This is a Monumental Moment For the NBA

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTSWyiqhwOw

Mason Jr reacts: (smiling) "The damage is done here and the more and more tapes come out you don't really know what's real and what's not. But the bottom line is America and the world heard Donald Sterling's thoughts and views and you can't really take that back."

Is there any impatience within the players association when it comes to seeing action, it's been a couple weeks now and that first announcement from the commissioner it seemed it was going to be more expedient than this. Are you guys getting frustrated?

Mason: "I wouldn't say we're getting frustrated, we understand there's a process, you can't just kick someone out of the league overnight and so we understand that but at the same time we're paying close attention, we're in touch with Adam Silver and the NBA and we expect a quick resolution.

What's your reaction to this appointment in term CEO, Dick Parsons?

Mason: "I applaud Adam Silver and the NBA, what a great choice, I don't know him personally but great reputation, I've heard a lot of wonderful things about him, and obviously he's been a very successful businessman over the years so I think that's a step in the right direction for that organization, he's a model citizen and somebody who's going to be great, and hopefully that's the first step for new ownership."

Now we heard yesterday from Shelley Sterling, Donald's wife, estranged wife, she's half owner of that team, she's not a racist, you can't take her end of that team away from her, if for some legal reason she manages to hold on to control, what would the players reaction be to that?

Mason: "It wouldn't be good! I've talked to many guys in our league, I have time to go in different locker rooms, and spend time with our guys, and everyone is pretty much on the same page that there needs to be brand new ownership, you know, and whether it's his wife, or whoever it is in that family, we all feel like it's time for new ownership."

Is there a sense among the fellow players that this is a watershed moment when it comes to race relations, in your game, at least?

Mason: "Absolutely! Absolutely is! This is a monumental moment, it was an opportunity for the league to step out against racism, and Adam Silver and the league did that, our players banded together and stood strong with that, so I absolutely think it is."



Seems like the players association doesn't have a forgiving or a tolerant nature. Instead, they want the "entire Sterling family" out of the picture and they're making vague insinuations to get what they want.

What card are they going to play? Boycott the teams? How will they eat? How will they pay their way?

The players feel completely justified and aren't going to back down in this dog and pony show.

Are we going to start lobbing racism as a weapon against them now too? Actions do speak louder than words.

Shelley Sterling's Lawyer Speaks Out

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1zzNHz64r8

Doc Rivers, head coach of the Clippers says, it would be very difficult for the team if Shelley stayed at least as part owner, what do you say to that?

Nobody knows her position until today, which is, she wants to remain a passive owner, she's not gonna manage the team, she wants a very skilled well heeled new owner to come in and replace Donald, she only wants to own the team in her lifetime, she's 79 years old, at this point she's earned it, she's been an owner for 33 years, she's an avid fan, and in America we don't dispose of people's property rights by public opinion.

She should be the one to decide to sell it, not 29 other owners deciding that, and we will fight to the death any effort by the NBA to involuntarily sell her asset. She will defend her right to decide when, and how, and for what price she sells her 50% interest in the LA Clippers.

Mrs. $ isn't going to buy Donald's interest.

Businessman Richard Parsons named interim Clippers CEO

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd7-QQibVAw

Mr. Fix It just got his toughest job yet. Parsons is the league's first major move to seize control of the team, he's 66 and played basketball at the University of Hawaii. He's also been chairman of Citigroup.

Parsons says he's been deeply troubled by "the pain" the Clippers' team, fans and partners have endured. And he says he's honored to help them open a new, inspiring era for their team.

Mr. Fix It said he will be working on the business side to fill a leadership vacuum in the organization.

But if anyone tries to force her to sell, Pearce O'Donnel, Shelley's attorney warns with a glint in his eyes and a sheepish grin that we should "Look Out" for Shelley Sterling.

You've got my vote! Mrs. $...

Another banker more than willing to "fix" someones problems..... go figure

How many more zeros do you think he will attach to the level of pain that "Mr. Fix It" feels others have suffered so he can earn his ginormous payday from sports rather than the banking sector now that they have come under fire?

