Episode Transcript
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the Sterling table and public, I don't
0:32
think people realize how close the Clippers.
0:34
And the Warriors were to boycotting and be a
0:36
playoff game. Where's. President Rick
0:38
Well told me at the time. The. Both
0:40
teams are prepared to boycott Game five
0:42
if Adam Silver didn't do something drastic.
0:46
Lot. Of players have told me the years
0:48
since they have regrets about the choice they
0:50
made to continue playing. Clippers.
0:52
Guard Jamal Crawford told me if we didn't
0:54
play, I honestly think it would have outlived
0:56
us. The people would still be talking about
0:58
it when we're not here. Anymore. Sometimes
1:02
I wonder what would have happened if the Clippers.
1:04
And warriors had boycotted. With.
1:06
The players have continue that year with Doc
1:08
Rivers of the players and become the face
1:10
of a movement with a choice of made
1:13
a bigger impact on sports history. Will.
1:16
Never know because and be a commissioner.
1:18
Adam Silver did make that pivotal decision.
1:21
Take. A Listen. To
1:27
your i'm a weirdo coming later. Donald
1:29
Sterling's the owner. you.com or surprised.
1:31
About on albums Rise or not I didn't
1:34
like the comments. obviously not know tell you.
1:36
Now onto the job. I have a team
1:38
so the players will not going to deal
1:40
with. This is a lotta guys voice their
1:42
opinions. You know we're happy about it. We're
1:45
trying to go out for something that we've
1:47
all bring about all our childhoods and down
1:49
or anyone else had nothing to do with
1:51
their dream. Right now our goals haven't changed,
1:54
our focus is on Golden State and it's
1:56
gonna. Stay on the runway.
2:12
We are basketball is the pinnacle of ask
2:15
him off at when you play. easy to
2:17
use were that's what you go to training
2:19
camp for the ups and downs of the
2:22
season as the pain that blood sweat and
2:24
tears. Blake Griffin and the Clippers were
2:26
right in the middle of the playoffs. When.
2:28
Tmz Really? Is that Donald Sterling tape?
2:31
Late on Friday night April twenty sixth,
2:33
Two. Thousand And Fourteen. Years
2:37
are. You
2:40
don't south with walk with
2:42
black people you don't have
2:44
to everyone and heard it.
2:48
It was all any went to talk. About all weekend.
2:50
And now here it was. Sunday morning,
2:52
ladies and forty eight hours later. In
2:55
the Clippers who had a to one lead
2:57
in the series against the Gone Say Warriors
2:59
were supposed to play game for up in
3:01
Oakland. The
3:03
players at work their asses off from the time
3:05
they were too young to whole deregulation ball to
3:07
get to this day. This
3:10
was Sterling's mass, not the players
3:12
and yet you're It was landing
3:14
on their shoulders, consuming them. Are
3:17
just remember as a team we had to talk
3:19
about it almost every time we met. You know
3:21
to me because it was that big of a
3:23
thing. Clipper
3:26
coach Doc Rivers had seen a lot in his time.
3:29
He'd. Experience the highs and lows of
3:31
the and Ba first. As a players.
3:33
And as a coach. He'd
3:35
also survived his own house being burned down.
3:38
In what was believed to have been a
3:40
racially motivated incident. But
3:43
even he had never seen anything quite
3:45
like this. Are guy
3:47
didn't understand the magnitude. A new
3:49
with Donald Sterling has say it
3:52
was awful but I thought it
3:54
was a sport thing and then
3:56
when we wanted a press conference
3:58
and when I. The and I
4:00
saw Cbs truck babysitter and then I
4:02
saw the newsmen. I had to let
4:04
the players always get off the bus.
4:07
Verse our that when I said i
4:09
guys go the gym iso members for
4:11
twenty minutes say hooker. This.
4:13
Is Matt sports store. Where.
4:16
Member that twenty minutes thinking that
4:18
the players ask me to say
4:20
had to be represented. Because
4:22
it was about them and that's I kept
4:25
thing and this is about them and representing
4:27
the. Dunk
4:29
It begs his players to speak with
4:31
one voice and when they agreed. He
4:34
offered them his. He would
4:37
face the questions. He would give the
4:39
answers. He. Would try to navigate this
4:41
all consuming. miss. Our
4:43
goal is to win the in the
4:45
a time and we're not gonna let
4:48
anything stand in a way of that.
4:50
He did his fastball to be his
4:52
team sealed and their voice ah that's
4:54
adversity that we did Martha, we have
4:56
it's We have to deal with it
4:58
internally, but we're not gonna share it
5:01
with anybody else. This is the greatest
5:03
moments of. Doc Rivers
5:05
career as. A coach
5:07
or as a man. Lungs
5:09
and Clippers broadcaster Ralph Lawler.
5:12
He. Was all that was left really?
5:14
Because. Sterling. Was in
5:17
disgrace. Doc. Had no
5:19
place to turn nobody the ask
5:21
about anything. And. He
5:23
just did an unbelievable job. Of
5:26
somehow getting it together and
5:28
then keeping it together. I
5:30
don't know how they did
5:33
it. The
5:35
not even.to keep the world trying
5:37
ears and eyes from his players.
5:39
Remember going to take my nap
5:41
and waking up and like my
5:43
phone being like two hundred messages.
