the nba finally taking action. we do now, again, know that they have suspended donald sterling indefinitely, fining hem fined $5 million. bloo i sneed to hear a lot more. one of the demands of the union, its representative kevin johnson, was that we also get some answers as to why donald sterling has been coddled for so lodge as the last 30 years for an nba owner and why no action was taken during previous instances when it was revealed when he acted in a profoundly racist manner as a slum lord m greater los angeles area, paying off the largest housing discrimination settlement in the history of the justice department. if adam silver is not willing to give some sort of accounting for why the nba has coddled this man for so long, then it does not meet the measure that the union is asking for, and it shouldn't frankly meet the measure that the public is asking for. think about the message here, joy. the message they're sending is, okay, you can treat ordinary working class people, black and brown people, like garbage

clippers, anything nba.apped the maximum fine, $2.5 million, and strongly urging effective immediately, the owners group, the 30 owners to basically vote him out, to force the sale of the clippers team so he'll no longer have his position. my question to you is, because i keep reading about donald sterling and reading that he is litigious by nature. could he fight any of this in court, or is this a done deal? >> it's pretty much a done deal. but that doesn't mean he won't try to fight it in court. the nba constitution provides for arbitration of disputes between the clubs, the club owners and commissioner's office, or between clubs themselves. so if he were to go to court, i think a judge would kick it out and say you have to resolve this by the arbitration provisions under the constitution and bylaws. guess who the arbitrator is, the commissioner. >> aha. >> it's not appealable. he already knows what the result will be. that doesn't mean he won't file a lawsuit for some leverage purposes or something like t

just a short while ago the nba commissioner banned donald sterling for life from the nba. we want to take you to a news conference. this is kevin johnson, the acting spokesman speaking on behalf of the nba players association. >> where sports once again transcends, where sports provides a place for fundamental change on how the country should think and act. this is also a statement about where we are at a country. it doesn't matter if you're a professional basketball player weather millions oworth milliona man or woman who works hard for their families. there will be zero tolerance for constitutional racism no matter how rich or powerful. let me say how proud i am of the players of this league for standing up for themselves. the biggest stars to the every day players. they were not afraid to articulate their outrage and what they felt about this situation. they came out strong. they came out powerful. and they did it in a very, very professional way. the players asked me to represent them. i was humbled and honored. they said to me, mayor, we want you to go to commissioner

we are on the air now because at the bottom of the hour, adam silver of the nba, the nba commissioner is going to make a statement. he's going to address the press. not sure if he's going to talk about this, but i'm sure questions will be given to him about this particular controversy and we'll see what he has to say, if anything, coming up at the bottom of the hour. in the meantime, on the other side of this short break, our expert panel will weigh in on this controversy, what should happen with donald sterling? what should happen with the clippers? what should happen in the league? we'll be right back. >>> welcome back, everyone. i want to tell you, we are awaiting a news conference by nba commissioner, adam silver at the bottom of the hour. it was slated before the controversy started. he wasn't expected to talk about this. since they are having the press conference, it is expected he will field questions about this controversy going on with the clippers and with the owner, donald sterling. we'll delve into that as soon as it starts and carry it live for you. two people we to turn

they simply have no place in the nba. thank you and i will take any questions. >> do you or any of your emissaries have any clue as to whether mr. sterling will acquiesce or do you expect a fight? >> i have no idea. >> from polling the owners that you spoke to, what support do you have to force him to sell the team? >> i did not pull the owners, i spoke to several owners. i have therefore support. their full support. >> what kind of authority do they have to force a sale? >> they have the authority subject to three quarters vote of the ownership groups, of the partners to remove him as an owner. >> the word you used specifically was outrage. you said that you were personally outraged. any people believe that they are outraged that for years people had known that this man is a racist slumlord and the nba hasn't done anything until today. can you please answer why. >> i cannot speak to past actions other than to say that with specific evidence was brought to the nba, we acted. correction someone lose their team for marks sh

