuckold.

 

I'm sorry that you would be unable to watch LeBron James dunk a basketball, or hear Mike Breen scream "BANG!" How silly of me to lose focus of the important issues.

[rjortiz]

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10852199/challenge-donald-sterling

 

 

 

The ball is in the owners' court. And Silver's.

 

How fast would Silver issue the banhammer if league's workers are out on strike during the NBA playoffs? How panicked would the other team owners be? Sterling is gone in a week.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

It's adorable? Do you have any familiarity with the history of the labour movement?

Nobody has any rights to fight for here. The players would literally be going on strike just to stick it to Sterling, with no benefit to them. That's absurd. Sterling is a racist, a weasel, a shitbag, and a despicable slumlord, but shutting down the league over him would be asinine and completely unproductive. Should MLB go on a retroactive strike about Marge Schott condoning the actions of Hitler, then? I mean as long as you're in a world-must-burn frame of mind...

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

How fast would Silver issue the banhammer if league's workers are out on strike during the NBA playoffs? How panicked would the other team owners be? Sterling is gone in a week.

Sterling's gone anyway. After a firestorm like this he's a black mark on the league, he can't remain the owner. It's Don Imus 2.0. I just posted evidence that the NBA can tell him to f*** off at any time now using whatever force necessary. It'll probably happen during the offseason so long as to not upstage the remainder of the playoffs (important issues hurrr durrr!!).

[rjortiz]

Nobody has any rights to fight for here. The players would literally be going on strike just to stick it to Sterling, with no benefit to them. That's absurd. Sterling is a racist, a weasel, a shitbag, and a despicable slumlord, but shutting down the league over him would be asinine and completely unproductive. Should MLB go on a retroactive strike about Marge Schott condoning the actions of Hitler, then? I mean as long as you're in a world-must-burn frame of mind...

 

I would not want to be the employee of someone who thinks that they are little more than rented slaves. The NBA players don't seem to be keen on that prospect either. Best way for that to go away? Don't play in a league that sanctions that behavior. He's gone by the end of the week.

 

I would have walked out on the Reds as well, especially after the "million-dollar niggers" comment. It's probably likely many other bosses feel the same way about their employees. It would be nice to see a group of them, who actually have some leverage, tell their boss that they are more than his property. That seems worth fighting for.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I'm sorry that you would be unable to watch LeBron James dunk a basketball, or hear Mike Breen scream "BANG!" How silly of me to lose focus of the important issues.

Racist mutterings from an old schmuck like Sterling aren't reason to shut down the league when he can be removed by the NBA anyway. I know based on your post history that you truly love feeling outraged and offended, but this is silly s***.

 

Please explain in detail why players in Portland, Toronto, Miami, Dallas, or any other playoff city should blow up their season because that bigot who owns the Clippers started running his mouth again.

[rjortiz]

Sterling's gone anyway. After a firestorm like this he's a black mark on the league, he can't remain the owner. It's Don Imus 2.0. I just posted evidence that the NBA can tell him to f*** off at any time now using whatever force necessary. It'll probably happen during the offseason so long as to not upstage the remainder of the playoffs (important issues hurrr durrr!!).

 

That's not a given. Who knows? Maybe in a week LeBron drops 80 points in the next round. Everyone forgets about Sterling. Regardless, he still is owner of the Clippers, and he still is profiting from his "bought negros." I wouldn't play another minute while he is in league. I mean, what if they win the championship? Sterling's net worth increases by $50 million. At least, Chris Paul will look dapper with that championship ring on his finger.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I would not want to be the employee of someone who thinks that they are little more than rented slaves. The NBA players don't seem to be keen on that prospect either. Best way for that to go away? Don't play in a league that sanctions that behavior. He's gone by the end of the week.

 

I would have walked out on the Reds as well, especially after the "million-dollar niggers" comment. It's probably likely many other bosses feel the same way about their employees. It would be nice to see a group of them, who actually have some leverage, tell their boss that they are more than his property. That seems worth fighting for.

