09-24-2014, 05:54 PM
I found Bisciotti to be credible as well. He didn't speak like a politician or seem defensive, to me.
IMO, the truth probably lies somewhere between the Rice / ESPN version and the Bisciotti / Ravens version -- each minimizing some things that are unfavorable to their sides to position themselves most positively.
I don't think there is cause for a forced sell of the Ravens. I doubt that the NFL franchise ownership contracts would legally support such a demand and hope it's not pursued. Rice's crime was not something that happened on the field and the NFL did not break any laws in its handling of the situation. Rice had his day in court for his crime, with a judge making the call -- as it should be, IMO.
As for that old coot, Donald Sterling -- he violated a franchise contractual code of conduct and then kept on making it worse (due to stubborness or dementia -- doesn't really matter which). No crime was committed, but very few in the league would have been willing to play for him and sponsors quickly jumped ship. The NBA was within its contractual rights to force the sell and Sterling made shitloads of money off the deal. I understand your point about punishing him for a perceived racial slur made in private, but that's not what it's about to me. He made a lot of unprofessional and unwise moves that ended up with that leaked tape coming out; all of which reflected very poorly on the NBA and caused significant problems for the league. I know we'll never agree, but I have no problem with how it went down.
IMO, the truth probably lies somewhere between the Rice / ESPN version and the Bisciotti / Ravens version -- each minimizing some things that are unfavorable to their sides to position themselves most positively.
I don't think there is cause for a forced sell of the Ravens. I doubt that the NFL franchise ownership contracts would legally support such a demand and hope it's not pursued. Rice's crime was not something that happened on the field and the NFL did not break any laws in its handling of the situation. Rice had his day in court for his crime, with a judge making the call -- as it should be, IMO.
As for that old coot, Donald Sterling -- he violated a franchise contractual code of conduct and then kept on making it worse (due to stubborness or dementia -- doesn't really matter which). No crime was committed, but very few in the league would have been willing to play for him and sponsors quickly jumped ship. The NBA was within its contractual rights to force the sell and Sterling made shitloads of money off the deal. I understand your point about punishing him for a perceived racial slur made in private, but that's not what it's about to me. He made a lot of unprofessional and unwise moves that ended up with that leaked tape coming out; all of which reflected very poorly on the NBA and caused significant problems for the league. I know we'll never agree, but I have no problem with how it went down.