he cannot have anything to do with the nba, that again is a ban for life from the nba, and also he's getting a $2.5 million fine. that is apparently the maximum amount that is allowed under the nba constitution, but as adam silver was saying, he's also going to urge the governors for the forced sale of the team. brian, this is interesting. the ban for life is a bit different from what we originally heard that was perhaps just an indefinite ban, and we were hearing a $5 million -- but its 2.5. apparently that's the maximum amount allowed. >> focusing, mandy on what the commissioner did not say. he did not come out at the top and say we are going to force the sale of the clippers. he did everything he could to make it exceptionally uncomfortable if not impossibility for donald sterling to continue to own the team and they said they will work with the league to try to force the sale. so listen to the language of what was not said. it is clear to me that the league right now does not believe it has the authority to force the sale. if it did, i'm sure silver would have said we are strippi

sterling has clashed with the nba before. in the mid 80's then commissioner david stern fined the clippers owner $6 million for moving the team from los angeles from san diego without league approval. team ownership is an elite club. once you're in its hard to get kicked out, but it has had. an owner was suspended for making disparaging remarks about blacks and japanese. later when she said that hitler was good in the beginning she was suspended for three more years, and the year later she sold her stake in the team. but baseball and basketball are different. the baseball commissioner can make decisions in the best interest of the game. the commissioner of the nba does not have that broad power. owners can be forced out by consent but only over financial reasons, not moral. there will be an announcement on sterling's case on tuesday. >> who knows if any other major sports owners consider players as pap perked serfs. donald sterling has presented the other nba owners with a problem, but now what? that's this time on inside sto

, after the nba commissioner banned l.a.lippers donald sterling from the nba for life and also fined him $2.5 million. let's listen to kevin johnson. >> sports provides a place for fundamental change on how our country should think and act. this is also a statement about where we are as a country. it doesn't matter if you're a professional basketball player worth millions of dollars or a man or woman who works hard for their family. there will be virile tolerance for institutional racism, no matter how rich or powerful. let me say how proud i am of the players of this league for standing up for themselves. the biggest stars to the everyday players, they were not afraid to articulate their outrage and what they felt about this situation. they came out strong, they came out powerful and they did it in a very, very professional way. the players asked me to represent them. i was humbled and honored and they said to me, mayor, we want you to go to commissioner silver and tell him three things that are important for us. number one

to the nba.s to be more than just bad pr and an owner who is racist. it has to be a financial impact to the nba for the nba to justify that. and the fact that will are sponsorships that are drying up that could help the nba take a sanction against donald sterling. >> sponsors wasted no time and big ones. >> i have to give it up to state farm. this morning, starting at 7:00 this morning they jumped on top of it and they wanted to see until it was an investigation, they had to suspend their relationship. and of course, for sponsors to come out on the limb and support civil rights and the rights of people, you know, unfortunately that is a big step. but state farm stepped up and did it. i'm proud of that. i think that's the only way to start the domino effect. if you start drying up the sponsorship and the fans stop showing up to the game. i understand where mark jackson is coming from, if you don't have that, you don't have some level of leverage and apply it against this guy, what are they going t

what also worried me, you know, i'm a great nba fan. i love my washington wizards. i love the nba.ow is this impacting on the current roster of players in the nba, especially from the clippers? take us inside. what do you think? >> well, it's certainly devastating for them. >> let me ask thurel. >> nobody wants to work for a bigot, nobody wants to work for a racist. it's not unlike corporate america. i think the difference is, you have a group of guys, you have a team of guys who are obviously in solidarity on the protests and they're waiting to see what the commissioner does. but if i'm a player, there's no way i would want to work in those conditions for that man. and the problem is that you're doing something you have a passion for, something you love to do. you are in a position to win an nba championship and now this comes about which takes a lot of wind out of your sails, takes a lot of faith in what you've worked so hard for. you know, as a player, you want to play. you want to play. but you don't want to be under those conditions. >> yeah, all right, guys, i want you to sta

an nba attorney has verified the voice is his. officials are not waiting for action from the nba. >> the city of los angeles can go on record to condemn the statements made by mr. sterling. >> coach mark jackson is calling for fans to boycott the game. >> you want to see sterling bounced? >> the commissioner will make the proper decision. i want to see him healed. >> not everyone agrees with a boycott saying it hurts the players that the show must go on. >> i have to due ploy -- do my job. one of the things i told them, the way to keep this alive is to win. >> the players are going to attempt to defy donald sterling in every imaginable way and the best way for do that is by winning. >> the naacp is asking for a meeting with the commissiontory discuss the case. the los angeles chapter has withdrawn their decision to give donald sterling a life sometime achievement award and a dozen corporate sponsors have dropped support so far of the clippers. >>> again, we are waiting for the news conference to begin. this is a picture from new y

