Sterling banned for life

[JuTMSY4]

fined 2.5 mil

[IronEagle]

fined 2.5 mil

I smell lawsuit.

[Ellsworth]

Sterling will probably die of old age before this is decided. Guy lives to battle in court.

[capitaleagle]

I smell lawsuit.

It's a bold, commendable move by the commissioner. But no way this guy is going quietly.

[slag]

Watching the press conference, and looking at Adam Silver's head, brings to mind a taxi cab with both doors open.

[JuTMSY4]

right?

I smell lawsuit.

no way this guy goes down without a fight. Also - If i'm banned for life and told to sell the team, no way I pay a fine...

[SJEagle]

In the NBA bylaws he does not have the ability to go to court. All fines and suspensions are decided by an arbitrator, like in the NFL.

[3rd & Inches]

In the NBA bylaws he does not have the ability to go to court. All fines and suspensions are decided by an arbitrator, like in the NFL.

He violated the conduct policy for owners. He has no lawsuit.

[Bardy]

What about a lawsuit accusing the league of diminishing the re-sale value of his franchise because he will be perceived to be selling under duress?

I could see all sorts of avenues for litigation if he want to enhance his reputation as a douchebag.

[slag]

Commissioner rulings and arbitration decisions, along with the agreements under which they are implemented are subject to legal review.

Whether he has a good case or not and, as you say, how much he wants to fight, are another question.

But he's not precluded from litigating.

I don't know the particulars of the NBA bylaws or other agreements, but I bet some smart lawyers could come up with legal theories under which he could proceed.

Fucking lawyers.

[Mt Iggle]

Agreed.

[Ellsworth]

I agree with most of what my barrister brother said but would like to add 1 very important omission:

JERRUH

[rdog5]

For argument sake

I do not condone anything he said but is the belief here to hold him to a higher standard due to his position of authority? Pro sports are full of guys who have committed criminal violations and the call has always been for the world to give him a second chance because he served his time.

Personally I think a lifetime ban is a typical knee jerk reaction to pander to the populous to show these types of things will not be tolerated. I don't have a suggestion for a better punishment but possibly something where there is a possibility for re-instatement after a significant suspension based on specific criteria.

Link to article when Vick returned to NFL and just a small sampling of criminals in NFL at the time: http://www.examiner.com/article/dog-...felons-the-nfl

[IronEagle]

I do not condone anything he said but is the belief here to hold him to a higher standard due to his position of authority? Pro sports are full of guys who have committed criminal violations and the call has always been for the world to give him a second chance because he served his time.

Personally I think a lifetime ban is a typical knee jerk reaction to pander to the populous to show these types of things will not be tolerated. I don't have a suggestion for a better punishment but possibly something where there is a possibility for re-instatement after a significant suspension based on specific criteria.

Link to article when Vick returned to NFL and just a small sampling of criminals in NFL at the time: http://www.examiner.com/article/dog-...felons-the-nfl

You may have a point. I think this is more a "body of work" sanction than a "unfortunate conversation" sanction.

The NBA should make that clear. But I doubt they will. These tapes just made everything so obvious that it was undeniable.

[common wealth]

Silver was asked about that, he said "In meting out this punishment we did not take into account his past behavior. When the board ultimately considers his overall fitness to be an owner in the NBA, they will take into account a lifetime of behavior." So the lifetime ban is apparently based only on this one incident.