All you're doing here is letting racists and bigots know that their beliefs have the power to move the earth and bring enormous operations like the NBA to a grinding halt. That doesn't discourage them, that empowers them. The proper way to do this is to suspend Sterling for the playoffs (mainly to keep him from being in the picture in the unlikely event that the Clippers hoist the trophy), and then table the issue until the playoffs are over, at which point you can swiftly remove him using one of the methods in the article that I linked. Sterling is done, but the reactionary hysteria isn't doing anyone any favors.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

That's not a given. Who knows? Maybe in a week LeBron drops 80 points in the next round. Everyone forgets about Sterling. Regardless, he still is owner of the Clippers, and he still is profiting from his "bought negros." I wouldn't play another minute while he is in league. I mean, what if they win the championship? Sterling's net worth increases by $50 million. At least, Chris Paul will look dapper with that championship ring on his finger.

I repeat, one old ignorant schmuck isn't worth blowing up the league over. Going on a crusade to chip away at his wallet does nothing and hurts others more than it hurts him. The media will not let go of something like this, not in this day and age. If Sterling is still in charge come fall then the Clippers will have an empty roster anyway, since all their important pieces will bolt down, the remaining players will probably follow them due to image and peer pressure, and no one new will sign on there for the same reasons.

[rjortiz]

Racist mutterings from an old schmuck like Sterling aren't reason to shut down the league when he can be removed by the NBA anyway. I know based on your post history that you truly love feeling outraged and offended, but this is silly s***.

 

That's laughable coming from the guy who has murder fantasies about his neighbors for being loud.

 

Please explain in detail why players in Portland, Toronto, Miami, Dallas, or any other playoff city should blow up their season because that bigot who owns the Clippers started running his mouth again.

 

Solidarity. If I worked for a corporation, and the Los Angeles franchise owner started spouting out about how he owned the "negro" employees, I would enthusiastically strike with them. I would not work for an organization that allowed men like that to manage employees.

[rjortiz]

I repeat, one old ignorant schmuck isn't worth blowing up the league over. Going on a crusade to chip away at his wallet does nothing and hurts others more than it hurts him. The media will not let go of something like this, not in this day and age. If Sterling is still in charge come fall then the Clippers will have an empty roster anyway, since all their important pieces will bolt down, the remaining players will probably follow them due to image and peer pressure, and no one new will sign on there for the same reasons.

 

The league wouldn't blow up. The players issue a simple ultimatum. We don't play until Sterling is gone. The NBA has no leverage in the situation. They would be murdered in the media for playing chicken over this issue. Silver would remove Sterling 30 seconds after a general strike commenced.

[rjortiz]

All you're doing here is letting racists and bigots know that their beliefs have the power to move the earth and bring enormous operations like the NBA to a grinding halt. That doesn't discourage them, that empowers them. The proper way to do this is to suspend Sterling for the playoffs (mainly to keep him from being in the picture in the unlikely event that the Clippers hoist the trophy), and then table the issue until the playoffs are over, at which point you can swiftly remove him using one of the methods in the article that I linked. Sterling is done, but the reactionary hysteria isn't doing anyone any favors.

 

How can you possibly make this conclusion? The players would have brought the league to a halt. Not the owners.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

That's laughable coming from the guy who has murder fantasies about his neighbors for being loud.

You clearly don't understand the concept of saying something in jest, but that's not terribly surprising.

 

Solidarity. If I worked for a corporation, and the Los Angeles franchise owner started spouting out about how he owned the "negro" employees, I would enthusiastically strike with them. I would not work for an organization that allowed men like that to manage employees.

Who f***ing cares what you would do? Some people just want a paycheck. Some people just need a paycheck. Nobody in any of the other city did anything wrong, so it's laughable to expect players in Toronto and Brooklyn and wherever else to drop everything and go home, and readily screw over fans, media, and arena employees (many in the latter two relying on these games for paychecks) in the process. Just to send Old Man Sterling a message saying that they don't approve of his words.