5:45
Some like that the phones at
5:48
a Clippers players are going crazy
5:50
Smart is a writer for The
5:52
Undefeated. He was covering the Clippers
5:54
and Warriors playoff series. Everybody hadn't
5:56
opinions. And a know have got to
5:58
be overwhelming for a lot of. The players
6:00
because everybody was time to tell
6:03
them what they should do. Players
6:05
former players stern a list of
6:07
all stripes and credibility was shouting their
6:10
opinions from. The. Rooftops, Even
6:12
Steven Jackson slip played for the
6:14
Clippers earlier that season. Our
6:17
not much of an economic recovery
6:19
provided that was my my require.
6:21
A lot of people have died
6:24
while they were thought to make
6:26
me as a market. For
6:29
that I'm upset with Aca that know
6:31
you guys feel might want their played
6:33
about a murder suspect, the networks and
6:35
the health of the Reverend Jesse Jackson
6:38
was giving interviews about how the clippers
6:40
should react forces what will they do
6:42
I know indicates a Tree One mod,
6:44
the Miami Ministry mumbo wearing their. Food
6:47
is it are reacting to races
6:49
attack up for and the killing
6:51
of three one modern football the
6:53
players to look for the police
6:55
union do story was all over
6:57
the news all over sports talk
6:59
radio. yeah I accept Rivers in
7:02
a third. Any kind of protest
7:04
planned I was actually told within
7:06
the hour step players will consider
7:08
rings it's actually not playing you
7:10
know we've already parakhouski the last
7:12
with critical her snacks way prepares
7:14
to not focus game. That
7:16
was a tough situation to those I would
7:19
you do you have people come out the
7:21
will work sexiness since don't play any games.
7:23
Make. A say in. Super. Center
7:25
Ryan Hollins felt that pressure. He.
7:28
Sells everyone's outrage. And we're certainly.
7:31
And he didn't think it was fair. People.
7:33
Side to be. Putting. The be so
7:35
appalled when the story came out. When
7:38
it's like yo, John knew who
7:40
he was. Why? Are you
7:42
surprised? He's the same. do not
7:45
a white Christmas positive, new, He the
7:47
same dude who had is kicking black
7:49
people out as buildings. Why are you
7:51
so appalled right now that you heard
7:53
in new words that were supposed to
7:55
be behind closed doors like brown like
7:57
do your research. But as he
7:59
may, Matt Barnes. Understood. A small
8:01
but powerful nuance. What?
8:03
A difference a recording makes. This.
8:06
Is one Tyra think the organization new and I'm
8:08
for the M B a new like we have
8:10
a bad apple and he phony. Fucked.
8:13
Up and in we have proof. Now in on to
8:15
me like we have tape. Know. You're. Looking
8:17
at the scale of the magnitude of a owner
8:19
of a professional team saying the stuff of mean
8:22
cause I mean I do as a team he
8:24
needed to do some the stand together to show
8:26
that this is not right. You know?
8:28
And ultimately they had to decide what they
8:30
should do. Not grandma or in the brawn
8:32
James. I'm certain ways players
8:34
will take some some the clippers players a
8:37
like what can we do. Mark. Spears
8:39
from the undefeated. The warriors
8:41
were. Ready. To join forces
8:43
with them and whatever they decided to
8:45
do. And. Their time in a
8:47
locker room waiting to get word. Andre
8:50
Iguodala was one of. Those. Warriors players.
8:52
Willing. To take a stand with the Clippers.
8:55
Yeah. Was now me? Now Was all in? You
8:57
know, like. Said. Down a whole season.
9:00
May maybe that I was. That was too
9:02
far. As far as that game that day
9:04
you've is reschedule it. You gotta? You gotta
9:06
sorta thing out because ah there's some deep
9:09
outta stuff. With. Him there had
9:11
to be addressed. To Clippers,
9:13
the Warriors, the N B A. All
9:16
of them were in uncharted territory. No
9:18
team had ever is used to start a game in
9:20
the N B A before. Never. Mind
9:22
the playoffs and so mentally do
9:25
so would be disqualified, are forced
9:27
to forfeit And was it even
9:29
fair to ask these man to
9:31
give up on their lifelong dream.
9:33
When they did nothing wrong and the
9:35
fall for all the hate Know the
9:37
racism. Still, Living comfortably,
9:40
embezzling was. Returned side
9:42
what to do and everybody was saying
9:44
we should boycott, we shouldn't play in
9:46
the idea was like okay we haven't
9:48
been playing for him to the first
9:51
place. We didn't know gather of the
9:53
for dumb bones or danced around three
9:55
one two three. We
9:57
know play for Donald. Of.
10:00
Replay one game a mockery of for Donald Sterling.
10:03
Never played for it and number these own as
10:05
I play for myself. A favorite. M B A
10:07
for the love it Again. When
10:24
the Clippers arrived at Oracle Arena, stage
10:26
was set for a protest. A
10:28
Clippers protest. All
10:31
eyes were on and. I
10:33
thought the Clippers had the grandest
10:35
of stages to make a worldwide
10:38
stance against what stolen said. It
10:40
was a Sunday afternoon playoff game
10:42
and was the whole world was
10:45
watching. As
10:47
if he hadn't already done enough damage to his
10:49
players. Donald Sterling managed
10:51
to make things even more difficult work
10:53
out out the he was coming to
10:55
the game. Wow this is happening down
10:58
goes well I'm still going to the
11:00
game v still allow a land and
11:02
will I yelled is dude as much.
