The era of leniency and looking the other way in our professional sports world has met its match in new NBA commissioner Adam Silver.More.
Banned for life? Now that's some serious punishment.
Isn't it wonderful to see a 21st century commissioner throw the book at someone who deserves it?
Silver did the absolute right thing Tuesday in banning Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life for his reprehensible racist comments that exploded throughout the news media since last weekend.
The commissioner's news conference in New York riveted the nation – and not just sports fans. The issues at play were the topics that often help form the foundation of high school history classes: racism vs. racial tolerance and advancement, the value of diversity in society, public figures and their private lives, ownership and its responsibilities.
This was about sports, but also about so much more. The conversation transcended sports, and so did Silver's unyielding performance.
He punished Sterling in every way he possibly could – and even in ways he could not. He said he fully expects the support of at least three-quarters of the other NBA owners, a league requirement to remove Sterling as an owner. That's the only thing that's left to do. Silver fined Sterling the maximum of $2.5 million, he made sure Sterling will never appear at a Clippers' game or practice again, and he banned him from making any decisions about his team or the league.
In other words: the works.
The rookie commissioner kicked out the league's longest-tenured owner – forever.
Not since Kenesaw Mountain Landis have we seen a commissioner in any sport debut in the public eye with such a bold stand. This clearly doesn't happen very often. Landis banned the Black Sox 94 years ago.
And don't miss, "Racist Liberal Donald Sterling Banned for Life — VIDEO."
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