Lifetime Ban

Adam Silver said that with a 75% vote of the owners, they can force the sale to happen.  I can't imagine a current NBA owner not voting in favor of a forced sale, especilay in light of this decision.

This is not going to go easily.  The guy loves litigation, and technically it's not illegal to be a D-bag and racist.  Only illegal if you discriminate against people to the point you are breaking the law.  Freedom of speech protects even the lowest of the low like this tool.

ALSO, the recording was illegally obtained (in CA).  Apparently, no phone conversations can be recorded unless all parties on the call consent.

I just think there is going to be a long legal battle.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I feel like, in general, you should be able to say what you want in the privacy of your own home. 

But, if an organization feels that you're a representative of it, and they don't like how you are representing them, that is the issue of the organization, not your free speech rights. 

Not sure if the punishment fit the "crime" or not, but the punishment likely fit the contractual relationship between the NBA and owners.  Also, the punishment fit the need to stop the bad press and stop the escalation of backlash (player walkouts, fan boycotts, etc.). 

Could they just dissolve the current team and then immediately form a new team with a new owner? 

I think this guy is getting exactly what he wanted which is publicity. 

According to some legal guy on ESPN's Mike & Mike this morning, the contract between the owners and the NBA states that a situation like this can't be appealed in court.  It will go straight to NBA arbitration, and the arbitrator has final say. He also said that the contract does not mention due process, so it makes no difference if the recording was illegal. 

What the guy said was stupid and racist, but a lifetime ban is a bit over the top. Metta World Peace can attack a guy in the stands and get a one year suspension, but an owner who's a racist on a private phone call gets a lifetime ban?  I don't get it.

Ugh.  Semantics.....

Whatever you want to call it, does the punishment fit the "insert appropriate description"?  

I'm intrigued with the various takes on this.  Some are banging the "he's a racist and doesn't deserve the team" and others are saying "whatever happened to free speech?" 

I agree with those that have said that this is a long ways from being over and will probably get really nasty very quickly.

A glimmer of hope for Seattle

I don't have a clue what the rules are... but it cracks me up when people get all lawyery over things they don't know about. It's a franchise. Franchises have rules... and they all usually have a catch all that says if you make us look bad we will vote you off the island. It's not complicated, and it isn't criminal law. 

Nope, not in the least.... the government can't restrict speech... they never promised there would be no consequences for saying stupid chit. You are completely free to say what ever you want and be unemployed. Knock your self out.

http://xkcd.com/1357/

Awesome.

This, again and again and again.

Anyone saying "whatever happened to free speech" hasn't read the First Amendment lately

Not to hijack this thread, this goes along with it, but Larry Johnson (Grandmama) is now calling for an "all black league". Difference????

Gawd Damn.  I misspoke.  I KNOW what freedom of speech is. 

But please, continue to explain what it means over, and over, and over again.  I might get it after the 12 time someone defines it?

The point/question I was trying to make, is that if you have a private conversation that was illegally recorded people don't agree with (as terrible as it is) that they can ban you for life from the sport/your team/venue, force you to sell your franchise, and fine you 2.5 million dollars without any protection/recourse?  I guess the NBA can, due to the agreements they have with owners.  I'm not talking about protection from government persecution, but a legal argument that they can't simply take everything he has because they don't agree with what he said in a private conversation.  I'm not talking first amendment protection, but a legal argument/battle.

But back to my original statement?  I would imagine there will be a legal maneuvering from a guy who supposedly loves to litigate and has just about an infinite bankrole to pursue a battle...  I doubt this will go away quietly.  I don't agree with what he said - he's a Dbag.  I'm not complaining about the penalty.  I'm simply saying, I'm SURE he will find some way to fight back.

UNLESS some 81 yr old with 17 billion dollars just doesn't care if  he loses his team and walks away to do something more interesting.