Do we start adding or multiplying to come to a nice round figure?

'NBA Countdown' Crew on Donald Sterling

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH0Ixjp_IXU

Donald Sterling's take down was in fact premeditated. But how high up, down low, far and wide does it go?

I can't believe that everything calmly discussed and hatched during this broadcast by:

Jalen Rose - ESPN sports analyst
Bill Simmons - American sports columnist
Doug Collins - Player and coach
Sage Steele - American TV anchor

Was then soon thereafter implemented.

Hatred for Donald Sterling runs deep! Nobody truly likes him and wants to see him disgraced and suffering.

And those involved cleverly planned how they would get what they wanted while simultaneously trying to save face by coming across as human rights protectors?

Jeeezzz...

What else is going to come to light?

That Donald meeting V in 2010 at a football game wasn't really coincidental, but was actually an infiltration into his private life to dig up and gather as much dirt as possible until it was time to make the public play?

This situation is getting more twisted every day.

WOW!

Come on, don't hold back, what's next?

Donald Sterling Apologizes, Talks about Magic Johnson in Preview of CNN Interview

sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/donald-sterling-asks-for-forgiveness--talks-magic-johnson-in-preview-of-cnn-interview-024038584.html

For the past several weeks, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been at the center of several NBA stories regarding racist comments captured on tape, his subsequent banishment from the league and other owners' early moves towards removing him from ownership.

On Sunday night, the public heard some of Sterling's first interview on the situation. His comments are not likely to change many opinions.

In a preview of an interview set to air on "Anderson Cooper 360" on Monday night, Sterling spoke about the comments recorded by V. Stiviano, his future in the NBA, and several other topics related to the controversy. From CNN.com:

"When I listen to that tape, I don't even know how I can say words like that. ... I don't know why the girl had me say those things," he told CNN's Anderson Cooper in an exclusive interview set to air on Monday.

"You're saying you were set up?" Cooper asked.

"Well yes, I was baited," Sterling said. "I mean, that's not the way I talk. I don't talk about people for one thing, ever. I talk about ideas and other things. I don't talk about people."

When not attempting to explain that he was taken out of context, Sterling apologized and asked for forgiveness:

"I'm not a racist," Sterling told Cooper. "I made a terrible, terrible mistake. And I'm here with you today to apologize and to ask for forgiveness for all the people that I've hurt."
Asked by Cooper why he took so long to say he's sorry, Sterling said he was "emotionally distraught."

"The reason it's hard for me, very hard for me, is that I'm wrong. I caused the problem. I don't know how to correct it," he said.

"I'm a good member who made a mistake and I'm apologizing and I'm asking for forgiveness," he said. "Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years? I mean, I love my league, I love my partners. Am I entitled to one mistake? It's a terrible mistake, and I'll never do it again."

Sterling also took the time to insult the charitable efforts of NBA legend Magic Johnson, mentioned in the offending recordings as someone who should not be seen in public with Stiviano:

Sterling told CNN he's spoken twice with Johnson. "Did you apologize to him?" Cooper asked.

"If I said anything wrong, I'm sorry," Sterling said. "He's a good person. I mean, what am I going to say? Has he done everything he can do to help minorities? I don't think so. But I'll say it, he's great. But I don't think he's a good example for the children of Los Angeles."

The full interview will air on Monday's episode of "Anderson Cooper 360" at 8 p.m. ET on CNN.

If this preview is any indication, then this interview will be very bizarre. For one thing, Sterling's apology, insofar as it exists at all, appears to apologize less for the substance of his statements than the fact that people were offended by them. In claiming that he was baited, Sterling seems to be saying he was taken out of context. While it's hard to know how additional context would make his comments permissible, this tactic is a standard method of shirking responsibility for controversial statements.

