Silver’s Mission: Save Clips from Donald Sterling

This was not supposed to be new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s first huge mission as the head man in charge.

Silver’s first big problem to fix was maybe tanking – an issue that not everyone around the NBA believes is a problem (except maybe Stan Van Gundy). Maybe his first issue to correct was the NCAA “One and done” rule – where a potential “two and done” policy could get rolled out. Silver won’t have to deal with a new collective bargaining agreement until 2017, so he has some time with that one.

What he does have to deal with before fixing tanking, before fixing the “one-and-done” is Donald Sterling. It’s not going to be an easy fix. It’s going to be long. It’s going to be challenging, and the Los Angeles Clippers owner is going to fight teeth and nail – like he’s done so many times before. In the end, this is a battle that Silver MUST win.

Over the weekend, an audio recording obtained by TMZ Sports revealed some (not so shocking) revelations about Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s feelings towards African-Americans. If you’ve followed the Clippers owner for any amount of time over the last 20-30 years, this is nothing new to you. From Elgin Baylor to Baron Davis to “Clipper Darrell”, there’s case after case of Sterling’s hateful and bigoted opinions.

Now, I know all of the 1st Amendment thumpers are going to come rushing to Mr. Sterling’s defense, and I admire you for doing so. This is somewhat different. Donald Sterling is a man who owns an NBA franchise. There are stadium employees, players, coaches, and fans to consider – not to mention an entire league of 29 other owners who are absorbing a public relations black eye that hasn’t been seen since probably the “Malice at The Palace”. Their franchises might not be directly affected, but Sterling’s words over the weekend (not to mention his basic attitude) have been a dark cloud hovering over this league for more than two decades, now.

Reaction and responses to Sterling’s comments in the audio recording are what you would expect. TNT’s Ernie Johnson said “There’s no place for Donald Sterling in the NBA.” Former players like Michael Jordan – who owns the Charlotte Bobcats – Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dominique Wilkins have all come out to say how despicable Sterling’s comments were and how he needs to be removed from the owner’s box.

That’s easy for players who aren’t in the league to do. They’re not getting paychecks from owners. I’m sure current players aren’t going to open their mouths and compromise their brands in lieu of what Sterling said.

“There’s no room for Donald Sterling in the NBA — there is no room for him.” – LeBron Raymone James

Uh oh. That’s … That’s a problem. Commissioner Silver, not only did A PLAYER come out and say that, but the best player in and face of your league said that. It wasn’t some “Joe Dude” that’s the 12th man on the bench playing for the Utah Jazz said that – although he might have if there was a microphone in his face. It’s a pretty dicey situation when the man who is your current ambassador says “Get him outta here” like Mayor Lenny told Walter Peck in Ghostbusters.

Player after player has come out over the weekend basically saying that they would never play for the Clippers as long as Donald Sterling is the owner.  Kevin Johnson, the mayor of Sacramento and National Basketball Players Association adviser, said in a statement that, “the reported comments made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling are reprehensible and unacceptable. The National Basketball Players Association must and will play a very active role in determining how this issue is addressed. There needs to be an immediate investigation and if the reports are true, there needs to be strong and swift action taken.”

Chris Paul, the National Basketball Players Association president (and Clippers starting point guard), said, “On behalf of the National Basketball Players Association, this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively.” Commissioner Silver, the head of the NBPA and the point guard of the team wants aggressiveness to be taken on Sterling. That says something. Before the team’s 118-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Clippers players threw off their warm ups, left them at mid-court, and proceeded to warm up in red shirts worn inside out to hide the Clippers logo. They also wore black armbands and socks in a silent show of protest and solidarity against Sterling. That says something.

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has speculated about his future with the team in the wake of the Donald Sterling fiasco. Rivers isn’t important to the franchise, though. He only serves as the head coach, the Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, and has coached the Clippers to their best record in franchise history. Wait. He might leave! That … definitely … says something! The rest of Clippers management has to step up and plead with Silver to do something about this situation to save their phony, bologna jobs. Immediately. Immediately! Harumph! Harumph! Harumph!

This is a situation where Adam Silver has to just come out swinging. No tip toeing. No beating around the bush. The NBA commissioner needs to come down and drop the hammer like Thor. If Silver came out today – when the NBA is scheduled to hold a press conference to address the Sterling situation – and said, “You, sir … need to leave. Right. Now,” it would be a powerful statement. It would be the right statement. It would be a statement that should’ve been made at least ten years ago if not more. I get that Sterling won’t let the franchise go unless you pry it from his cold, dead fingers, but there’s just way too much pressure on the league right now – especially considering new information has come out hinting that the financial group that owns the Los Angeles Dodgers – Magic Johnson and the Guggenheim Brothers want to buy the Clippers. That’s a perfect exit strategy.

A hall of fame player who played in Los Angeles has come back to save one franchise from the grips of someone in Sterling who has been a disaster in that town from a PR standpoint since the 90s. Sterling would get oodles and oodles of more money, and he can go away in exile never to be heard from again. It’s win/win. There’s nothing wrong with that scenario, and it would be impossible to ignore.

Unless, of course, Donald Sterling – and his ego – ignores it.