Just when you thought it couldn't any crazier -- it did. Let me see if I have this right.
This whole mess started when LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling told his "girlfriend", who happens to be a woman of color herself, that he didn't want her bringing other black guys to the games. This was supposed to be a private conversation. But she recorded it, and it eventually went public, sparking outrage from many quarters.
The media jumped all over it, and even the Prez, Obama, weighed in to express his disapproval over these "incredibly offensive racist statements". One would think with so many other issues burning out of control, both domestic and abroad, a US President, especially a lame duck, would have more important matters to concentrate his thoughts and efforts on. Evidently not.
Certainly the NBA, rookie Commissioner Adam Silver in particular, sat up, took notice, were highly offended, and acted swiftly. Sterling would be barred for life from any association with the NBA, fined $2.5 million dollars, and the league would quickly move to force Sterling to sell the Clippers. Since then, little more than a month ago, this whole strange saga seems to have turned into the twilight zone. Nobody knows for sure what's coming next -- but it's going to be weird. Consider....
Sterling was initially defiant. He would fight.
Then he became contrite, and even apologized.
Unfazed, the league set a June 3 meeting of their Board of Governors (the other owners) so they could get the 3/4 vote necessary to have Sterling removed under the NBA's "constitution". That date has come and gone with no such vote.
In the meantime, Donald Sterling had made his wife Shelly the sole trustee of the Sterling Family Trust, supposedly giving her control over the Clippers.
Shelly said SHE would fight the NBA to retain the team.
But then Shelly not only files for divorce from Donald, but has him declared "mentally incapacitated". That divorce stuff with billionaires can get down and dirty sometimes. No word yet on a second opinion regarding Donald's mental health, though it's a pretty safe bet a couple other shrinks will be weighing in with opposing diagnoses if necessary.
Still, Shelly maintains she'll fight to keep the Clippers.
Right up until Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, makes an outrageous offer (more than 3 times the market value) of $2 billion to buy the team. Shelly is sold, lock, stock, Doc Rivers and Chris Paul.
Adam Silver and the NBA were happy. It's a done deal. The media can turn their attention to the latest disaster they can root out, and Obama can go back to being Presidential, such as it is.
But not so fast.
Also in the meantime, Donald Sterling had filed a billion dollar lawsuit against the NBA, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights by relying on information obtained from an illegal recording, and further being in breach of anti-trust laws by attempting to coerce him into selling his team.
Then Donald changed his mind and said he'd go along with the sale. He'd drop his lawsuit, the NBA need not vote on his expulsion (likely much to the relief of several owners), and take his share of two billion bucks, minus capital gains taxes, and everything would be right in this crazy world.
It should be noted that when Shelly negotiated the deal with Ballmer, she would be left with a 10% interest in the team, along with the perks that go with it. Like courtside seats. Donald would be shut out entirely.
Upon learning this, Donald changed his mind yet again, and the lawsuit against the NBA is back on. He's going to fight, at least for now. Give it a few days and it might change again.
But you know who's fault this is? The NBA, and their arrogance. Spokesman Mike Bass said there was never any discussion involving the NBA in which they would modify Sterling's penalties in any way whatsover.
In that respect the NBA is penny wise and pound foolish. Sterling was evidently OK with selling his team, but found the lifetime ban and fine unacceptable. So the legal eagles are back in and the big time lawsuit against the league is going forward, for now. If the current situation stays the course, countless millions of dollars will be racked up in legal fees by both sides before the dust finally settles. It could take years proceeding through various courts before the matter is finally resolved.
Though the NBA appears to have public sentiment on their side regarding Sterling, if and when the matter of that original "illegal" recording is presented in a real court, and anti-trust laws come into play, this could be far from the slam dunk Adam Silver originally thought it was.
And it could all be so easily avoided.
The NBA should back off it's ridiculous $2.5 million fine. That's chump change for both the league and Sterling. It's become a matter of principle for Sterling, and the NBA might be wise to waive such a petty fine in the interest of what's best for all in the long run.
And drop the lifetime ban. If Sterling is willing to sign off on selling the team as long as he can retain his courtside seats -- then what's the big deal? Let him have them. It would be a win-win. Adam Silver and the NBA can say they accomplished their mission of ousting Sterling as an owner, and the west coast Donald can still sit courtside with the next bimbo of his choice -- as long as she doesn't bring Magic Johnson along, of course. Ahem.
Yet something tells me a few more strange twists and turns remain before the credits roll on this show. Even Rod Serling might have been proud to have authored such an episode featuring not only the unpredictable, but also the macabre with a few touches of the absurd for good measure.
Leave it to power brokers, billionaires, the media, and politicians to screw things up so bad......
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