On top of all that, Sterling attempts to paint this controversy as an isolated incident rather than the latest event in a long history of marks against the owner. Sterling has paid out a record settlement in a housing discrimination lawsuit, been accused of fostering a "plantation mentality" by longtime general manager Elgin Baylor, and generally been seen as a problematic part of the NBA for years.

As Adrian Wojnarowski reported at the beginning of this most recent ordeal, the NBA believed that Sterling would die before they had to deal with him directly. This incident is only his first mistake if we define the term as "doing something that compels the NBA to try to kick him out." (Of course, Sterling is a lawyer by training, and in a legal sense he may be right.)

Yet these comments at least allow us to see Sterling as sticking up for himself and trying to save his ownership stake.

In a more general sense, his statements make little sense.

What does it mean to talk only about ideas and not people?

And what could compel a man currently under fire for racist comments to say that Magic Johnson does not help minorities to his liking and should not serve as a role model for the children of Los Angeles?

Even if these opinions could be proven or argued effectively, why would anyone think it a reasonable thing to say in these circumstances?

Sterling wants forgiveness, but these comments suggest his contrition is lacking.

It would be immensely shocking to see Sterling get the reprieve he wants. Like his estranged wife Rochelle, he will probably need to take the NBA to court to maintain control of the Clippers.



I've never watched professional basketball before until yesterday when I was scanning channels and happened on the LAC playing OKC game and curiosity got the best of me.

To me personally, although the game was close there wasn't much riveting excitement as I watched the players make basket after basket, foul after foul, and found myself rooting for the OKC to beat the LAC by at least 1 point.

Why, you might ask?

Because of what Magic Johnson said during an interview while he was sitting in the stands watching the game.

When asked what he thought would be the reaction if Mrs. Sterling kept her share of the team as a passive owner, MJ's tone turned sour and he said the fans and the players wouldn't like it and they would probably boycott to get their way...

Magic Johnson is allegedly a good guy whose well respected. Yet he wants to hurt the Mrs. too. And he's using his position of authority among his basketball playing peers and their audience to sway opinions and gain control of an organization that's made up of mostly African Americans.

And although Mr. S told V in the tape that MJ is to be respected... I don't see any obvious reason why.

I also don't see the media coming across as a neutral 3rd party when they too are trying to sway their audience to think nothing but negativity about the Sterlings'.

So is Mr. $ correct to say he was baited and is being taken out of context?

Yes, he is. By almost everyone.

His words are being picked apart and only the ones that can be used to condemn him are highlighted. While all of his past actions are being used to throw more dirt on his grave.

Clearly there is an agenda here. And it goes way back.

Now, in this first interview with Mr. $ where he is being humbled and made to grovel for forgiveness, the media is being callous while pressing their points.

They are in fact subtly manipulating the direction of people's thoughts so their previously decided upon plan can go off without a hitch.

It's so obvious now that more information has come to light that Mr. $'s public flogging was planned long before the first tape was ever released.

In my estimation of what I've seen so far it doesn't matter how Mr. or Mrs. $ conduct themselves now. It doesn't matter what they say anymore. It wouldn't matter if they were both suddenly lost to this earth today. There would be no sympathy.

Because Mr. $ was set up!

His true enemies want his and even the Mrs. head on a platter.

And none of them are going to give an inch until their blood lust has been satiated. Otherwise this whole scheme to bring him/her to their knees would be for naught.

So why do I hope the Clippers lose?

Because they are displaying very poor sportsmanship.

Because now that both sides in this controversy have had a chance to voice their objections and plead their case, it's the underlying hatred and lack of empathy or forgiveness being subtly proffered that turns me off completely.

Its his enemies lack of willingness to compromise.

Its the way they all went about hanging him. And now that he's twisting in the wind, its their smug, self righteous stance that they feel justified in maintaining.

And maybe this is a controversial thing to say, but it would serve all of the aggressors right to be caught on tape misbehaving so their conduct can be called into question, and they can be condemned and hung out to dry too.

Because nobody's perfect! We all make mistakes we wish we could change. And for those who live in glass houses, they really shouldn't throw stones!