 

Again, this little military action you're fantasizing about empowers bigotry instead of discouraging it. Which I assume is the opposite of your goal.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Jacoby_Ellsbury

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

How can you possibly make this conclusion? The players would have brought the league to a halt. Not the owners.

No players = no games. No games = league has come to a halt.

[rjortiz]

You clearly don't understand the concept of saying something in jest, but that's not terribly surprising.

 

Who f***ing cares what you would do? Some people just want a paycheck. Some people just need a paycheck. Nobody in any of the other city did anything wrong, so it's laughable to expect players in Toronto and Brooklyn and wherever else to drop everything and go home, and readily screw over fans, media, and arena employees (many in the latter two relying on these games for paychecks) in the process. Just to send Old Man Sterling a message saying that they don't approve of his words.

 

Again, this little military action you're fantasizing about empowers bigotry instead of discouraging it. Which I assume is the opposite of your goal.

 

Please tell me how this empowers bigoted owners. You would have to believe that a work stoppage is to the benefit of owners to have this conclusion.

[rjortiz]

No players = no games. No games = league has come to a halt.

 

I understand how a strike works. You're the confused one about how they are initiated.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

The league wouldn't blow up. The players issue a simple ultimatum. We don't play until Sterling is gone. The NBA has no leverage in the situation. They would be murdered in the media for playing chicken over this issue. Silver would remove Sterling 30 seconds after a general strike commenced.

The league would blow up, because if you would read that article, the initial process to impeach Sterling, if you will, starts with a written charge from the league to Sterling, and Sterling has five days to respond. Something tells me he wouldn't be in a mood to grease the wheels on such a process. Once he responds or his window has expired, a meeting with the board of governors is scheduled, evidence is presented, and then the governors vote. So even if everything is expedited nicely, you're still looking at over a week of delays before a resolution. It's not like the rest of the world revolves around the NBA, so there may well be scheduling issues involved with moving the entire slate of games back a week or two. The draft may have to be rescheduled. This isn't minor stuff.

 

Sterling has no leg to stand on if the league does it right, but if they do it wrong (which they would be more likely to do in the panic of a player strike)? Then a real shitstorm could brew and Sterling could strike back with a lawsuit. Which is why this is best saved for the offseason, letting justice come naturally instead of trying to rush it.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Please tell me how this empowers bigoted owners. You would have to believe that a work stoppage is to the benefit of owners to have this conclusion.

Who the f*** used the phrase "bigoted owners"? Nobody. I understand you're in a bipolar rage right now, but try to keep your reading comprehension from sliding into the shitter, okay?

 

If you can't comprehend how suspending major operations in a mere show of disapproval towards bigotry, empowers bigotry, then I don't even know what to say.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I understand how a strike works. You're the confused one about how they are initiated.

The end result is the league coming to a halt. The cause is players going on strike. This isn't hard.

[rjortiz]

 

Who f***ing cares what you would do? Some people just want a paycheck. Some people just need a paycheck. Nobody in any of the other city did anything wrong, so it's laughable to expect players in Toronto and Brooklyn and wherever else to drop everything and go home, and readily screw over fans, media, and arena employees (many in the latter two relying on these games for paychecks) in the process. Just to send Old Man Sterling a message saying that they don't approve of his words.

 

Again, this little military action you're fantasizing about empowers bigotry instead of discouraging it. Which I assume is the opposite of your goal.

 

You also seem to be under the assumption that this strike would last a long time. The real question is would the owners and Adam Silver even let the players leave the arena before they cut Sterling loose. This would not be a strike over compensation issues. This would be to remove a racist owner from the association. Who would want to be the people on the opposite side of that strike?

 

The fact that NBA players continued to play under Sterling and Marge Schott proves the opposite of what you are claiming. If they won't strike over "million dollar niggers," what else can they get away with? A strike puts those ideas to rest, and lets it be known that it will not be tolerated.

Edited April 28, 2014 by rjortiz