to ban silver from the nba for life. the >> : center of all races and scandal they say that sterling and its as his voice heard a recording making racist remarks. >> : " effective immediately i'm betting mr. sterling for life from any association with the clippers organization or the nba. i'm also finding mr. sterling $2.5 million maximum amount allowed under nba constitution. as far as mr. stirling's interests and the clippers i will urge the board of governors to urge its decision before the sale of the team and do everything in my power to assure that happens. " asia >> : but let's of herself of liquors legend magic johnson on instagram creek or with other african americans. sterling also lost her not to publicly associate with his not commented publicly on the controversy although fox news officials say they spoke with him prior today's nba announcements of the sterling told them the clippers are not for sale. >> : moments after commissioner for player spoke out. you see him right there. present the moment belonged t

sterling has been banned for life from the nba. he may not attend games, he may not attend practices, he may not be involved in business decisions, and the board of governors, they'll be urged to take the team away from him, force it to be sold. >> that's right. that's really something that he does not necessarily have the jurisdiction to do, to kick out an owner. this is unprecedented, really, in the field of nba commissioners imposing such a fine and such a suspension there of overseeing the team. also getting very emotional, almost, as he apologized to some of the pioneer of african-americans who played in the nba, particularly magic johnson, singling him out. of course, magic was in the photo of a former girlfriend of mr. sterling's and saying, you know, do you have to -- don't bring him to clippers games. so, a personal apology from him, where he sounded almost emotion emotional. he said he sounded lp emotionally distraught. >> earlier, we attributed to nbc news that he'd be fined $5 million, and he was suspended indefinitely.

sterling may not attend any nba games or practices. he may not be present at any clippers facility and he may participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. he will also be barred from attending nba board of governors meetings or participating in any other league activity. i'm also fining mr. sterling $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the nba constitution. these funds will be donated to organizations dedicated to antidiscrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the nba and its players association. as for mr. sterling's ownership interest in the clippers, i will urge the board of governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team and will do everything in my power to insure that that happens. this has been a painful moment for all members of the nba family. i appreciate the support and understanding of our players during this process and i am particularly greatful for the leadership shown by coach doc rivers, up union president chris paul, and mayor kevin

two nba greats weigh in on that and whether the nba's punishment goes far enough. >>> and, the "time"agazine cover that's got fingers wagging. should one of "time's" most influential be dressed like this? >>> mark fuller left his job to start a design firm that makes innovative fountains using interactive art. their spectacular reiation cre be seen from the bellagio in las vegas to dubai. one thing i've learned is my philosophy is real simple american express open forum is an on-line community, that helps our members connect and share ideas to make smart business decisions. if you mess up, fess up. be your partners best partner. we built it for our members, but it's open for everyone. there's not one way to do something. no details too small. american express open forum. this is what membership is. this is what membership does. why relocating manufacturingpany to upstate new york? i tell people it's for the climate. the conditions in new york state are great for business. new york is ranked #2 in the nation for new private sector job creation. and now it's even better because they've

because the nba was actively involved in it. the nba regular lates every aspect of nba basketball. but when it comes to an important issue such as discrimination, something that as african-americans we've been fighting for a very long time to eradicate, the nba is mute. >> we will say what the nba does. they are coming up in just an hour with this announcement, a lot of us waiting because these are shocking to the conscience statements. thank you very much. keep it here because we'll be covering that nba announcement expected at 2:00 p.m. eastern time. now to developing weather news. president obama just signed a disaster declaration for the state of arkansas. residents of that state are among the 76 million people across the midwest and southeast still affected bycy veer weather that includes tornadoes and large hail and flash floods. you can literally see the tornado here in this video sweeping across louisville, mississippi. over 50 twisters touched down yesterday and a number of people killed since sunday keeps rising, now stands at 28. the national gartd confirmed an airman wa