11:06
As usual, the job sell to
11:08
Doc Rivers to find a way
11:11
to six cents an hour before
11:13
the time I'm on the phone
11:15
with Ownership Avenue the most heated
11:18
argument you could possibly. Have
11:20
our advertising gentleness on some
11:22
a minute because I'm assuming
11:24
the argument fall apart. Who's
11:27
going to come to the
11:29
day? In the
11:31
end, Dot and Donald
11:34
for once case. The
11:36
Clippers owner stayed away. And watched
11:38
on Tv with slippers President Auntie Rosa.
11:42
While back at Oracle. Ready or
11:44
not, It was time for
11:46
the Clippers to make their statements in
11:48
a lot of thought about what apps
11:50
in the places you wouldn't have to
11:52
those who only as and that was
11:55
he was is an accident or the
11:57
size of a building and the games
11:59
home. Let the locker room
12:01
to wait. In the tone of the clippers
12:03
huddled in their hallway right outside the water
12:05
and they locked arms they have their heads
12:08
bowed or and they were over heard shouting
12:10
quote it is just us only us we
12:12
are all we got. It was back before
12:14
than I do have a lot to do
12:17
and this summer. The. Announcers
12:19
voice echoed throughout the sold out
12:21
crowd at Oracle Arena. Introducing.
12:23
The Clippers. It was
12:26
time to take the court. Or member
12:28
in a walk down to my. Didn't.
12:30
Do it didn't do something is going to
12:33
be that moment. My Tommy Smith, John Carlos
12:35
Ninety Six the a moment I'm a beer
12:37
to see it is in Oakland and is
12:39
a whole Black Panthers right back in the
12:42
locker room. The Clippers had finally landed on
12:44
what they were going to do and I
12:46
to say of western order to those that
12:49
are are both for said unsafe of his
12:51
best while on him and then says we
12:53
gather the system in the center court together.
12:56
Doc Rivers had told the Clippers players
12:58
whatever, you guys decided to do it
13:00
as a T. The
13:03
Clippers emerged from the tunnel and jogged
13:05
center court. They. Took off all
13:07
their warm up tops and what the
13:09
clippers are wearing of our shirts that
13:11
are inside out so does basically just
13:14
it all red hot. Their tops do
13:16
not have anything related to the named
13:18
flipper. Are them right? him? After
13:21
the slightest of pauses, they turned. Left
13:24
center court and started their
13:26
practice, forming their landline. We've.
13:28
Been taught by Jesse Owens in the
13:31
Matrix form right in front of her
13:33
or that you perform go out and
13:35
no one wants help you out of
13:38
your job and what you dream though.
13:40
We have a sauce and I think
13:42
that's the message So I think this
13:45
is a messenger back to be on
13:47
his or got teary eyes I was
13:49
there. My mom's from
13:52
the south mud periods of.what a
13:54
lot of racism thing so i
13:56
was hoping idea of a make
13:58
a grandstand. I was open. They
14:00
were gonna play. I
14:03
remember when they started playing Man
14:05
I I got tears a miser.
14:07
disappointment. I think
14:10
if they had boycotted, it would have been
14:12
a history book story and would have been
14:14
iconic. But they
14:16
decided to go the more peaceful rose.
14:21
For the Clippers, Say
14:23
applying for south. Of.
14:34
The. Clippers wanted to make a statement. On the
14:36
court. That once the game slipped
14:39
off for. A.
14:43
Long. Way
14:45
it came out firing. The clippers
14:47
have nothing offer. What a while
14:49
though lawyer what is if they
14:51
will not be denied. On this
14:53
afternoon here they lasted as if
14:55
is our energy was gone and
14:57
we will focus on everything. For
14:59
fastball fights one of the first
15:01
four or five for five themselves
15:03
out of the pursue. A
15:09
settlement I don't know how to vote
15:11
is horrible I say. played against us
15:13
like airplanes and Sterling like we were
15:15
the bad guys, like they attacked us
15:17
like they wanted his head. He says,
15:19
you know and I don't know thousand
15:21
xactly the mindset that there was no
15:24
mindset of we're we're foods you guys
15:26
We feel that ain't so bad for
15:28
us. They hold. On
15:33
for hours. Slippers
15:37
loss when he. Seems and Ninety seven
15:39
he saw the result. Now they
15:41
need to win basketball games gold and
15:43
and it seems. Less San Francisco on
15:45
Sunday night. In a bad situation. The
15:48
series was tied to games apiece. The
15:51
Clippers were suddenly in danger of not
15:53
making it out of the first round,
15:55
were about to throw our season away,
15:57
so we had to get it. The
16:00
other we have to figure stuff out
16:02
man now the series was headed back
16:04
to allay we're going home now and
16:06
usually that would mean we're going to
16:08
are safe haven and I don't even
16:10
know that stuff. To be honest I'd
16:12
a lot of houses there was a
16:14
nervous about what a zombie life is
16:16
going to be easier or harder to
16:18
go back to L A and and
16:20
and deal with it. Because.
