It seems like a long time ago when former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling stood accused of various shenanigans. He'd presided over the sad sack franchise for decades. Perhaps, like some other owners over the years, in his not quite infinite (but almost) wealth, he considered the pro team little more than a rich man's toy.
But the age of the dreaded "political correctness" had been coming on like gang busters. The word police were out in force and meant business. Woe be it to those that ran afoul of their mandates.
It was bad enough dear Donald, while married, had much younger "arm candy" at his disposal (one V. Stiviano) at various public functions, including his own team's games. But when he came out with some allegedly disparaging words regarding a minority or two, he'd stepped in it -- big time.
That was the last straw and, dadgumit, it wasn't going to be tolerated. Enter NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, a minority himself. Center stage, with the nation watching, the Commish thundered that he was banning Donald Sterling FOR LIFE. And then the tug-of-war, with huge political overtones, began. How could you ban a guy from seeing his own team, much less force him to sell it?
Yet that's exactly how it played out due in large part to the other owners ganging up on Sterling. Something about NBA by-laws. He had to go.
Enter Steve Ballmer, who'd made mega-bucks in the computer industry. Though at the time, the team was projected to be worth around a billion, if that, Ballmer stunned the world by offering a whopping TWO billion to buy the franchise.
Needless to say, the offer was quickly approved by the Commish and the other owners, and just like that, the deal was done. Steve was the proud new owner of the Clips.
For years, seemingly forever, the Clippers had played second fiddle to the Lakers in LA.
But then they were getting pretty good, while the Lakers were spiraling downwards. Regardless, they could never get over the top (championship), and in fact never even made it to the Western Conference finals. The Golden State Warriors were in the process of becoming a mini-dynasty, the Spurs in San Antonio remained excellent, and Oklahoma City still had the likes of Kevin Durant and James Harden (since departed). So even though they were light years better than the Lakers, the glass ceiling remained out of the reach of the Clips. Twas not to be.
Then bam. They lost all-star point guard Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets, where he teamed up with the above mentioned Harden. A definite hit. Just this season, their other star Blake Griffin found himself traded to the Detroit Pistons.
Houston got immensely better quickly. The Pistons? Still pretty much terrible.
The Clips themselves, instead of being the second or third best team in the west as before, have understandably taken a nose dive, and find themselves hovering around the cut line just to MAKE the playoffs. Even if they sneak in, as a lower seed they'll likely quickly get blown out in the first round by a far superior team (Rockets, Dubs).
So in the end, Ballmer paid double the going price and now finds himself in the unenviable position of owning a team that isn't a whole lot better than the messes Donald Sterling had for so many years.
Meanwhile, whether he/they needed it or not, Sterling (and his heirs eventually) still have the two billion dollars and none of the headaches. You can buy a lot of stuff and do a whole lot of serious partying with two billion bucks, even after taxes.
Actually, there's some irony afoot here. While Silver and the politically correcters of the world celebrated a "win" by getting rid of that dastardly and embarrassing Donald (the other one, LOL), who indeed has the last laugh?
Huh. I wonder if Ms. V has oh-so quietly returned to Sterling's side?
Stranger things have happened, I think.
Only in America.
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