the team is a contender for the nba championship. sterling is not the focus because of that, but instead because of some remarks he's accused of making, some racial remarks. >> very slander ous racial remarks. sterling's alleged comments, they're part of a conversation with his girlfriend made public by tmz and allegedly sparked after his girlfriend posted a picture with magic johnson. please let me forewarn you, i know it's sunday morning. you have kids in the room. some of this language here is indeed offensive. here we go. >> i saw someone admire -- i admire magic johnson. >> okay. good. >> he's made a lot of changes for his community, for the world, for the people, for the minorities. he's helped a lot of people. >> why are you forcing this down my throat? i'm finished talking to you. i have nothing more to say. >> i took a picture with someone i admire. >> good. and he happens to be black and i'm sorry. >> i know him well and he should be admired. i'm just saying you can't admire him privately. and during your entire [ bleep ] l

the nba has a problem.t and a racist among our family and we have been one of the most racially sensitive organizations in the world. we've been on the leading edge and at this day in age we discovered this privately. what an owner says privately doesn't matter. it doesn't matter if it was private, publicly or if he was intoxicated at the time. he said what he said. it created a firestorm. now there has to be restitution. i thought what adam silver did yesterday in his short tenure, the honeymoon is over for him. he has to make this right. the first step he did in banning david stern for life sent a powerful message to ex-clippers like myself, ex-nba players like myself that were insulted. we were insulted by that tape. we wondered what would be done. was armageddon going to happen to david stern if possible because he's been elusive in every way possible through the law out here. the situation with other people that will surface over the next couple of months as to how mean and really ugly david stern has

that's been the history of the nba. and sports in general has been a great opportunity for people to step forward and make change. i think jesse owens after the 1936 olympics. i think of jackie robinson integrating baseball. and now we have this ugly, horrible thing that mr. sterling has said about any number of minority people. there's no place for this in the nba. we do believe in equality and equal opportunity and we approved it. and i think that if the nba deals with this in very quick and forthright manner, they will continue to have some credibility. >> how do you see him as a guy he obviously associates himself with employees or heroes as his team. he's got a girlfriend, i guess you would call her, who is a minority. and yeah, he doesn't want -- in this weird recording he doesn't want her publicly seen with these fellows like magic. how do you see this very -- it's sort of a strange variant on race. what would you call it? is it patronizing? plantation -- >> it's the plantation model, chris. you have -- in the pl

nba commissioner was banning clipper order from the nba. the considered but and so a man running a politician has been said of running an nba franchise. inspiration behind to african-american athletes raising the black power salute during the 1968 summer olympics in mexico city. the professor also works for 10 years as a staff consultant for the warriors. he tells me when the clippers took off the warmup jerseys and when other players chose to work with black socks and a silent protest it created a symbol of zero tolerance for discrimination. i think it's the look back at that legacy that will provide a pattern for future generation of athletes to look back on just like they look back on jim brown and bill russell and how they handled. despite progress made edward feels the war to end racism is far from over. in a mistake if we assume that down sterling is a long period there still battles to be fought. the clippers racism controversy as top story on our kron4-dot-com we've compiled all elements including full audio recording is what of wha

stunning recorded comments rattling the nba. the long time owner of the los angeles clippers, donald sterling, is under fire for allegedly making racist comments about african-americans. tmz released a recording that it claims is sterling arguing with his girlfriend seen here with him. in this photograph. she allegedly says he doesn't want her associating with african-americans at clippers games and takes issues of an instagram picture of her with magic johnson and this is the picture attained by tmz sports. they also got another picture referencing other recordings of the girlfriend with l.a. dodgers player, matt kemp, here is a piece of that recording. >> i saw someone i admire. i admire magic johnson. >> okay, good. >> i'm sorry -- >> okay. >> he's made a lot of changes for his community, for the world, for the people, more the minorities. he's helped a lot of people. >> why are you forcing this down my throat? i'm funnished talking to you. >> i took a picture with someone i admire. >> good. >> he happens to be black, and i'm

