How The Clippers Can Get Revenge On Donald Sterling

 

It’s somehow been the biggest story of the week; that the very old, very rich, very entitled Donald Sterling was caught on tape making racist comments. The fact is, Sterling has a long history of making racist, sexist, and downright vitriolic comments (and if you’re interested this Deadspin timeline sums it up nicely).

The outcry has been abundant, from rappers and talking heads [TNT, Keith Olbermann] to players (more on LeBron later), former players and coaches to other owners [Charlotte Bobcats’ Michael Jordan, Houston Rockets’ Leslie Alexander], to “his” team, his wife and even the President of the United States.

Today NBA commissioner Adam Silver levied down the league’s punishment: a lifetime ban from the NBA, an NBA maximum fine of $2.5 million and asking the Board of Governors to force Sterling to sell the Clippers. While I commend Silver and the league for handing down what seems to be the stiffest punishment in their power, it still doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel just. Sterling bought the team for $12.5 million in 1981, and with the team valued at $575 million in January by Forbes, walking away with a profit north of $562.5 million (assuming the team’s valuation hasn’t changed) doesn’t seem like much a satisfying comeuppance.

Many have made suggestions; some have called for a player boycott. Others for a fan boycott. But neither of those really punish Sterling. In fact, the only people that would punish are the players and the fans. The players shouldn’t have to give up their chance to play for a championship and the fans shouldn’t have to sacrifice the experience. And therein lies our answer. The best way to stick it to Sterling is simple: it’s win.

Win the NBA championship. Make confetti angels on floor in Miami. Hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. Have an championship parade in sunny LA. While Donald Sterling watches it all unfold on his TV. Don’t tell him; show him that you don’t need him and you never needed him. Then after he dies his wife can sell the team to Magic Johnson. The end.

Quick tangent on LeBron: I don’t understand anyone that still doesn’t like him. Here’s someone who really understands the magnitude of his celebrity and uses it in a positive way. It was him along with Dwyane Wade who organized the Heat’s protest of the death of Trayvon Martin and it’s LeBron voicing his opinion now. It’s nice to see the man with the biggest voice in basketball using his to take a stand on important issues.

It’s OK To Root For The Miami Heat

That’s right, you heard me read me. I like the Miami Heat. But a lot of people don’t – in fact, I think a lot of people hate the Heat. But I don’t get why. And by that I mean I hear the reasons, but they don’t make sense.

Is it the Big Three?
The “welcome party”. I get it. Maybe you don’t like that three superstars “teamed up” to play in South Beach. But just in case you don’t remember – Miami’s record the year before LeBron and Bosh arrived the Heat went 47-35, good for a 5 seed in the playoffs and got bounced from the first round of the playoff by the Celtics. Their “Big Three” that season? Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley and Jermaine O’Neal. Their record two years before that? 15-67. There’s nothing wrong with needing help.

Is it the rest of the team?
So, you hate a group of players who take pride in playing their roles and overachieve when the team needs them to? Oh, okay.

Is it Chris Bosh?
Chris Bosh is so easy to make fun of that I’m writing in support of him and even I couldn’t resist taking shots at him. Bosh gets shit on so regularly that’s he’s become an underdog even though he was an All-Star this year.

Is it Dwyane Wade?
After his divorce in 2010, Wade fought for and won sole custody of his two sons in 2011, and still pays his ex-wife a reported $25K/month in addition to her living and travel expenses (estimated $10K/month) and a $1M lump sum. Wade seems to genuinely care a lot about being a father, which is admirable beyond what he does on the court.

Is it LeBron James?
The Decision. Yea, that was bad. He made a mistake and admitted it, get over it. I don’t understand how he isn’t liked. Think he’s a bad guy? He’s never gotten in trouble with the law. His manager is his childhood best friend. He had a kid with his girlfriend in high school; Savannah Brinson is now his fiance and they’ve had their second child together. His talent and work ethic make him the most gifted athlete in the world. He’s never shown up out of shape, never takes games off and looks to get his teammates involved before he gets himself going. He’s the kind of player that should make you tell your kid, “look, that’s how you’re supposed to play the game.”

Long live the King.