As for the hiring of Mr. Parsons, another light skinned African American to replace a controversial white man. How many more times are we going to see this move before we look at it as just another maneuver to ease race relations?

Like replacing Bush with Obama!

Does the NBA really think they're sending the right message by now installing yet another black man in their "beautiful and powerful" league as the means to an end?

It just looks like to me that the Players Association would like to surround themselves with only their own race but still have a few token whites involved so they can claim they're not really racist too.

Let's keep it real!

he got busted and has to eat crow, like politicians caught in affairs or homosexual relations which were meant to be 'private'

or public figures caught being 'unpatriotic' in something they say or do

image is a part of profits and when profits might suffer due to image,, those who stand to lose take action to reduce the damage

it sucks his 'private' affairs were made public, just as much as politicians affairs are ,,,but the bell cant be unrung and the consequences cant be quelled

as to preferences of hair color, that is another beast, as hair color can be CHOSEN and altered AT WILL,, where as things like race and gender rarely can,,,(though technology is making it a high cost option to make oneself APPEAR A different gender or race than they are)

as to 'token' whites.. though many of the 'athletes' are black, only one owner in the nba is black,, so I don't think the charge holds much water,,,,those making money off of the work of others are mostly white men already,,, they are hardly 'tokens'

Magic Johnson Says NO Sterling Should OWN Clippers

sports.yahoo.com/news/magic-johnson-says-no-sterling-own-clippers-221732048--nba.html

Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson Sunday reiterated his belief that the NBA must oust embattled Clippers owner Donald Sterling, and said players won't play for Sterling's wife, Shelly, either.

Johnson is a beloved figure in Los Angeles after leading the Lakers to five NBA titles before his retirement in 1991 after announcing he was HIV-positive.

He made brief comebacks, one as coach of the Lakers, before becoming a successful businessman, and in 2012 led a group that purchased baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.15 billion.

He has applauded NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's move to ban 80-year-old Sterling for life and fine him $2.5 million over racist remarks, which were made in a private conversation but later made public.

NBA owners are now proceeding with plans to strip Sterling of his ownership, a move that could end with Sterling selling the team or instigating a court battle to keep it.

In another complication, Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly Sterling, has said she wants to maintain an ownership stake in the club.

Johnson, attending the Clippers' home playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, was asked by an ABC television interviewer if Shelly Sterling was a viable owner.

"First the fans wouldn't like it," Johnson said. "The players definitely wouldn't like it, everybody would boycott.

"And then the sponsors have already made themselves clear that they wouldn't be sponsoring this team if either Sterling stayed on as an owner."

Johnson, whose photo with Sterling's girlfriend in part prompted the owners' tirade, had said he wouldn't attend a Clippers game while Sterling was still the owner.

However, after Silver's tough action he relaxed his stance.

On Friday, the NBA named Richard Parsons, the former chairman of media giant Time Warner and Citigroup, as interim chief executive of the Clippers.

But the process of stripping Sterling of the club and forcing a sale will be lengthy -- even if Sterling doesn't challenge it as he is widely expected to do.

So while Johnson has already been mentioned as a potential buyer for the club, which could sell for upwards of $600 million, he said it was too soon to discuss that possibility.

"I would definitely take a look at it because I am a business man," he said. "But we here in Los Angeles, whether it's myself or somebody else, we just want an owner who will include everybody, who will understand diversity and not include all races of people."

Johnson praised Clippers players and coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers for their poise during the scandal, which blew up in the midst of their NBA first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors.

"We've got to give coach Rivers a lot of credit and then the Clippers players, their leader Chris Paul, for rallying together and first ousting the Golden State Warriors and then playing a good physical series here today," he said.



Keep talking MJ. We all want to hear what you have to say.

After all, at the top of your career your personal conduct got you sidelined for life. But your fans forgave, have they forgotten too.

As for people boycotting for leverage well, seems the only way the public or the players could have been used as extra backing in this power play was to expose the tapes, spin them the most damaging way and then foster the hatred by fanning the flames at every turn.