16:23
The City of Los Angeles. Was dealing with
16:25
the selling came to the city that's been
16:27
home to some of America's worst race of
16:29
the visit. The Watts
16:31
Riots and Nineteen Sixty Five, The Riots
16:34
as the Rodney King Verdict and Nineteen
16:36
Eighty Two O J. Simpson Trial. Now
16:39
the largest residents a landlord. And Los
16:42
Angeles man with a history
16:44
of housing discriminate saying this
16:46
on tape. There
16:48
was legitimate fear that when the series
16:51
move back to allay Islands mind or
16:53
us. Especially with
16:55
a few like Donald Sterling, a man
16:57
who could start a firestorm with a
16:59
wet that. I
17:01
was thoroughly is a person who should
17:03
not over basketball team reflect for years or.
17:07
I think Donald Sterling his arm
17:09
and despicable. and the bad guy?
17:13
The hashtag boycott Clippers was trending on every
17:15
platform you can hash tag on. And.
17:18
Doc Rivers had to take that on. Sale at
17:20
so up at the Staples Center
17:22
and front office. Crazy fire that
17:24
I had nothing to do with
17:26
the employees are for than the
17:28
walked out they were did bombarded
17:30
by people call on them Uncle
17:32
Tom Race is a Made it
17:35
Through was founded. The
17:37
phones that the Clippers offices were ringing off the
17:39
has. Calls from angry hurt people
17:41
from all over. Here.
17:43
Stand for supporting a racist like
17:45
Donald Sterling. You're just
17:47
as racist as he is. They
17:50
were so many death threats. And the
17:52
whole situation. Was so traumatic. That.
17:54
The N B I had to call in a crisis
17:57
counselor. The. League brought in
17:59
some mom. People for Emotional
18:01
Support Time My broadcast buddy Brian
18:03
same as and you gotta go
18:05
sit down with that person I
18:07
talked to him said you're you're
18:09
all messed up and I did
18:11
not do that by perhaps should
18:14
have a might have a shortened
18:16
my period of shock and grief
18:18
is it was. Such. A
18:20
terrible time for all of us. I
18:23
may have handled it as poorly as
18:25
anybody because I'd I'd been around for
18:28
so long. Thirty. Five years in
18:30
or something or other. And
18:32
it just really. Rock.
18:34
To me. It. Was. An
18:37
emotional roller coaster at, but it was all
18:39
downhill you'd never thought you're gonna get to
18:41
get back to the top again. Then.
18:44
The Clippers sponsorships began to evaporate.
18:46
Among. The largest sponsors that who much
18:48
Indians they have dropped out as has
18:50
Car Max and Virgin America, State Farm
18:53
and Key and Rebel are spending their
18:55
marketing operations in fact Red Bull. As
18:57
told The Clippers, they do not want
18:59
any size in the Staples Center. The
19:05
Clippers or hurtling towards elimination if they
19:07
couldn't get their basketball focused. And
19:11
both the team and the and yea were
19:13
flirting with the not yet invented term have
19:15
been. Cancelled is the league Didn't
19:17
deal with Donald Sterling. This
19:25
episode is supported by Ethics Is
19:27
Clipped based on the E S
19:29
P and Thirty for Thirty podcast.
19:31
The series recounts the scandalous story
19:33
of the Twenty Fourteen Clippers owners
19:35
racist remarks, camps it on tape
19:37
and heard around the world. The
19:39
Charts The tapes impact on a
19:42
dysfunctional basketball organization striving to win
19:44
against their reputation as the most
19:46
curse team in the lead storing
19:48
Laurence Fishburne, Jackie Weaver, Cleopatra, Call
19:50
Me and Ed O'neill Fx Is
19:52
Clipped streaming June fourth only own
19:54
Hulu. I want
19:56
to tell you a story. It's a
19:58
story about a scandal, broken relations, Gossip
20:00
rumors, money, corporate rivalries and approve
20:02
a performance enhancing broom. My name
20:04
is John Salad. I'm a comedian,
20:07
podcast or and for twenty years
20:09
I was a semi professional curler
20:11
and I want to tell you
20:13
the story about how single broom
20:15
almost imploded five hundred year old
20:17
sport of curling. We feel like
20:19
we're bringing a nice to against.
20:21
It's the story of a superstar
20:23
and his fall from grace. I
20:26
was being dragged through the mud.
20:28
It's the story of to brother
20:30
entrepreneurs. With the jury her I said that's
20:32
great news, it's a story of injury. Still
20:34
don't reason why we wanted to the same
20:36
season. The
20:38
full story has never been told
20:40
so I'm gonna tell him. Groomed
20:42
in our room almost killed curling.
20:44
It was a year I'd like
20:46
to forget to listen to Broom
20:48
Gate. Search for Broom Gates in
20:51
your favorite podcast app. That's all
20:53
one word. Broom. Gates. Justice.
20:56
Never mind. Racial justice. Can.
20:58
Be a tricky thing to ask for in the and Bs.
21:01
Or anywhere else for that matter. A
21:04
professional sports league is a very particular
21:06
bubble. Were. Crazy amounts of wells
21:08
and same. Help. Shape a world
21:10
that often feels cut off from reality. But.
