The Sterling name still rings proudly through the Clippers organization.
The NBA successfully ousted Donald Sterling as the Clippers owner following his leaked racist tapes, but to do so, the league’s other owners didn’t actually vote him out. Instead, they allowed his wife, Shelly Sterling, to sell the team to Steve Ballmer.
As condition of the sale, Shelly received:
- Up to 10 percent of the sale price and 10 percent of annual revenues to go into the the Shelly Sterling Foundation, which she’d run
- 2 courtside tickets for each game
- 10 tickets in other sections for each game
- 12 VIP passes for each game
- 3 championship rings if the Clippers win a title
- Two-year contracts for executives Gary Sacks, Carl Lahr and Eric Miller (Sterling’s son-in-law)
- Title of “Owner Emeritus”
- Title of “Clipper’s Number 1 Fan”
If you thought Shelly – who has her own history of alleged racism – would fade quietly into the background, you don’t know her.
The “Clipper’s Number 1 Fan” is defending Donald:
Personally, I’ve never been that interested in Donald’s racist comments, anyway. His racism that actually significantly affects lives should get more attention, but that’s obviously not where Shelly’s concern lies.
And she didn’t stop there.
Shelly, via Linda Deutsch of the Associated Press (emphasis mine):
Gross.