According to ESPN, Donald Sterling has agreed to allow his wife Shelly Sterling to negotiate a forced sale of the team. Since Donald Sterling has been banned from the NBA, Shelly Sterling and her lawyers have been negotiating with the NBA.
Donald Sterling Blasts Magic Johnson In Anderson Cooper Interview
L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling has finally taken a seat with a major press outlet (CNN’s Anderson Cooper to be specific) to speak on his enormous controversy following racist comments made to his girlfriend. Most notable here is, in addition to his apology regarding what he did, his apparent criticism of Magic Johnson (who was a central point in that leaked phone conversation).
You can check out a lengthy preview above; the full interview premieres tonight at 8pm.
2 Chainz On ‘Chelsea Lately’; Speaks On Donald Sterling (Video)
The rapper offers a fresh perspective on the recording of the NBA owner that surfaced. Plus, hear about his new court-mandated jewelry.
Donald Sterling Speaks: “I Wish I Had Just Paid Her Off”
LOL. Spotted on USA Today:
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has made his first public comments since the release of a racist audio recording led to his lifetime ban from the NBA.
“I wish I had just paid her off,” Sterling told DuJour magazine, a Los Angeles lifestyle publication, speaking of V. Stiviano, the girlfriend to whom Sterling made the recorded comments.
The quote is the only one released thus far from what the magazine calls an exclusive discussion. Sterling told DuJour he only would do future interviews with Barbara Walters and the NBA.
Donald Sterling Is Reportedly Battling Cancer
Spotted on the New York Post:
Disgraced racist Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is battling cancer — surprising those around him by beating the final buzzer for as long as he has, sources told The Post on Thursday.
“They thought he would die two years ago,” one source said of Sterling, who on Tuesday was banned for life from the NBA for his now-infamous recorded racist rant.
“People have been predicting his imminent demise. I’m sure he has the best . . . drugs money can buy,” said the source, who works closely with pro sports teams. “He can do anything to keep himself alive.”
The source said some of the medication Sterling has been taking is responsible for the puffy appearance of his face.
Another source said Sterling, 80, was specifically suffering from prostate cancer.
In an ironic twist, Sterling refused to pay for prostate-cancer surgery a decade ago for then-Clippers assistant coach Kim Hughes.
“I contacted the Clippers about medical coverage and they said the surgery wouldn’t be covered,” Hughes told The Journal Times of Racine, Wis., in 2011.
“They said if they did it for one person, they’d have to do it for everybody else.”
Four Clippers players chipped in to cover the $70,000 cost.Meanwhile, Sterling has been phoning friends for support, sources said.
You can read more here.
African-American Radio Host Says Donald Sterling Ban Is Unfair
Larry Elder appeared on Fox 11 in L.A. yesterday and defended the Clippers owner during his heated conversation. Elder believes that Sterling would still own the team if Magic would’ve kept his cool after the audio was released.
“Magic Johnson could have taken this thing to a nice high level … and he could’ve said, ‘I don’t care what Donald Sterling says”
Donald Sterling’s Girlfriend V. Stiviano Speaks
A lot of weird stuff going on with this woman.
First, Donald Sterling’s girlfriend V. Stiviano was filmed by paparazzi while roller skating in front of her apartment (above, courtesy of X17)…then, while speaking to the paps, she took time to tell them that one day, she will be the President of the United States (below). She also revealed that she never had a sexual or romantic relationship with Donald Sterling; however, in March, Sterling’s wife Rochelle filed a lawsuit to get back a $1.8 million apartment, cash and cars her husband had given to Stiviano.
Donald Sterling Refuses To Sell The L.A. Clippers
TMZ reports:
A defiant Donald Sterling just said he would NOT sell the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sterling told Fox News’ Jim Gray the team was NOT for sale. Gray said on Fox News he spoke with Sterling just before NBA Commish Adam Silver banned Sterling for life.
Silver said in his news conference … if 3/4 of the NBA owners get on board they can force Sterling to sell the team. If that happens it looks like Sterling may well go to legal war.
It sounds like it may come to that.
Plies – Donald Sterling: Racist Muthaf***a
Plies is never one to hold his tongue, so shortly after Donald Sterling was given his lifetime ban from the NBA, he released the above song.
Donald Sterling Banned From NBA For Life
During the press conference today, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has banned L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life from all NBA games (including that of the Clippers). Sterling will also be fined 2.5 million dollars.
