Call him Sterling Silver

LOS ANGELES – Since taking over as NBA commissioner from David Stern last February, Adam Silver has proved up to the task of filling the big shoes left by his astute predecessor. The other day, he announced severe sanctions on one of the few sole franchise owners in professional sports for racist remarks that were taped from a telephone conversation and aired over celebrity gossip TV channel TMZ.

It didn’t matter that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is in his 33rd year as sole owner of the team that has just dislodged the Lakers as Tinseltown’s basketball toast. It didn’t matter that the real estate magnate spent about $50 million for a 42,500-square foot, state-of-the-art practice facility in Playa Vista for the Clippers in 2008. It didn’t matter that he painstakingly rebuilt the Clippers from a laughing stock to a championship contender with coach Doc Rivers and a team led by Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

With what Sterling told his mistress V. Stiviano, there was more than enough basis for Silver to throw the book at the owner for disgracing the league with his racial prejudice. Sterling, who is over 50 years older than Stiviano, went on a tirade against African-Americans, even singling out NBA legend Magic Johnson as someone she should not associate with or invite to watch the Clippers games at the Staples Center.

There was pressure on Silver to go hard on Sterling. Players spoke of a boycott in case they weren’t happy with how Silver would address the situation.  Silver was clearly under the gun. 

But when Silver announced the sanctions, it didn’t seem like he’d been pushed into a corner. He spoke calmly but with conviction. It was Silver’s coming-out party as a commissioner confronting a crisis. He passed his first big test as Stern’s successor with flying colors. Stern couldn’t have been more proud and wouldn’t have done more than he did. Silver was on the ball. He slapped a $2.5 million fine on Sterling and banned him for life from participating in any NBA activity, including watching a game or even practice. Silver has even opened his door to any Clipper who may want to opt out of his contract – there were no guarantees he could arrange a transfer but at least, it was an offer to lend a helping hand.

Sponsors have backed out of supporting the Clippers because of Sterling and the clamor is strong for the owner to divest, exit and disappear from sports. Sterling invested $13 million to buy the Clippers, then based in San Diego, in 1981 and relocated the team to Los Angeles in 1984. Then, Sterling moved the Clippers to the Staples Center, sharing the facility with the Lakers. The Clippers are worth about $575 million and if estimates are correct, the bidding to buy the franchise could start at a staggering $1 billion.

Silver is reportedly pushing for Sterling to be bought out.  Six prospective buyers have been mentioned as interested parties.  Music mogul David Geffen, Magic, Los Angeles’ richest man Patrick Soon Siong, real estate developer Rick Caruso, Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison and even boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. are in the list.

Silver has received nothing but positive feedback on how he dealt with Sterling.  His sanctions were absolutely Sterling Silver.  From legends like Scottie Pippen to stars like LeBron James, Silver has gotten the highest praise for acting decisively and swiftly in protecting the integrity of the league.

To save the franchise or at least preserve its worth, Sterling must step down.  It’s to his interest to leave while the value of the franchise remains high.  If he waits for more sponsors to pull out, Sterling will lose precious bargaining leverage.  For flaunting his four-year affair with Stiviano to embarrass his wife Rochelle, Sterling deserves a flogging.  For his racist remarks, he deserves to be exiled to an uninhabited island.  The man has no place in sports.  He has no sense of decency or values.  Sterling’s condemnation is well-deserved.

As for the Clippers, the team responded to Silver’s sanctions by whipping Golden State, 113-103, in Game 5 before a full house at the Staples Center here yesterday morning (Manila time).  Paul called it an emotional game.  The Clippers came back from a 70-69 deficit to win convincingly as Griffin hit eight of his 18 points in the fourth period and Jamal Crawford 11 of his 19, also in the last quarter.  Paul did his damage in the third, scoring 11 of his 20.  Jordan went zero in Game 4 which the Warriors took, 118-97, in Oakland as the Clippers appeared in a daze from the swirl of the Sterling controversy.  But in Game 5, Jordan compiled 25 points, 18 rebounds and four blocked shots to become the first player since Tim Duncan in 2008 to deliver those numbers.

So far, nearly 60 percent of the playoff games have been won on the road or 21 of 36.  The homecourt advantage doesn’t seem to be too significant anymore, at least in the first round.  No. 5 Washington has disposed of No. 4 Chicago in a 4-1 upset with four of the five games won by road teams.  Miami swept Charlotte, 4-0, clinching it with two road victories.  Atlanta is a win away from eliminating No. 1 Indiana after a 107-97 road win in Game 5.  Six of the last eight playoff games were won on the road.

Chicago’s ouster wasn’t totally unexpected.  Derrick Rose didn’t play and Luol Deng was traded, leaving the Bulls with no reliable go-to guy. Joakim Noah is the league’s Defensive Player of the Year but offense was what Chicago needed in Game 5 where the Bulls scored only 69 points in losing to Washington in the closer.

Three playoff games are scheduled this morning (Manila time) – Game 5 between Portland and Houston, Dallas and San Antonio and Brooklyn and Toronto.  Tomorrow morning, it will be Game 6 between Atlanta and Indiana, Oklahoma City and Memphis and the Clippers and the Warriors.  The Hawks, Grizzlies and Clippers are a win away from advancing to the next round. Atlanta and Memphis will be playing at home.