tarnishing the nba. now everyone from magic johnson and michael jordan to president obama weighing in, as league larges a full investigation. >>> and things looking fairly grim at this hour for new york congressman michael grimm. he's just been taken into federal custody over alleged bad business dealings. remember, this is the same congressman who threatened to throw a reporter off the balcony during the state of the union earlier this year. >>> hello, everyone, i'm ashleigh banfield. it's monday, april 28th. welcome to "legal view." they're dempl stating devastating and they're on the move. strong storms with destructive tornadoes ripping through the central plains and the midsouth and killing at least 16 people. >> my ears are popping. yep, we're in it right now. we're in the tornado. all right. we're pulling other. >> look how dark it became in just seconds. this video was taken in mayflower, arkansas, one of the towns that was worst hit. the man behind the camera says he shot it just before god spar

the nba and the nfl ought to do the same.erend, you've been practicing on the air a long time and off the air before that, the election of barack obama was a wonderful thing. it meant a great deal to a lot of people, black and white and brown and red all over the country and, in fact, all over the world. but i heard somebody on one of the sunday talk shows say we thought we were beyond this. and i wanted to say we? that's not true. african-americans never thought that. >> my column was what happened to post racial? if you look at the past week, congressman, we started the week with the supreme court saying that it was fine for a state in this case michigan to vote race was not a factor in affirmative action. then we heard a rancher down in nevada talking about black kids had nothing to do because we didn't teach them out to pick cotton. now we end up with an nba owner and the ugliness he said on tape, all in one week. so as much as i'm happy to see the player s and everybody stan up with those of us talking about things like

and the nba is color blind. they have received me with open arms. >> reporter: he says owners like sterling are the exception. >> my experience with the owners has been that they're amazing people. they are color blind. they recognize that basketball is a global sport. the sport of the 21st century. and that, there is a code of conduct that is expected. >> legendary player shaquille o'neal part owner of the sacramento kings stand by the commissioner. >> there is strong evidence now, especially after hearing mr. sterling on the tapes, and you know the way mr. silver handled it was, a beautifully done. >> reporter: according to the league's constitution, the commissioner will need 75% of owners to help force sterling out. other reactions to the league's unprecedented decision have been flooding in. >> adam silver today was fantastic. personally, i thought he -- he made a decision that really was the right one. >> former nba great kevin johnson representing all the players said this ugly episode should serve as a w

the nba threw down that sentence banned for life, nba commissioner adam silver handing down that ruling against donald sterling for having racist comments to a female companion. donald sterling now prohibited from attending any nba game. we had half a dozen sponsors, we have lots on this developing story, lawyers, analysts, stay tuned. is developing and we have a live report coming up and consumer confidence may have fallen in april but you wouldn't know it. judging by major u.s. markets today we have a nice rally on our hands and volume significantly higher than the one month average similar to what we saw yesterday. a two day trend here. this also comes on the heels of a high-volume late-afternoon rebound late yesterday. we're pointing that out because some experts say that proved this rally may have staying power. momentum stocks are back in vogue. social media stocks and biotech stocks have gotten beaten up this month that today you can say on the contrary, russia's index, bugle is way up, twitter, linkedin, facebook, everything moving hire. we are watching twitter closely as it get

owning an nba team is a privilege like being a player.on't act appropriately, there should be consequences. >> angela, do we tend to project one person's apparent despicable comments onto a bigger part of society? big picture here, i'm not asking for you to give a representation of everybody, but in general, do you think african-americans now have reason to believe more whites perhaps think this way? >> i don't think this is about projection. i think in this instance we have to look at the impact. this is a man who has -- his income in his favor in terms of his privilege and he also has his skin color in favor of his privilege. what has happened is, he's projected this onto all of the players. there's a new tape now that the tape says he allegedly provides him with food, homes and cars. that projection is something we can't control, but people in this country really need to think about what impact can we have to ensure that these types of remarks don't run rampant in this country. i don't think that that's what makes america great. i thin

the nba confirmed the voice on the tape is that of sterling. the clippers say sterling is emphatic what is reflected is not consisted with his beliefs or feelings. viviano isn't talking. her attorney says recordings are legitimate but denies she released them. clippers coach spoke with reporters by phone. >> i can't tell you how upset i am, our players are. >> i think players are going to attempt to defy donald sterling in every way. the best way is by winning. >> now, clippers plan to do just that tonight. pro testers are planning to gather here behind me. they plan to send a strong message racism is not tolerated in their city. >> thank you. >> immediately after the announcement, clippers changed their web site and twitter page to show this. a statement reads we're one. what is your take on this punishment? >> i was surprised to a certain extent and happy. because this is the harshest punishment the commissioner can hand down. keep in mind david stern was commissioner three decades adam silver is brand new. what david stern's righthand man, r