NBA Press Conference On Donald Sterling (Live Stream)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver will discuss the investigation regarding Clippers owner Donald Sterling live in the stream above. Silver is expected to reveal disciplinary measures following the highly-publicized incident involving racist comments (specifically against Magic Johnson and any Blacks that want to come to his game) made over a leaked phone call with his girlfriend.
Doc Rivers Won’t Return To Clippers Under Donald Sterling
According to Yahoo, Los Angeles Clippers head coach and senior vice president of basketball operations Doc Rivers won’t return to the Clippers to work under Donald Sterling next season if the owner remains in power. I really don’t blame him; I wouldn’t want to work for Donald Sterling either.
CarMax Pulls Sponsorship Deal With L.A. Clippers After Owner Donald Sterling’s Racist Comments
According to CBS Sports, auto dealer CarMax pulled their sponsorship of the Los Angeles Clippers after alleged racist remarks from team owner Donald Sterling. In a statement from CarMax spokeswoman Catherine Gryp (below):
CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers’ owner completely unaccetable. These views directly conflict with CarMax’s culture of respect for all individuals. While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for 9 years and support the team, fans, and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship.
Magic Johnson Wants To Buy The L.A. Clippers
According to Yahoo, Magic Johnson wants a chance to buy the L.A. Clippers with his business partners if the NBA forces current owner Donald Sterling (in serious hot water over racist comments made to his girlfriend during a leaked phone call) out of the league.
PICS: L.A. Clippers Stage Silent Protest During Game
From CNN, where you can also read new responses from NBA players (like Michael Jordan):
The Clippers players staged a silent protest. As they warmed up for an NBA playoff game, the players removed their warmup shirts bearing team logos to reveal red T-shirts worn inside out, with the logos hidden. They finished warming up, removed the red shirts and played the game wearing their regular uniforms.
For the record, the Clippers lost, and tomorrow’s practice is cancelled.
New Donald Sterling Audio Released; Says He’s Not Racist Because He Puts Food On Black People’s Tables
From TMZ (by way of Deadspin):
More Donald Sterling audio has been released … this time, you can hear the Clippers’ owner explaining that doesn’t think he’s racist because he puts food on the tables of his his black employees.
The audio — just released on Deadspin — appears to pick up where the clip published on TMZ Sports leaves off … with Sterling’s girlfriend V. Stiviano challenging him on April 9th about why she can’t post photos of black people on her Instagram page.
GF: “I don’t understand, I don’t see your views. I wasn’t raised the way you were raised.”
Sterling: “Well then, if you don’t feel — don’t come to my games. Don’t bring black people, and don’t come.”
GF: “Do you know that you have a whole team that’s black, that plays for you?”
Sterling: “You just, do I know? I support them and give them food, and clothes, and cars, and houses. Who gives it to them? Does someone else give it to them? Do I know that I have—Who makes the game? Do I make the game, or do they make the game? Is there 30 owners, that created the league?”
Sterling also objects when Stiviano compares his attitude toward black people to the Holocaust.
PICS: Donald Sterling Hangs Out With (Black Guy) Smokey Robinson
In the midst of the controversy that is L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling telling his girlfriend not to bring black people to his games (which was caught on tape after the girlfriend in question — V. Stiviano — took a snapshot with Magic Johnson), it’s funny that some pictures have now surfaced of the guy hanging tight with none other than Smokey Robinson at an all-white affair (above).
President Obama & Lil Wayne Respond To Donald Sterling’s Comments; Girlfriend Isn’t Cooperating With NBA
Looks like Donald Sterling’s girlfriend (above, who you hear on the now-infamous tape, which sees the Clippers owner say some very racist things) suddenly doesn’t want to lose all that that money she was spending snitch on her guy. From TMZ:
A rep from the law office representing V. Stiviano tells TMZ … they heard NBA Commissioner Adam Silver state his intention to interview Stiviano, but that’s not going to happen right now. We’re told her lawyer, Mac Nehoray, will not allow her to answer questions about pending litigation against his client filed by Sterling’s estranged wife.
Shelly Sterling claims in her lawsuit Stiviano embezzled $1.8 million by scheming to get as much as she could from an old man — Donald Sterling. Stiviano claims everything she got was a gift.
Nehoray says her refusal to talk to the Commish has nothing to do with the audio tape … he believes talking to Silver would get in the way of her defense in the lawsuit.