21:13
A league like the Mbs is also
21:16
of reflection of the world around it.
21:18
Were. Historically the power has. Been held
21:21
by old, rich, white and. Even
21:24
the commissioner. The one person
21:26
in position. To serve justice. Literally.
21:29
Works for the owners, not the players. But.
21:32
Unfortunately for those old rich white men,
21:35
Times were changing. Kevin
21:39
Johnson was representing the N B A
21:41
Players Association. At the time and spoke
21:43
to the press about the kinds
21:45
of conversations that were happening behind
21:47
the scenes. We are going on
21:49
the phone in the players around
21:51
and week said we want to
21:53
immediate investigation, They wanted to make
21:55
sure that the players voices were
21:57
heard Iberia want to be passive
21:59
aggressive if they want to be
22:01
active in Odyssey the Table and
22:03
lastly they wanted to yeah the
22:05
maximum sanction the most severe sanctioned
22:07
possible or that were allowable under
22:09
the and be A guideline Johnson
22:11
me these men supplements including asking
22:13
Silver for a full reckoning, a
22:15
serling history of racist incidents and
22:17
answers about why. In the
22:19
I had never sanctions. The.
22:22
Clippers chose not to boycott game for.
22:24
Said that didn't mean game
22:26
Five was a lot to
22:28
play. Silvers Investigations. Didn't end
22:31
with a judicial outcomes. The
22:33
protests. Would no longer be polite. Or
22:35
silence right after our i talk to
22:37
the player of i call Commissioner Silver
22:39
and he just said this is really
22:41
hard for the league right now and
22:43
I go and it's hard for the
22:45
league but if a defining moment if
22:48
our moment of truth and of us
22:50
are using sports once again to transcend
22:52
the everyday challenges of society and lead
22:54
by example. The. N be
22:56
A no longer have the option to sit back
22:58
and do nothing about Donald Sterling's racism. It's
23:01
not that Sterling's. Police for unique or
23:04
even knew. That. Plantation mentality
23:06
has been around as long as this
23:08
country has existed. The.
23:10
Players understood the world was changing.
23:13
And. It was changing in part. Because
23:15
of this. Seven.
23:18
Years earlier. in Two thousand and Eight.
23:20
With. Donald Sterling was in the middle of his housing.
23:22
Discrimination lawsuit with the Department of
23:25
Justice. The. End the A was
23:27
so league with a player's remain relatively quiet
23:29
on political. Issues and I remembered
23:31
when Le Bron James her teammate
23:33
who was protesting about was going
23:36
on in Darfur. and as the
23:38
brawn about a news like need
23:40
do more research. No.
23:42
Comment. But. Then Le Bron
23:45
James did that research. And chose to
23:47
comment. James. Says he will
23:49
help raise awareness about China's role
23:51
in Sudan. There should be some
23:53
kind of my son A poisonous athletes are
23:55
word so strong that on a lot of
23:57
people listen to. Would
24:00
realize something his voice as a
24:02
player mattered. With. Millions of
24:05
fans around the world. He. Had
24:07
the power to influence, And
24:09
he had a responsibility to do something with
24:11
that power. In Live in a
24:13
Day with all my human rights in our
24:15
top mark contracts here we not talk about
24:17
you know money we talk about the was
24:20
live near los. A
24:22
tremor have changed started to rumble throughout the and
24:24
being. Two
24:26
years later into their the to the
24:28
brawn, James claimed his power as a
24:31
superstar in league in a way no
24:33
player ever had before. The
24:35
absence of the question everybody wants
24:38
it off Le Bron, what's your
24:40
decision He announced his decision to
24:42
leave the Cleveland Cavaliers live on
24:45
national television. And
24:47
the phone with my town's to south beach
24:49
and on join my. Plan:
24:52
go to Miami Informants Super
24:54
team with waiting for his
24:56
boss room. Before.
25:02
He into the final. the whole thing you. Are
25:09
losing their superstars? Estimated value.
25:11
Fucking is terrified Owners.
25:13
Are in the lead to
25:16
realizations. One player could impact
25:18
their bottom. And
25:20
even worse, the fear that players could and
25:23
would band together to make the leave work
25:25
the way that they wanted to do. So
25:29
the owners began to fade to make it
25:31
harder for any player to ever have that
25:33
much power over a franchise again. Or
25:36
the N B. A lock out officially began
25:38
last night. Twelve Award I am Eastern South
25:40
the owners one of their power back. And
25:43
in the two thousand Eleven lockout. They
25:45
got it. After one hundred and forty
25:47
nine, they lock out approximately half a
25:50
billion dollars in losses. a handshake agreement.
25:52
Early Saturday, the owners revenue share went
25:54
up, as did the penalty. For teams
25:56
who went over the salary cap. What kind
25:58
of deal? as the Senate? The and for
26:00
the players while he has another be
26:02
integrated still unaware we all know that
26:05
they've had to give back in excess
26:07
of a billion dollars. Pretty clear when
26:09
for management and a clear message from
26:11
owners to players whose turn control. In
26:15
last very long now. Says the
26:17
real world finally came crashing through the
26:19
and be as possible. This is the
26:21
face of Seven Zero Three Von Martin
26:23
was death is provoked weeks of demonstrations.
