Donald Sterling Will Fight NBA to the "Bloody End"

[eliteballer]

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10993013/donald-sterling-strongly-responds-nba-draconian-penalties

[Mrofir]

nightmare scenario for the league.

Could take years to resolve in court. Sterling might not live to see the end of the proceedings. Tons of bad press. If team is sold by wife it could get even more ugly down the line.


Risky business. I wonder what Stern would have done. Probably just a big fine..

[oh the horror]

If it gets ugly then doc and players should ask to get the hell out of there. As a player or coach you don't want to be linked with the constant bad press that'll come if that man continues to drag the team down with him.

[SexSymbol]

so for a few more months?

[East_Stone_Ya]

well he is the legal owner, he as every right to fight

[maybeshewill13]

Players and coach will boycott.

[oh the horror]

well he is the legal owner, he as every right to fight



He does. But the fact is, his time is done. No one wants him in LA.


There comes a time when your ass has to walk away with SOME dignity and apparently Donald didn't get the memo.

[buddha]

can't the league just ban the clippers franchise and create a new team?

maybe called the Seattle Supersonics.

[fiddy]

Players and coach will boycott.
Blake to LAL.

[Heavincent]

Silver really thought it would be easy, didn't he? :oldlol:

[Akrazotile]

If it gets ugly then doc and players should ask to get the hell out of there. As a player or coach you don't want to be linked with the constant bad press that'll come if that man continues to drag the team down with him.

On what grounds? They werent aware of his prejudice when they accepted his money?

[oh the horror]

On what grounds? They werent aware of his prejudice when they accepted his money?


I'm not talking about the initial nonsense. But if this becomes a continuous legal battle where the press is constantly around questioning players and Doc about latest developments? Why would athletes wanna deal with that shit?

[Akrazotile]

I'm not talking about the initial nonsense. But if this becomes a continuous legal battle where the press is constantly around questioning players and Doc about latest developments? Why would athletes wanna deal with that shit?


Yeah, I wouldnt blame them for trying. I just dont think theres a logical ground for releasing them from their contracts when they knew exactly how Donald Sterling felt when they signed them. The "unexpected distraction" argument is like saying youd let Heat players out of their contract after Lebrons Decision. That stuff comes with the multimillion dollar salary. But again I guess itd be up to the league ultimately. I just dont think itd be a reasonably justifiable action.

[Mrofir]

I think Sterling will argue that he didn't cause any damage to the league's value, because that is central to the NBA's case and its bylaws. He will use the estimates and perhaps real bids as evidence of his team's value, and he will point to nba finals ratings, which will be high as long as the Heat advance.

The irony is, the league may have actually been damaged if it had not taken such decisive and bold action in direct response to the tapes. As it currently stands, I think it's going to be tough to argue that the NBA has sustained measurable damage from this.

[dude77]

I think Sterling will argue that he didn't cause any damage to the league's value, because that is central to the NBA's case and its bylaws. He will use the estimates and perhaps real bids as evidence of his team's value, and he will point to nba finals ratings, which will be high as long as the Heat advance.

The irony is, the league may have actually been damaged if it had not taken such decisive and bold action in direct response to the tapes. As it currently stands, I think it's going to be tough to argue that the NBA has sustained measurable damage from this.

when/if the players boycott, they'll have their argument for damage lol ..

I'm surprised by this .. I thought sterling had just resigned himself to selling it and moving on .. or are they doing what mrofir just stated .. gathering bids to show the value of the team but not selling ?

[DukeDelonte13]

Players and coach will boycott.


absolute dumbest thing the players and coaches could do. That would give sterling tons of leverage.

[SacJB Shady]

No team or player is going to boycott. It's all a bluff. How come nobody has boycotted? How come their is still the finals? If they didn't boycott already, they aren't going to do it next year. Really? let's see them do it, it would never happen. The longer this goes on the more people will realize that Sterling didn't do shit in actuality and this is just a witch hunt. Plus, he may win the voting. A lot of owners don't actually give a shit. They are greedy billionaires themselves and they fear that if they vote against him, that will provide bad implications for the rest of the owners. It will only make it so that anyone can be voted out at any time. That wouldn't set a favorable precedent.

[mistergreens]

On what grounds? They werent aware of his prejudice when they accepted his money?

BINGO. He was a known racist for years. Just because its more prevalent now shouldn't give them a right to walk away from a contract.

[bagelred]

What is this RUSH to action? In America, god forbid we actually think through a decision and take time to reflect a little. NOPE. Hurry, we must act FAST. MUST ACT NOW. DONT THINK!!! SELL THE TEAM ALREADY.