>> not just the nba but professional sports.preston -- or i guess his name was george preston marshal l, he was a confirmed racist. didn't have his first black player until 1962 which for seven or eight years under his reign, he had black players playing for him and he was a racist. in the mid-1980s, he said that i moved it to minnesota because of the good hardworking white people in minnesota and blacks only enjoy going to wrestling matches. >> it's part of american history. >> it's a part of american history. and the fans don't care. they just want to see their team win. if you're a clipper fan, they don't care about -- >> except i think this really does hit at the heart of everyone, whether you're a fan, a player. >> if the -- i'm telling you something, if the clippers win the world championship, the l.a. clipper fans, this is going to be just a little small blip on the screen. >> you think so? >> in the grand scheme of things. >> live pictures right now of the oracle arena there where the clippers are playing. our producer m

nba mission or adam silver banning donald sterling from the nba for life. swift and harsh ruling handed down to 72 hours after audio recording and racist rants became public. danny him from attending nba games or entering the clipper facilities or having any contact with players or employees and finding this longtime owner $2.5 million as well. the maximum fine under the owners constitution. >> effective immediately, i am damning mr. sterling for life for many associations with the clippers organization or the nba. he may not attend any nba games or practices and he may not be present at any clippers facility and he may not participate in any business or personal decision involving the team. he is also barred from attending the nba governors meeting or participating in any other activity. also finding him $2.4 million from the maximum amount allowed constitution. these funds will be donateed to organizations, dedicated to antidiscrimination and tolerance effort that will be selected by nba. and its players association. >> silver said he will do everything i

and firestorm in the nba. >> l.a. clippers owner donald sterling is out. >> effective immediately i am banning mr. sterling for life from any association with the clippers' organization or the nba. >> reporter: after interviewing sterling and wrapping up its lightning speed investigation, the nba's commissioner adam silver delivered the blow. >> mr. sterling may not attend any nba games or practicing, he may not be present at any clippers' facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions, involving the team. >> he will also be barred from attending nba board of governors' meetings or participating in any other league activity. >> sterling was also fined $2.5 million, the maximum allowed under the nba constitution. money which would go to charity. justice was swift as well as the reaction. >> i believe that today stands as one of those great moments. where sports, once again, transcends, where sports provides a place for fundamental change, on how our country should think and act. >> i

a little nba action at the playoffs shot clock ticking down. we got charlotte bobcats' kemba walker says do i want to be the assist or -- and the scorer? you better believe it. up off the back board a little bunny down below. and he gets both. but bad news for charlotte. they are swept right out of the playoffs. they lose four games to none to the miami heat. play of the daylight there. >> pretty good. >>> this morning a limited number of tickets going an sale for the seventh and deciding game of the stanley cup playoff series between the sharks and kings. >> game seven is tomorrow night at 7:00 in downtown san jose. ticket sales begin at 10:00 this morning through ticket master at the s. a. p. center box office and numbered wristbands will be deliberated between -- distributed between 8:00 and 9:00 this morning. >>> 6:26 right now. the suicide of a santa clara county teen put the spotlight on school bullying upcoming up the -- up. coming up the new effort to change the way future cases are handled. >> and we are hours away from the nba commiss

to our discussion of donald sterling's banishment from the nba. we are joined by a one-time teammate of magic johnson, and the judge who is a consultant of the nba. and sits on the advisers of the atlanta falcons. i thought that was an amazing briefing from doc rivers. no notes, no prepared statement. just delivered it from the heart. among the things that have been said, he said the offended party is the one that gets called on for a response. he said in this particular case, adam silver responded for everyone. your reaction? >> you know, i think adam silver did give a response. he did for every person, past and current players. and those watching in high schools and collegiate-wise, this will not be tolerated. any type of prejudice will not be tolerated in the league under his watch. >> judge hatchett, here we are in the middle of the nba playoffs. you heard the coach say this was bigger than basketball. >> absolutely. it is bigger than basketball. and the commissioner, i thought, was bold and swift today and did what was necessary. and i hope t