26:25
It's a nice a rally around your.
26:30
In The Eggs and Control how force in
26:32
the real world would affect his African American
26:34
players. More. How those players
26:36
would response. And as you can see
26:39
here, Le Bron James took to Twitter.
26:41
He posted a team photo of the
26:43
Miami Heat clad in hoodies. It was
26:45
accompanied by the hashtag we are trying
26:47
of on Martin. We now in an
26:49
area of social media. Cel Roberts is
26:51
the Executive Director of the N B
26:53
A Players Association. These young men have
26:55
millions of people following them and they
26:57
know. And these are men. Know that
26:59
the millions of people that are following
27:01
them are listening. There is
27:04
a certain degree of power that comes
27:06
with the settlers. Some happens, they can
27:08
instantaneously tell you what they think. Good,
27:11
Bad indifferent Way to speak to millions
27:13
of people just by the push of
27:15
a button. That social media
27:17
whole aspect. Same thing with Israel. Real power
27:19
shift is on a day to day basis.
27:22
The. World is here from the players are bonus.
27:25
And. In the years leading up to this
27:27
moments, players like Matt Barnes all about embracing
27:29
that new powers that be more the son
27:31
of a dribble Now Nova School successful for
27:34
who we are and will be do over
27:36
most of all. Men for Two. Hours
27:40
well as was overseas
27:43
purpose do so much.
27:46
As a side that didn't begin with,
27:48
Donald Sterling has been happening historically both
27:51
and our game and in other sports
27:53
for many, many, many years. But
27:55
the players of I work for our
27:58
men and they demand to be. Read
28:00
it like men. Nothing could have
28:02
a mere athletes. but as men
28:04
and men don't tolerate that kind
28:06
of ignorance. That was Donald Sterling,
28:08
you don't tolerate that and your
28:11
space. When his hip came out,
28:13
the players have megaphones and weren't
28:15
afraid to use the like The
28:17
Warriors: Andre Iguodala we can't forget
28:19
I'm was are we haven't Whenever
28:21
we get opportunities we got when
28:23
her own that of metal does
28:25
attack we gotta go as a
28:28
mix when they get was obvious.
28:30
Read your it because we all with your
28:32
disposal We make mistakes and they don't know
28:34
was will be held accountable the way we
28:36
are when we make mistakes always say listen
28:38
we get opportunity to it's put off what's
28:40
on a neck we gotta go get him.
28:43
Through. The Players' Union The Players. Made it clear
28:45
to Adam silver. Players feel
28:47
that this owner is not fit in
28:49
worthy. I'll be part of the and
28:52
be a family and as one family.
28:54
You know if there's a a racism
28:56
like cancer you have to immediately take
28:58
it out. Adam Silvers
29:01
investigation move fast. He
29:03
said four days to talk to players,
29:05
coaches, and owners. says. Investigator
29:07
talked to Donald. To. Confirm that
29:09
yes, that was him on the tape. He.
29:12
Also talked to Z and her lawyer. The
29:15
maintain that does knew she was recording
29:18
him. And she provided proof
29:20
of a third person on one of the tapes
29:22
to back up that claim. This.
29:24
Was an important detail. Maybe.
29:26
The most important detail. Because.
29:29
It's illegal record someone without their knowledge
29:31
in the state of California. And
29:33
now that silver new the tape was legit. He.
29:36
Couldn't. On
29:38
Tuesday, April twenty. Ninth at five Pm
29:41
Eastern time. Mere. Hours before
29:43
game size. Adam Silver
29:45
called a press conference. You
29:47
are looking live in Midtown Manhattan
29:49
where and be a Commissioner Adam
29:51
Silver is expected to take the
29:53
podium any second. Now it was
29:56
one of those where were you
29:58
when moments when everyone everywhere. To
30:00
a grinding halt at this point in a
30:02
in a bar Money that I apologize and
30:04
have interrupted because we see the Commissioner right?
30:07
Here comes the Commissioner. Now he's made his
30:09
way into the room so Jamal will solve
30:11
that. Let's go out of commission alive. I
30:13
was standing outside the Clippers practice facility reporting
30:15
for us to an like neither my enlightening
30:18
in one ear I had to feed from
30:20
the studio and the other the press conference.
30:23
My. Job was to make sense of
30:25
Silvers decision in real time that let's
30:27
go to the Commissioner live now being
30:29
here shortly after the release. of
30:32
an audio recording this past Saturday morning. Have
30:35
a conversation that it led to leak
30:37
included. Clippers owner Donald
30:40
Sterling. The. N B
30:42
A commenced and investigation. Which,
30:44
among other things included an interview
30:46
of Mister Stirling. That.
30:49
Investigation is now complete.
30:52
With me only by people were gonna really
30:54
make a team not just stand out or
30:56
in Greece stood up for the zebra. Really
30:58
gonna make a change was Adam Silver majority
31:00
of their owners. Affective Immediately.
31:04
I am banning Mister Stirling. For
31:08
Life. From. Any association
31:10
with the Clippers organization.
31:13
Or the N B A. Mister
31:16
Stirling may not attend. Any.
31:18
And be a games or practices. He.
31:22
May not be present at any
31:24
Clippers facility. And
31:27
he may not participate in
31:29
any business or player personnel
31:31
decisions involving the team. I
31:37
was shocked by what I heard.