Sh-t, man, this guy owned the team for 30 years...one illegally recorded private un-PC telephone conversation and BOOOOOOOOOM. HURRY!!! SELL IT!!! SELL IT!!!

Sterling is a racist goof, but this mob mentality in America is way out of hand.

"WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE INTOLERANT!" :lol ....irony.....


If I'm Donald, I try to extend and drag out this process forever as a big f you to the mob....

[niko]

I think Sterling will argue that he didn't cause any damage to the league's value, because that is central to the NBA's case and its bylaws. He will use the estimates and perhaps real bids as evidence of his team's value, and he will point to nba finals ratings, which will be high as long as the Heat advance.

The irony is, the league may have actually been damaged if it had not taken such decisive and bold action in direct response to the tapes. As it currently stands, I think it's going to be tough to argue that the NBA has sustained measurable damage from this.
It's actually very easy, the nba has a long list of partners who won't participate in clipper games if he's still there. Franchise value is not an indicator. The indicator he's not caused damage we are using is the value of the team away from him?

[Jameerthefear]

donald is very dumb. sell it while it's stock is high dummy.

[niko]

What is this RUSH to action? In America, god forbid we actually think through a decision and take time to reflect a little. NOPE. Hurry, we must act FAST. MUST ACT NOW. DONT THINK!!! SELL THE TEAM ALREADY.

Sh-t, man, this guy owned the team for 30 years...one illegally recorded private un-PC telephone conversation and BOOOOOOOOOM. HURRY!!! SELL IT!!! SELL IT!!!

Sterling is a racist goof, but this mob mentality in America is way out of hand.

"WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE INTOLERANT!" :lol ....irony.....


If I'm Donald, I try to extend and drag out this process forever as a big f you to the mob....

Because spending the last few years of yor life hated and killing the value of the main asset you own is smart.

[Dresta]

I'm not talking about the initial nonsense. But if this becomes a continuous legal battle where the press is constantly around questioning players and Doc about latest developments? Why would athletes wanna deal with that shit?
I dunno. They signed the contract, they knew that the owner was a massive asshole when they did so, in retrospect, they made a mistake. But they should have to live with the mistakes they made, and should honour the contract they signed that pays them millions of dollars a year. I mean, they have nothing to whinge about really.

It could actually be beneficial to the league to have them see out their contracts because it will force players in the future to consider the character of the owner of the team they are signing for (their boss really), and this could help push the bigger assholes out of the league just because not many in-demand players are going to be willing to sign-up to a team run by an obnoxious asshole.

[Derka]

The amount of capital gains tax he'd have to pay probably hit him and he went "Whoa, f*ck that." :lol

But seriously, this is all heading towards a settlement. That's all this is about. There's no way the NBA's legal team lets this drag out, especially not when Sterling's lawyers start subpoenanig Stern, Silver, fellow owners and players to start spilling secrets. THAT is the true nightmare scenario...being held over the fire by a crazy old cancer-ridden person with zero f*cks to give anymore.

[Derka]

I dunno. They signed the contract, they knew that the owner was a massive asshole when they did so, in retrospect, they made a mistake. But they should have to live with the mistakes they made, and should honour the contract they signed that pays them millions of dollars a year. I mean, they have nothing to whinge about really.

Same logic would apply to Sterling, wouldn't it? He agreed to the bylaws all owners agree to. No one at the NBA forced him to take on a gold-digging Skeletor-looking mistress and complain about blacks openly to her, only to try to cut her off and get himself burned. Now his personal indiscretions on multiple levels have put the NBA's relationships in jeopardy. He dug his own grave here and should honor the bylaws he agreed to, shouldn't he?

[NumberSix]

Can we just kill him?

[Dresta]

Same logic would apply to Sterling, wouldn't it? He agreed to the bylaws all owners agree to. No one at the NBA forced him to take on a gold-digging Skeletor-looking mistress and complain about blacks openly to her, only to try to cut her off and get himself burned. Now his personal indiscretions on multiple levels have put the NBA's relationships in jeopardy. He dug his own grave here and should honor the bylaws he agreed to, shouldn't he?
That is a completely different matter. If he challenges it in the courts then that is for them to decide, but the players have no legal recourse to void the contracts they signed imo. They were not misled or tricked in any way - everyone in the league knew Sterling was a huge asshole.

