04-29-2014, 09:49 AM
(04-29-2014, 05:36 AM)Duchess Wrote: I'm not defending the bigot, I want to be clear on that - I'm not going to like people being punished because others don't like what they hear.
I don't like that either. But, in this case, I understand it and think it makes sense.
What Sterling said (which never should have been heard in the first place, and only was because of unrelated poor judgment) affects his ability to manage his business and his employees and hurts the league. He's part of a franchise and there are always contractual requirements on owners of franchises. It won't go away and needs to be addressed.
He's talked shit about women and is an asshole in that regard, too. Nobody cares much about that IMO because he's not managing a bunch of women so his sleaziness doesn't impact the business directly. Were he the owner of a WNBA team, on the other hand, he might be facing punishment for those comments and conduct.
Anyway, the Clippers have already lost major sponsors (I wish those companies had thought about the team and not only the owner before pulling out). Players don't wanna work for the man. Other owners consider him an embarrassment, etc... He's chosen to be in a position of leadership and in the public eye, so he's facing the same kind of industry and public-demanded "punishment" as Mel Gibson, Jim Bakker, and so many others.
I'm anxious for Silver's press conference today. The business and strategic crisis-management aspects of this whole fiasco are the most interesting part of this story, to me.