31:39
I was prepared for a lengthy
31:41
suspension. I was prepared for fine.
31:44
I wasn't prepared for this. Out
31:46
of silver was not going for
31:48
the maximum sentence he was doing
31:50
more than of even realize he
31:52
could do. He also be barred
31:54
from attending and be a board
31:56
of Governors meetings for participating in
31:58
any other li. Activity.
32:02
I am also finding Mister
32:04
Stirling two point five million
32:06
dollars the maximum amount allowed
32:08
under the and be A
32:10
Constitution. The commissioner
32:13
works for the owners and here he
32:15
was banning one of them for like.
32:19
I could not imagine his predecessor,
32:21
David Stern doing this. The.
32:24
Guy who turn the other cheek so many times.
32:27
But Adam Silver had listened to the players.
32:30
He. Taken a stand against an owner. Said.
32:32
Many of us knew the League had abided
32:34
by for decades. Why
32:37
did you ban Donald Sterling for life? I.
32:39
Believe that he had crossed the line. The
32:42
broke the essence of the contract
32:44
of the moral fiber of this
32:46
week. The. In values that
32:49
had been part of this
32:51
week from the earliest days.
32:53
And I didn't think it could
32:55
be repaired. I think that's. Where.
32:58
The lifetime ban came in. I thought
33:00
that. There was no way that
33:02
we could turn the clock back at that point.
33:05
His tenure was going to be judged on
33:07
what he did off as very first and
33:09
you know as from islam and I think
33:11
he has the great I will say there
33:13
was probably an advantage in my newness to
33:16
the job and net it all happened so
33:18
quickly. I didn't spend a
33:20
lot of time putting my actions
33:22
and to a broader context of.
33:25
Sports. Leagues Or Society because
33:27
I had. An immediate issue
33:29
that required an immediate decision.
33:32
By. Making this decision, And
33:34
listening to his players silver validated
33:36
the players power in this league.
33:39
I. Saw this as an incremental step.
33:41
In. Terms of player rights and I
33:43
often didn't race. Player empowerment
33:46
back to the early days of
33:48
this league and. To. Me
33:50
this was part of the dna
33:52
of the players in this league.
33:56
This. Has been a painful moment for all
33:58
members of the N B. A. I.
34:01
Appreciate the support and understanding. Of.
34:04
Our players during this process. We.
34:07
Stand Together. And condemning.
34:10
Mister. Sterling's views. They
34:13
simply have no place in the and
34:15
be a. Silver
34:19
had acted swiftly and fairly. Zach
34:22
was when he said he was. Worried.
34:26
That. Magic Johnson Said guy who
34:28
had been at the center of. Donald's Races
34:31
tyrants. Great day for. The
34:34
United States and great day for same be
34:36
a. Great day
34:38
for. All people
34:41
of all races as by
34:43
the specialist out African Americans,
34:45
Latinos who believes it's. Marks
34:48
fears with across town where crowd
34:50
had gathered at City Hall. would
34:53
I do remember his own been
34:55
at City Hall and Karim been
34:57
there and Kevin Johnson and the
34:59
Mass. Former players and
35:02
some Curb players and they're ready
35:04
to pounce. In
35:06
the now the came out and
35:08
everybody was ready to scream and
35:10
tickets. From Staples
35:13
Center down and Adam Silver
35:15
was. I have an abandoned.
35:19
When it came out where they weren't. I.
35:23
Stand. At. Everybody was
35:25
absolutely stunned. Put down a picket signs
35:27
and the flaming torches. It's like everything
35:29
there but do like our they. Know.
35:32
We could do stronger to net. I
35:35
don't know if Adam Silver will have a great
35:37
a moment in this career and it happen in
35:39
the early days. I
35:42
was still standing outside The Clippers. Practice facility
35:44
and a press conference and it. Has
35:49
were driving. Lion hunting there who end and
35:51
celebration. It felt like all of Los
35:53
Angeles pullback than the brink. Finally,
35:56
someone had done something about our
35:58
service. All.
36:13
Eyes for fans and otherwise focus
36:16
on Staples Center. Tonight's Game Five
36:18
between the Warriors and Clippers. Silvers
36:20
decision had come just a few
36:22
hours before the Clippers were said
36:25
to play Game Five back in
36:27
Los Angeles. Rob age thirty years
36:29
in the past four days as
36:32
as the law and emotional rollercoaster
36:34
and I really feel like today
36:36
with Commissioner Silvers or Swift and
36:39
very thorough are now square with
36:41
father was lifted from the players.
36:43
Have the fans has to see a
36:45
ray of sunshine to see some blue
36:48
sky. As I say there's hope we
36:50
could have a great three game series
36:52
started. His eyes are been all my
36:54
years of covering sports. I've.
36:57
Never experienced anything like that. Same size
36:59
as the safest. Have
37:13
a novel be more hundred and some
37:16
are is hop is the most muslims
37:18
not the reason he he most as
37:20
really up i the most movement and
37:23
that as the adrenaline messages from a
37:25
raucous crowd be the difference those both
37:27
hundred a month. For
37:30
silva. Sans wearing black all the as
37:33
have uncovered in black. Every last
37:35
one of them. Has seen
37:37
signs every n be a team's her
37:39
their website to black with the message
37:41
we are, we're in. Bell
38:00
the energy those the liveliest
38:03
noting I'd ever been in.
