News

Clippers owner Donald Sterling banned for life

The NBA says it has verified Donald Sterling as the source of the anti-African-American remarks to his girlfriend on the tape released late Friday.
 
"You can sleep with them, you can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that, and not to bring them to my games," Sterling said on the tape.
 
Today, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the consequences.
 
"Effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA," Silver announced at a news conference.
 
In addition to the lifetime ban, Sterling is not allowed to conduct any business for the Clippers, he must pay a $2.5 million fine and he will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981.
 
"The first thing that hit me was tears," said Eldridge Recanser, a UW Hall of Famer who played for the Clippers in 2001.
 
"It was really emotional for me, man. I think this is without a doubt my proudest day as a member of the NBA," he said.
 
Recanser supports the punishment Silver has imposed, even though Sterling could make a billion dollars on any sale of the Clippers.
 
"If he has the money, go ahead on, try to enjoy it. But who's he's going to enjoy it with?" And Recanser enjoys the idea that NBA icon Magic Johnson, who Sterling insulted, may end up buying the Clippers. 
"Here's a guy who singles out Magic Johnson, and says he doesn't want him at his games, and Magic might be the guy to turn around and own the team."