Good job, MJ. Things are really going your way.

lol

cest la vie,, sterling and mj both millionaires,,

both will continue to be long after this story finally becomes old news

way to go for sterling to say something so bigoted and asinine, whatever MJ did decades ago,, not relevant to sterlings choices TODAY,,,


I am sure sterlings infidelities (The 'personal conduct' that lead to mj retiring) would not had lead to this consequence as it wouldn't be as relevant to his position over others

notice, the scandal here is not that he has a mistress? its what he said about being 'seen' with black people or having them attend his games,,,,


I know people want someone other than sterling to be 'guilty' of something,, but so far, other than whomever released the tape, (which is still an unknown),,, I don't see where anyone else is accountable for his choice of words but him,,,

Magic Johnson HIV Announcement - Part 1 - 1991

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbdOQUARrEU

Magic Johnson HIV announcement - Part 2

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFUBEno6ftA

Cookie Johnson on Being with Magic

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUJHc1HNqcU

Magic was the "big man" on campus.



Magic Johnson and Wife Cookie on HIV

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LneSJAWfk1g

Wife pregnant with Magic's son. He told Cookie he's HIV positive and she slaps him in the face. Also tells her if she doesn't want to stay with him, he would understand.



Magic Johnson: I Love My Gay Son

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QICnCWPXnaw

Magic says he's a Christian and goes to church.

And he doesn't want to forgive another sinner like Sterling?

Why not?

Because MJ's a much better shining example on how people should live and behave?



Magic Johnson on Giving EJ 'The Talk'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYFkPRN4pfs

I'm going to love you regardless, so are you or aren't you, MJ asks his young son. MJ says we asked EJ first to protect him. Also, we asked EJ, "What do you think about what your friends and people are going to say about you? He was 13, 14 years old at the time.

Magic Johnson's G-y *** Son

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf9Fpf5GRpg

EJ says, "My father owns the , read about it, recogniiize. RECOGNIZE IT." "I look so much better than you. Even in my minimal stage I'm ten times better than you."



Okay. I guess I can see the resemblance (easily recognize) the attitude of superiority that puts the Johnson family above the rest of LA society.



It seems like MJ has a few things to feel less than completely and socially confident about himself.

And in light of these new ever evolving elements surrounding the allegations of racism against another member of the NBA in crowd, it looks like MJ is allowing his own inferiority complexes to cloud his public judgments of others.

So ultimately, I wonder just how much pull MJ is going to have as he garners his select groups of sympathizers support to back him in expelling one of their own?

This story just gets better and better.



Now I'm beginning to understand more clearly the generalities Mr. $ was making in his conversations.

I also see the animosity that MJ feels and wants to vent while also punishing Mr. $ for his personal views that were made very public so his haters could get their revenge.

And the real power players are going to stand behind this obviously biased agenda?

This story is definitely one of a kind... people taking sides... but how many are there?



Now I can't help but be curious as to whether some of the other conversations V recorded and wanted to expose had to do with the "gay" topic.

And if the racist topic was chosen to exploit instead because the power players know they'd get more global sympathy when it pertains to one subject over the other?

Oh the wicked webs we weave when we practice to deceive...

Sterling: I've Talked to Magic Johnson

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrQPsMRIZhM

I tend to agree with Mr. $ on this one point.

If "all" the children of LA are foremost in MJ's mind, when he talks about diversity and inclusion being the messages he wants to instill in those around him, then he should also take into consideration all those who don't share his particular world views.

If MJ did practice what he preaches he wouldn't be so quick to cast out the people that don't countenance his open minded behavior that can bring disastrous consequences into their lives as a result.

His own life is a prime example.

Im not sure what caring about children has to do with wanting to make a purchase or with not thinking someone is the best fit for a job?



MJ screwed the pooch contracting aids, however he removed himself from the sport afterwards and then he went on to do quite a bit for urban areas around the country.

