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 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Polonius wrote:
I've seen the "these were private thoughts" defense floating around, and I guess there's some merit to it. She seems to be almost cross examining him in her questions, which leads me to believe she was trying to get him to articulate his point.

During the commissioner's press conference, somebody asked if during the investigation Sterling argued that the comments were out of context or anything similar, and Adam Silver kind of flatly responded that Sterling did not dispute the statements or the opinions they hold.

I listened to the recordings that were available and I was left with the overwhelming impression that she absolutely knew what she was doing and was making sure she gave him enough rope to hang himself, as well as trying to build some moral high ground (the whole "I'm-mixed-race-whether-the-world-likes-it-or-not)

Yeah, she might have been looking for her own payday. Which hurts her credibility, but alas... the tape doesn't rely on the credibility of anybody. It's a tape.

The first question people seem to reach is: "can we be held accountable for things we say in private." The answer, of course, is yes. Context matters. This isn't a kind hearted but out of touch old man dropping a few racial slurs in an argument, or being goaded into saying something he didn't mean. Sterling has been a POS for decades, he just finally got caught running his mouth about it.

The second question I raise is: "aren't we really punishing him for having an opinion, not just the expression of that?" There's something vaguely Orwellian in saying that certain thoughts are simply bad, and having them makes you a pariah. We do it all the time, of course. Holding the opinion "I think it's ok to kill and eat other people" won't win you friends. It's just interesting how in 50 years we've gone from casual bigotry going from being require to hold public office in most the US to being stripped of an NBA franchise.

Looks like the new owner has been announced

Jaungo movie eh..

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Looks like the new owner has been announced

Spoiler:

Why do I already suspect him of plotting to destroy the world?

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Polonius wrote:
People were asking earlier if the NBA can force a franchise sale. The NBA constitution allows, by 3/4 vote of owners, the NBA to force the sale. And not just force it, but actually conduct the sale, choosing the new owner bid, and then simply paying the prior owner.

Thank you for the information. I think it is a foregone conclusion that Sterling will not be the Clippers' owner for long

gak, I wish I could get fired from my job for being a raging donkey-cave and make hundreds of millions of dollars off of it.

 Portugal Jones wrote:
gak, I wish I could get fired from my job for being a raging donkey-cave and make hundreds of millions of dollars off of it.

Just because you are a racist does not mean that you can just be stripped of what you own with no compensation. Save your ire for CEOs who run companies into the ground, cost employees their jobs, the get given generous packages to resign or retire.

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 Portugal Jones wrote:
gak, I wish I could get fired from my job for being a raging donkey-cave and make hundreds of millions of dollars off of it.

Just because you are a racist does not mean that you can just be stripped of what you own with no compensation.

It would if that guy, Silver, had his way.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

The Heat though?? Feth that, they're just breaching their contract (assuming their contracts are similar to NFL players' in regards to the wear of team issue and team logo'd gear), and should be fined. I highly, highly doubt that Mr. Silver, sitting up there in his office sees a clip of pregame footage and says, "Oh no!!! Lebron is angry, I better fix whatever it is he's angry about!"

I don't think NFL players are contractually forced to wear most pieces of gear in a particular way, at least absent what is necessary on the field.

But, regardless, you might be surprised at the amount of clout that a player like LeBron has given that he is one of the "faces" of the game. He doesn't just sell tickets for Miami and the teams they play, his skill and endorsements promote the NBA as a whole; making everyone money along the way. As such, if he goes against the NBA, the NBA has a problem.

I thought the NFL uniform policy was pretty stringent. I know chad Johnson got fined for uniform stuff all the time.

 dogma wrote:

I don't think NFL players are contractually forced to wear most pieces of gear in a particular way, at least absent what is necessary on the field.

Actually, the NFL is quite fascist in it's uniform policy. one of the Colts wide receivers was fined for wearing orange gloves during a game, during the month in which something like leukemia awareness month or something was going on (it's some major and fatal disease who's representative color is orange). And clearly, if it's not breast cancer awareness month, no one can commemorate it. I believe Brandon Marshall, and Devin Hester have both been fined for wearing orange shoes, which were part of their team colors, on weeks in which the team wasn't wearing orange shoes.


Chad Johnson, to my knowledge has been fined for antics similar to Terrell Owens, ie. bringing sharpies onto the field to autograph a ball after scoring a TD, as well as the whole Ochocinco debacle.

 cincydooley wrote:
I thought the NFL uniform policy was pretty stringent. I know chad Johnson got fined for uniform stuff all the time.