[NumberSix]

The amount of capital gains tax he'd have to pay probably hit him and he went "Whoa, f*ck that." :lol

But seriously, this is all heading towards a settlement. That's all this is about. There's no way the NBA's legal team lets this drag out, especially not when Sterling's lawyers start subpoenanig Stern, Silver, fellow owners and players to start spilling secrets. THAT is the true nightmare scenario...being held over the fire by a crazy old cancer-ridden person with zero f*cks to give anymore.
Capital gains taxes are actually pretty low. The highest income tax bracket is 39%. The highest capital gains bracket on long term assets is 20%. There are also some workarounds and ways of offsetting losses.

After he sells the team, there is now no income from the Clippers. No income = no income tax. He'll honestly break even on the capital gains.

[Derka]

Capital gains taxes are actually pretty low. The highest income tax bracket is 39%. The highest capital gains bracket on long term assets is 20%. There are also some workarounds and ways of offsetting losses.

After he sells the team, there is now no income from the Clippers. No income = no income tax. He'll honestly break even on the capital gains.

Even at 20% of the $1.8 billion being floated around, that's what...$360ish million in tax? Seems small in comparison to $1.8 billion, but no rich dude gives that much up without a fight.

[gts]

I think Sterling will argue that he didn't cause any damage to the league's value, because that is central to the NBA's case and its bylaws. He will use the estimates and perhaps real bids as evidence of his team's value, and he will point to nba finals ratings, which will be high as long as the Heat advance.

The irony is, the league may have actually been damaged if it had not taken such decisive and bold action in direct response to the tapes. As it currently stands, I think it's going to be tough to argue that the NBA has sustained measurable damage from this.

You're ignoring the 20 sponsors that left and the millions upon millions already lost

[NumberSix]

Even at 20% of the $1.8 billion being floated around, that's what...$360ish million in tax? Seems small in comparison to $1.8 billion, but no rich dude gives that much up without a fight.
If the team sells for $2B, and he has to pay $400M in tax, that's not a big deal at all. That $1.6B isn't gonna just sit in his bank account. That money will make more money.

[bagelred]

Because spending the last few years of yor life hated and killing the value of the main asset you own is smart.

He's not killing the value of anything...why go along and sell something you've owned for 30 years and is basically your whole life's identity, just because you're getting pressure to do so....f them, I wouldn't. Why? Because it makes YOU feel better?

[pegasus]

He'd be diminishing his team's value, but maybe he won't care. He is one of the richest men in the country.

[ZenMaster]

Heard numerous people on here say that freedom of speech only constitutes that you can say whatever without being arrested or punished by the government.

[QUOTE]I. Because the Conversation that V. Stiviano Illegally Recorded Invades Mr. Sterling’s Rights Under the California Constitution and Cannot Be Used for any Purpose, These Proceedings Must be Terminated.
The California Penal Code criminalizes the act of recording another’s confidential communication without their consent. Cal. Penal Code

[Unbiased_one]

The league has no chance of winning and sterling knows it.

[gts]

The league has no chance of winning and sterling knows it.
Yes because the league only hires first year law students who have no idea what they're doing...

[Unbiased_one]

Yes because the league only hires first year law students who have no idea what they're doing...

I'm sure they have great lawyers. But remember that they kicked sterling out days after this story broke. There's no way they had enough time to do a proper analysis.

[Akrazotile]

Yes because the league only hires first year law students who have no idea what they're doing...


Remember, the league is not in this to win. It is only in it to appear to have fought.

[gts]

Checkmate


Ramona Shelburne ‏@ramonashelburne 1m
Donald Sterling's lawyer Max Blecher says he will not pursue further legal action, and has agreed to sale of the Clippers to Steve Ballmer

[All Net]

Game over

[D-Rose]

Checkmate


Ramona Shelburne ‏@ramonashelburne 1m
Donald Sterling's lawyer Max Blecher says he will not pursue further legal action, and has agreed to sale of the Clippers to Steve Ballmer
:banana: :rockon: :applause: :bowdown: :basketball :dancin :djparty :party:

Great day for the NBA. Glad it worked out this way...all parties go their separate ways and this thing doesn't become even more of a fiasco.

[~primetime~]

It's really crazy that some stupid comments by an old man forced a TWO BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS DEAL

:facepalm

[gts]

:banana: :rockon: :applause: :bowdown: :basketball :dancin :djparty :party:

Great day for the NBA. Glad it worked out this way...all parties go their separate ways and this thing doesn't become even more of a fiasco.

Good news this is settled before the offseason....

i guess Sterling's definition of "fight to the bloody end" is different than mine...lol

[comerb]

Good news this is settled before the offseason....

i guess Sterling's definition of "fight to the bloody end" is different than mine...lol

After selling them for 2 billion he probably wished he went on a racist tirade years ago. The price wouldn't likely go that high without the spectacle of this whole thing.