38:05
have the Clipper. It was
38:07
amazing. Same
38:10
you assuming this is overwhelming
38:12
feeling us. Subtle serling a
38:14
racist has left the building. That
38:18
his wife Sally was so there. I
38:21
think ill as he just said that
38:23
I sit all the way up as
38:25
a tough even know her husband. Was
38:27
no longer allowed anywhere near the building.
38:29
Shelly Sterling came to game five. Seed.
38:32
Been at game for. She sat courtside
38:34
seats and it hadn't gone over well.
38:37
A game five. She's been asked to sit. Up. In
38:40
a luxury box? Actor needs
38:42
and see what would what the
38:44
game was about. I think
38:46
he just wanted to. See
38:49
the reaction as did fans that
38:51
they might say if I sat
38:53
on the floor they might get
38:55
upset. I just thought that as
38:58
that's what they want a do
39:00
the outside cause any problems and
39:02
I can still watch my teeth.
39:04
Technically this was still her team,
39:06
she was still allowed to be
39:08
there and in many ways she
39:10
was still welcome. I
39:12
lost very very times very very nice
39:15
some respects taught me by name, spoke
39:17
to me by name and knows incursion.
39:19
I got it sound like I talk
39:21
to her a lot more than I
39:23
thought about of i've of it's to
39:25
sellers a pleasant the have a nice.
39:28
Life. But so his
39:30
presence did put the team in a tough spot.
39:33
She was guilty by association. it
39:35
was. It was very awkward. I
39:38
felt I wanted to be epic games.
39:40
Is my team and I love the team!
39:43
You know you didn't know her personally but you
39:45
you feel bad for her and what is still
39:47
was a weird energy. Why you still here was
39:49
you want to be on a front row. You
39:52
married, I'm you. How far removed are
39:54
you from that? So yeah, I do
39:56
feel bad but I don't know how
39:58
much I trust you. I felt. I'm
40:01
not a racist and we never
40:03
were racist and I wanted to
40:05
show the people I'm not afraid
40:07
of anybody and I have nothing
40:09
to fear. Of.
40:12
Shelly watch from above. The clippers tried to
40:14
get their mojo back on the court. Has
40:32
won that game and held on to win
40:34
the series, but I decided I couldn't keep
40:37
following the Clippers playoff run. Not
40:39
because I had any way of knowing they lose in
40:41
the next round Oklahoma City and be done with their
40:43
season. But. Because what was
40:45
going on the rest of the playoffs wasn't really
40:47
the story anymore. The story
40:50
now was what the hell happened to this
40:52
franchise. Source: Sober
40:54
headband Arnold. But it was
40:56
a gesture, not a solution.
40:59
Dot still own the teams. And
41:02
Adam Silver still had to figure out how the and
41:04
be a could I do that? Facts: And
41:06
find a new owner. And he needed to
41:08
do it quickly. I
41:11
needed to follow how all this was going
41:13
to shake out Between Adam Silver in The
41:15
Sterling's. Had a hunch that
41:17
the drama was only. Starting although I
41:19
had no idea how dramatic you at
41:22
all and that be. Saddled
41:24
with never one to back down from a fight, And
41:27
every other day some celebrity or billionaire
41:29
was coming out as a potential buyer
41:31
for the team. As the team wins
41:33
on the court, there's no shortage of
41:35
celebrities who want to get it on.
41:37
the action packed say Magic Johnson said
41:40
because those magic I guess Fox or
41:42
Floyd Mayweather and rapper Sean Diddy Combs
41:44
and bullish groups. In
41:46
addition to Floyd in Diddy, there was
41:49
speculation that music mogul David Guess and
41:51
in Oracle Ceo Larry Ellison would put
41:53
his bid. Their group
41:55
also included Oprah Winfrey, Overseas
41:59
and. The and that the writing. On the
42:01
wall for Donald Sterling and the N B N.
42:04
This. Wasn't just about. The sale of a basketball
42:06
team. And she told
42:09
Tmz. This was bigger. I
42:12
gotta say, we're all off the
42:14
plane. Flying
42:17
fish are all. But
42:19
to get there we would end up where
42:22
everything with Arnold an. Important.
42:28
Time he wouldn't need to certainly versus
42:30
someone else. Is. Coming
42:50
up on the next episode of the Sterling Famous.
42:52
No. One even knew the clippers existed. Until
42:54
I came into the fence. I I
42:57
hear this horrible person. To slap
42:59
in the face. Over sixty years they've become
43:01
almost everything to each other, and I know
43:03
he less than five. Dollars toward furniture.
43:07
And you'll never divorced. This is still
43:09
you own systems. The sense of this
43:11
album covers one be a monster house
43:13
to consensus on on wall of sexy.
43:15
Everybody could do whatever the hell they
43:17
want. And he says okay, I want to
43:19
buy the team how much she was. It's
43:21
a shit show. One point six
43:24
to two point. Oh man the
43:26
appeal his is a signal saying
43:28
rings true Noodle soup where are
43:30
you have is your money been
43:32
autom money in the world and
43:34
going change his reputation.
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