what did we see in the nba?at we saw today, ed, i think is an attempt on the part of the new commissioner to get at the issues that have been beneath the surface for a long time. all of us have been hearing for years about mr. sterling. and this new commissioner has decided that he's going to act and act decisively. he is taking a great first step. now i would hope the owners will step up and provide the necessary votes to carry out this ban and then do what is necessary to force a sale of this property. this man seems to feel that not just a team but all the members of that franchise are his property. and this is a real problem. i think what the commissioner did today, starts us down the road to have a new kind of relationship between ownership and players. i hope that the ncaa will take a look at this and start doing some of the same things at the college level. because in many instances, there's a cesspool leading to professional sports, starting with college athletics. >> congressman, paul ryan has called hi

joining me tonight to answer that, espn, nba analyst and former nba coast, p.j. carlesimo.night. this is the time when the nba is at its peak. i mean, it's may, it's june. it's championship time. this is a nightmare for them. can this guy stay in the league? do the owners have the legal authority to do something here? >> i'm not sure about that. that's what's got everybody very concerned. right now, everybody wants to be fair and i lou due process to take its course and just hear if there's a defense, but clearly, everyone can't imagine any defense for those remarks if that was actually mr. sterling talking. and no one can imagine him staying in the nba. i think that we pride ourselves and we still do. i think it's horrific, those of us who are in the community to think that he could be in such an influential position in our league and be allowed to continue. but as you said, the pivotal word is legal. can he be forced out? >> do you think the owners will ask him to move on? >> i would be shocked if they didn't. i can't believe that the other 29 owners share anything, you k

you cannot have one person tarnish the nba. and that's unfortunately what happened. >> so today we were actually at our show meet when you were speaking, and everybody was watching you. and you said something that caught our attention. i wanted to play it back for you. >> i hope that every bigot in this country sees what happened to mr. sterling and recognizes that if he can fall, so can you. >> and, you know, it got this conversation going, mayor. the dallas mavericks owner mark cuban, as you know, talked about it being a slippery slope. if you force sterling out over comments he made in private, what kind of precedent might that set. i'm wondering what you think about that. are you worried about the precedent this sets? >> i'm not worried about a bad precedent being set. this was a perfect precedent. this is -- i felt like collectively, this country gasped when he said we completed the investigation. it was mr. sterling's voice on it. and there will be a lifetime ban. at that point, the country was able to exhale and said you

comments if the nba can prove it. an apron have to do with car insurance? an apron is hard work. an apron is pride in what you do. an apron is not quitting until you've made something a little better. what does an apron have to do with car insurance? for us, everything. >>> in just showers two former catholic leaders are set to become saints. tonight, the catholic faithful are gathering in vatican city on the eve of this historic day. ♪ millions are expected in rome ready to witness john paul, ii and pope john xxiiird become saints. next hour talk about the catholic saints and the women who helped give these men their place in history. >>> hello, everyone. don lemon here. you're in the "cnn newsroom." we have a big story in the sports world. it goes much, much more difficult. it gets much more difficult than that. because we are talking about the important issues of race and equality here. the nba tonight is investigating recorded remarks allegedly made by l.a. clippers owner donald sterling. the comments obtained by

this goes beyond the nba.eme court said we don't need affirmative action anymore. then you have this and you see there are still men in power who have racist attitudes, they can affect who is hired, who is fired, who ends up on juries. all these issues are at play. the nba doesn't just have a responsibility to do something about a bad owner, but they have a national responsibility to say, look, we can't allow this mindset to continue to harm employees. you have a right to be a bigot but you don't have a right to mistreat the people who work for you. >> what you think about that, mark? >> absolutely right. he needs to be the poster child to not be allowed as someone with influence in society. we're trying to deal with the subtleties of on going racial concerns. this is a guy who has now put a face on it and he needs to walk away. >> mark omar rah, jason johnson, thank you for your insight. >>> still to come in "newsroom," russia is further escalating the crisis in ukraine. now the obama administration is going

