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THE STERLING AFFAIRS Part 4: Fallout (2019)

THE STERLING AFFAIRS Part 4: Fallout (2019)

Released Wednesday, 29th May 2024
Good episode? Give it some love!
THE STERLING AFFAIRS Part 4: Fallout (2019)

THE STERLING AFFAIRS Part 4: Fallout (2019)

THE STERLING AFFAIRS Part 4: Fallout (2019)

THE STERLING AFFAIRS Part 4: Fallout (2019)

Wednesday, 29th May 2024
Good episode? Give it some love!
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Episode Transcript

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0:00

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for everyone! Fuel restrictions apply. After

0:30

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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