He and sterling are on equal par , possibly, in the sin of adultery. but beyond that, not really much is similar.

Donald Sterling: 'I was baited'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=soqMw9sx40A

Oh my goodness... Mr. $ is such an old cutie. Especially when he's humbling himself in an apology. And I don't care what his detractors say about the quality of his sincerity he looks and sounds repentant to me.

To admit being a foolish old man who still doesn't seem to really understand how all this happened is almost priceless. And I'm glad to see the level of respect that he has for the other owners and their feelings.

It would be so nice if he could be forgiven and allowed to live the rest of his life in peace rather than in a constant state of repentance on his knees.

yeah, he is cute
yeah, forgiveness would be nice

however, repentance and forgiveness don't magically erase consequence

plenty of players and other owners are probably 'cute' people,, who don't care to work with someone who looks down on others for the color of their skin,,,,

shouldn't stop him from being allowed to live his life though, he certainly isn't alone in his feelings, as you have said yourself

plenty of others will align with him, plenty will feel he is persecuted and should be forgiven, and some of those may not harbor any prejudice against him even though they may choose to not be seen in public with him,,,lol

,,,,its really not the big deal its being made,,

however it turns out,,,

Magic Johnson Opens Up About His Promiscuous Past - Oprah's Next Chapter - Oprah Winfrey Network

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9pZd3Em6ag

So MJ had women just coming and going.

And Cookie must have known about his wild ways but got pregnant and married him anyway. Or was it vice-versa?

I wonder if MJ ever disclosed the names of all his lovers when he was first diagnosed so they could be tested and treated too?

That would be a very interesting revelation I think.

Back in the 80's and 90's I did an in depth study into the HIV/AIDS epidemic and still have all the original material from that era.

Seems it was the general consensus that women don't often transfer sexually transmitted viruses to men as easily as men transfer it to women and other men.

Sure hope Cookie and EJ are virus free.

Magic Johnson Son EJ's First Coming Out Interview -- Gwissues

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH4S6vO1grA

1) EJ was initially outed on TMZ.

2) He's reveling in the excitement and working it to his advantage

3) EJ was holding hands with his best friend on the sunset strip when he was approached by TMZ.

4) He has a brother and sister?

5) He wants to get into event management and design, with a strong interest in fashion and media journalism.

6) Ellen DeGeneres is his idol, role model. Anderson Cooper is another. RuPaul another.

7) EJ wants to make an impact now that he's being watched. He wants to get involved with the ? community and make changes.

I have no reason to believe that (over two decades ago) Mj didn't meet whatever requirements were asked of him for the protection of whomever ,,,,


but again, infidelity in sports is not the scandal here,,, and irrelevant to an owner of an nba team with black men good enough to contribute to his profits but not good enough to be seen with a white woman,,,

MJ wasn't caught, while owning a sports team with white men saying that black women shouldn't be seen in public with white men or bring them to his games

and cookie nor ej OWN any nba teams,,,lol


I am doubtful somehow, that if sterling were a muslim owner, who had been 'baited' into saying something similar about americans, people would be so quick to make him out into just the victim of a mass conspiracy , or that they would be so quick to be calling for forgiveness


I have no personal stake, they don't affect my well being and their wellbeing is hardly affected by me,,,,,,I see the relevant ISSUE here though and the relevance of the OFFENSE In question to his position and his colleagues

if it was just a tape of him being unfaithful, I would argue that it wasn't relevant and that it was being unfairly treated

but since that is NOT the issue, nor is aids awareness,,lol I just fail to see the big deal,,,,,or why people are trying so hard to find other scapegoats and guilty parties,,,

Magic Johnson's ''Gay Son Wendy Official'' (Williams Show)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZKdtSwRNs

EJ is 21 years old now. He says he came out to his parents when he was 17. His story is changing from his last interview when he said he was 13 or 14 when his mom first asked him if he was homosexual.

Handbags, bold shoes and jewelry are his thing. He's studying cosmetology. His sister is 19 years old.

ok?


and?