Dollars to doughnuts none of them get fined. Fines are more about protecting valuable sponsorships than anything to do with the players.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

Actually, the NFL is quite fascist in it's uniform policy. one of the Colts wide receivers was fined for wearing orange gloves during a game, during the month in which something like leukemia awareness month or something was going on (it's some major and fatal disease who's representative color is orange). And clearly, if it's not breast cancer awareness month, no one can commemorate it. I believe Brandon Marshall, and Devin Hester have both been fined for wearing orange shoes, which were part of their team colors, on weeks in which the team wasn't wearing orange shoes.

Those fines were based on the type and color of gear, but not the manner in which it is worn prior to play.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

Chad Johnson, to my knowledge has been fined for antics similar to Terrell Owens, ie. bringing sharpies onto the field to autograph a ball after scoring a TD, as well as the whole Ochocinco debacle.

None of those things have anything to do with uniform issues.

 cincydooley wrote:
I thought the NFL uniform policy was pretty stringent. I know chad Johnson got fined for uniform stuff all the time.

During play.

Imagine if a running back were permitted to wear brown gloves, and how easy it would be to sell play action as a result.

With receivers brightly colored shoes and/or gloves help them to bypass coverage because the human eye is naturally drawn to bright colors, and playing DB often involves watching your opponent's feet and hands.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 dogma wrote:

I don't think NFL players are contractually forced to wear most pieces of gear in a particular way, at least absent what is necessary on the field.

Actually, the NFL is quite fascist in it's uniform policy. one of the Colts wide receivers was fined for wearing orange gloves during a game, during the month in which something like leukemia awareness month or something was going on (it's some major and fatal disease who's representative color is orange). And clearly, if it's not breast cancer awareness month, no one can commemorate it. I believe Brandon Marshall, and Devin Hester have both been fined for wearing orange shoes, which were part of their team colors, on weeks in which the team wasn't wearing orange shoes.


Chad Johnson, to my knowledge has been fined for antics similar to Terrell Owens, ie. bringing sharpies onto the field to autograph a ball after scoring a TD, as well as the whole Ochocinco debacle.

Ferrae Godwins the thread!

 Frazzled wrote:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 dogma wrote:

I don't think NFL players are contractually forced to wear most pieces of gear in a particular way, at least absent what is necessary on the field.

Actually, the NFL is quite fascist in it's uniform policy. one of the Colts wide receivers was fined for wearing orange gloves during a game, during the month in which something like leukemia awareness month or something was going on (it's some major and fatal disease who's representative color is orange). And clearly, if it's not breast cancer awareness month, no one can commemorate it. I believe Brandon Marshall, and Devin Hester have both been fined for wearing orange shoes, which were part of their team colors, on weeks in which the team wasn't wearing orange shoes.


Chad Johnson, to my knowledge has been fined for antics similar to Terrell Owens, ie. bringing sharpies onto the field to autograph a ball after scoring a TD, as well as the whole Ochocinco debacle.

Ferrae Godwins the thread!

Fascist =/= Hitler. Mussolini and Franco were fascists (Musosolini invented it, actually) but they weren't Hitler. And they weren't Nazis. Godwin is still in play, folks.

The NBA likes to send their minorities to training camps.

You know who else had camps?

 Frazzled wrote:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 dogma wrote:

I don't think NFL players are contractually forced to wear most pieces of gear in a particular way, at least absent what is necessary on the field.

Actually, the NFL is quite fascist in it's uniform policy. one of the Colts wide receivers was fined for wearing orange gloves during a game, during the month in which something like leukemia awareness month or something was going on (it's some major and fatal disease who's representative color is orange). And clearly, if it's not breast cancer awareness month, no one can commemorate it. I believe Brandon Marshall, and Devin Hester have both been fined for wearing orange shoes, which were part of their team colors, on weeks in which the team wasn't wearing orange shoes.

Chad Johnson, to my knowledge has been fined for antics similar to Terrell Owens, ie. bringing sharpies onto the field to autograph a ball after scoring a TD, as well as the whole Ochocinco debacle.

Ferrae Godwins the thread!

Just by using the word fascist incorrectly? I thought you actually had to reference a specific German political party by name it invoke Godwin's Law.

 d-usa wrote:
The NBA likes to send their minorities to training camps.

You know who else had camps?

FEMA?

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Looks like the new owner has been announced

Spoiler:

There can only be one logical choice:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 dogma wrote:

I don't think NFL players are contractually forced to wear most pieces of gear in a particular way, at least absent what is necessary on the field.

Actually, the NFL is quite fascist in it's uniform policy. one of the Colts wide receivers was fined for wearing orange gloves during a game, during the month in which something like leukemia awareness month or something was going on (it's some major and fatal disease who's representative color is orange). And clearly, if it's not breast cancer awareness month, no one can commemorate it. I believe Brandon Marshall, and Devin Hester have both been fined for wearing orange shoes, which were part of their team colors, on weeks in which the team wasn't wearing orange shoes.


Chad Johnson, to my knowledge has been fined for antics similar to Terrell Owens, ie. bringing sharpies onto the field to autograph a ball after scoring a TD, as well as the whole Ochocinco debacle.