We’re told Silver will have to agree to some major limitations in questioning … before his client would talk. But we’re told that won’t happen anytime soon.
Below, the latest 2 cents come from President Barack Obama and (a very direct) Lil Wayne.
L.A. Clippers’ Donald Sterling: I’m Not A Racist
From TMZ:
Donald Sterling has come out swinging, with the Clippers organization right behind him … saying he and his team don’t know if the audio TMZ Sports released is legit … but he says it does NOT reflect his views toward African Americans.
Sterling and the Clippers organization tell TMZ Sports, “We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered.”
The statement goes on … We do know that the woman on the tape — who we believe released it to TMZ — is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family, alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would ‘get even.'”
And the statement goes on, “Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life.”
And there’s this: “He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them.”
Chris Paul & Kevin Johnson Respond To Donald Sterling Comments
Spotted on CBS Sports:
In response to the allegations about racist remarks attributed to Donald Sterling on a recorded conversation, National Basketball Players Association president and Los Angeles Clippers‘ point guard Chris Paul and NBPA adviser and Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson issued statements about the situation:
Statement from Chris Paul – NBPA President
“On behalf of the National Basketball Players Association, this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively. We have asked Mayor Kevin Johnson to expand his responsibilities with the NBPA, to determine our response and our next steps. As players, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and the drive to the Finals.”
Statement from Mayor Kevin Johnson
“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. I have spoken with NBPA President Chris Paul and will be leading the NBPA in addressing the implications of this serious matter. I will be formally reaching out to the NBA today to determine our next steps. While I originally came on to lead the Executive Director search, this issue requires immediate attention from the players association. I will be keeping Chris Paul, the Executive Committee, and all player representatives informed of every step.”
Paul re-signed with the Clippers as a free agent this past summer to the tune of five years and $107 million. He was named the players union president back in August of last year.
Stephen A. Smith Responds To Donald Sterling Comments; There Could Be A Clippers Boycott
His response is above…spotted on TMZ:
ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith says several members of the L.A. Clippers considered not taking the floor tomorrow against the Golden State Warriors as a protest against team owner Donald Sterling.
Smith says several players on the team are FURIOUS after hearing the comments Sterling made to his girlfriend in an audio tape published by TMZ Sports.
Its unclear what will happen tomorrow — but Reverend Jesse Jackson has suggested the team employ a “symbolic expression” to show their disdain and disapproval for Sterling.
Magic Johnson Responds To Clippers Donald Sterling
Today, some racist comments hit the internet from Clippers Owner Donald Sterling about African Americans and Magic Johnson. Magic himself took to Twitter to respond (below):
Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan Responds To Donald Sterling’s Racist Comments
We’ve seen various responses from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Magic Johnson, Meek Mill and more….now, one of Donald Sterling’s own players have given quite the powerful response by posting a simple Instagram message:
If you’ve been living under a rock, the L.A. Clippers owner recently came under fire after telling his Black girlfriend to stop being Blacks to his games after she took a picture with Magic Johnson and posted the photo on Instagram.
Audio Leaks Of L.A. Clippers Owner Telling His (Black) Girlfriend Not To Bring Blacks To His Games
From TMZ:
L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling told his GF he does NOT want her bringing black people to his games … including Magic Johnson … and it’s ALL on tape.
TMZ Sports has obtained audio of Sterling making the racist declaration during a heated argument on April 9th with V. Stiviano … after she posted a photo on Instagram posing with Magic.
Sterling rails on Stiviano — who ironically is black and Mexican — for putting herself out in public with a black person (she has since taken the pic down). But it doesn’t end there. You have to listen to the audio to fully grasp the magnitude of Sterling’s racist worldview. Among the comments:
— “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” (3:30)
— “You can sleep with [black people]. 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.” (5:15)
— “I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.” (7:45)
— “…Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.” (9:13)
Sterling has a documented history of allegedly racist behavior — he’s been sued twice by the federal government for allegedly refusing to rent apartments to Blacks and Latinos.
He was also sued by former Clippers exec Elgin Baylor for racial discrimination — though a jury was ultimately not convinced and shot down Baylor’s case.
Sterling has been separated from his wife Shelly for years. She remains a key player in running the team and sources tell us she’s “mortified” by Sterling’s comments.
We have made several calls to Sterling and his people … so far, no word back.
You can check out a lot of celebrity responses — including from Magic Johnson — here.