Brandon Marshall also got fined this year for wearing Green boots this year during Mental Health Awareness week to help promote it iirc it was aagainst Green Bay at Lambeau
The NFL also recently banned custom facecages unless the player had a "medical reason" for meaning we lost really cool ones like Karlos Dansby's

 dogma wrote:
I don't think NFL players are contractually forced to wear most pieces of gear in a particular way, at least absent what is necessary on the field.

In addition to what they wearing during games, the NFL is pretty insistent on what players wear before and after games as well.

The Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was $10,000 for wearing an "unauthorized" shirt in a warmup for a 2013 preseason game he didn't play in. He was also fined $10,000 in December of 2012 for wearing an Adidas shirt while addressing the media after a game in which he did not play.

Found what I was thinking of:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000130227/article/frank-gore-fined-10500-by-nfl-for-wearing-low-socks

How about that for some absurd gak?

It's interesting that the "plantation" nonsense gets thrown around far less in baseball and football, and I've never heard it thrown about in hockey. They're all set up the same, are they not?

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

The NFL also recently banned custom facecages unless the player had a "medical reason" for meaning we lost really cool ones like Karlos Dansby's

I know theyve had that policy for a long time in regards to the plastic visors worn by various players. Basically, it had to be clear, unless there was a medical reason for it. Terrell Davis of the Broncos was probably the most notable of these guys, because he got migraines so bad even his darkened visor wasn't enough.


As to the NBA, I'd be willing to be some money that NBAPA contracts will reflect that anytime a player is on court, whether it's pregame warmups or the actual game has certain standards to maintain in regards to their attire. Particularly if it is team issued, or has team logos. And if they do have such a clause that all players in the NBA must follow, then the Heat broke contract, and IMO, should be punished for it.


@cincy, I believe that most of the pro leagues in the US are set up similarly, but probably not identically. For instance, I know that the owners in all 4 leagues do vote for and approve the commissioner, but whether they all have the power to literally oust an owner of another franchise, I don't know.

 Polonius wrote:
I've seen the "these were private thoughts" defense floating around, and I guess there's some merit to it. She seems to be almost cross examining him in her questions, which leads me to believe she was trying to get him to articulate his point.

During the commissioner's press conference, somebody asked if during the investigation Sterling argued that the comments were out of context or anything similar, and Adam Silver kind of flatly responded that Sterling did not dispute the statements or the opinions they hold.

I wonder what would happen if it came out that someone in the league front office put her up to it.
I really wonder if there will be enough of a vote to force him to sell. The reason I say this is that if a precident of private conversations being used against an owner is introduced, they might wonder which one of them would be on the chopping block next for making a stupid, unpopular comment.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

The NFL also recently banned custom facecages unless the player had a "medical reason" for meaning we lost really cool ones like Karlos Dansby's

I know theyve had that policy for a long time in regards to the plastic visors worn by various players. Basically, it had to be clear, unless there was a medical reason for it. Terrell Davis of the Broncos was probably the most notable of these guys, because he got migraines so bad even his darkened visor wasn't enough.

don't quite a lot of players have "smoked" visors (although they could be college players). The British American football league definitely enforces clear visors only though

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

The NFL also recently banned custom facecages unless the player had a "medical reason" for meaning we lost really cool ones like Karlos Dansby's

I know theyve had that policy for a long time in regards to the plastic visors worn by various players. Basically, it had to be clear, unless there was a medical reason for it. Terrell Davis of the Broncos was probably the most notable of these guys, because he got migraines so bad even his darkened visor wasn't enough.

don't quite a lot of players have "smoked" visors (although they could be college players). The British American football league definitely enforces clear visors only though

We actually have sunlight down here in the USA.

And how does the NAACP fare in this?

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/30/opinion/granderson-naacp-sterling/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

The NAACP is like the NRA. They sold out years ago

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:

 d-usa wrote:
The NBA likes to send their minorities to training camps.

You know who else had camps?

FEMA?

Theses posts full of win are just pinballing off each other, it's awesome.

 LordofHats wrote:
The NAACP is like the NRA. They sold out years ago

No. It would be akin to the NRA giving Bloomberg a lifetime achievement award. Though, his stupidity does continue to help them more than hinder them......

I don't understand the visor rule. I think they should make all players wear them. It would cut down about 80% of the face mask penalties. If they then required dudes to wear the tight bar masks, they could virtually eliminate them completely.

 cincydooley wrote:

 LordofHats wrote:
The NAACP is like the NRA. They sold out years ago

No. It would be akin to the NRA giving Bloomberg a lifetime achievement award. Though, his stupidity does continue to help them more than hinder them......

I don't think he was arguing that the events were exactly the same, just that both organizations sold out to big money.