former nba player and current broadcaster for the utah jazz and vice chairman of the nba retired playersiation, thurl bailey is with us right now. the seat lowered a full foot below mine. >> i'll tweet a picture of them standing side by side. >> anything short of either a suspension separating donald sterling from the game. anything short of a separation, it just doesn't seem to me the players will stand for this at this point. >> i think you're right. you know, we have full confidence in adam silver to hand that down and we'll find out obviously pretty soon. i think some of it is a slippery slope because you have a man who owns a team and it's not going to be -- you talk about suspending him. that word doesn't seem like it will do enough. banishment may but can you legally do that? so i think everybody is in a waiting pattern right now until the press conference to see exactly what it is. you know, we'll see. i think that it has to be harsh. i don't think taking money from -- >> a billionaire does much. >> the idea of suspending him from ever going to a game, i understand the clippers f

the nba commissioner will speak tomorrow. but today, many team sponsors are already speaking loud and clear. a growing list has said they won't subsidize bigotry. carmax called the comments completely unacceptable. kia called them completely r reprehensib reprehensible. state farm called them offensive and virgin america said it's ending its sponsorship. this comes after tmz sports posted a recording of sterling talking to his then alleged girlfriend. according to tmz, sterling was upset about this photo with magic johnson that she posted on her instagram account. . >> why are you taking pictures with minorities, why? >> people call you and say that i have black people on my instagram and it bothers you. >> yeah, it bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. why publicize it on the instra game and why bring it to my team? how about your whole life, every day, you could do whatever you want. you could sleep with them, you could bring them in, do whatever you want. the little i ask yo

sterling may not attend any nba games or practices. he may not be present at any clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. >> with that adam silver also imposed a $2.5 million fine on donald sterling. plus he is urging the nba board of governors to force sterling to tesell the team. will sterling agree to sell? he told fox news jim gray he would not sell and that could lead to a long legal battle which nba owners and civil rights leaders did not want. >> in this country people are allowed to be morons and to be stupid and allowed to think stupid thoughts. within an organization of the nba we try to do what's in the best interest of the league. >> i hope mr. sterling will have the grace to apologize to resign and put the team on the market. >> he thought the beam for $12 million. today it is worth an estimated 600 to $1 billion. despite his disparaging comments he can walk away from this with a very huge payday. >> magic johnson talking about buying it now. >> he is s

the other nba teams following suit. from sterling's comments is evident inside the staples center. workers blacked out signs of more than a dozen companies that pulled their sponsorship amid the controversy. fans and activists rallied outside l.a.'s staples center in a show of unity and support for the nba's decision and for the clippers players. >> hopefully they will be able to get a new owner here that will honor the clippers the way they should be. >> reporter: clippers say they will continue to go for the win with our without sterling as an owner. cate caugiran, kpix 5. >> the clippers beat the golden state warriors last night 3-2 games in the series. >>> the question now is will sterling fight to retain ownership of the team in the nba could force sterling to sell if three-quarters of team owners vote in favor of it. about half have already told the "associated press" they support the idea including the sacramento kings owner. >> i will 100% support commissioner silver to vote for a forced sale of the los angeles

he's banned from all nba games begin immediately. he can't know his face at any clippers office or facility and can't participate in any player personnel decisions. the clippers released the following statement shortly after today's move, quote, we wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the nba and commissioner. now the healing process begins. the clippers made a powerful statement on their website today. this is what you'll see. the words, we are one. the warriors applauded the punishment and said, quote, the sentiments expressed on the audio recording were inappropriate, unacceptable and senseless. there's absolutely no room for racism in our world, period. >> coming up, the clippers will be holding a news conference in l.a. these players, most of them black have been put in a precarious spot. we'll have their comments. our survey, do you agree with the nba's decision to ban donald sterling for life? you can vote by texting or calling number your honor screen, 408-300-9222. you can reach out to us via twitter. >>> switc

that they came from an nba owner on

sterling may not attend any nba games or practices. he may not be president at any clippers facility, and he may not participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. he will also be barred from attending nba board of governors meetings or participating in any other league activity. i am also fining mr. sterling $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the nba constitution. >> good afternoon. i'm krystal ball, and we do start with the breaking news that l.a. clippers owner donald sterling has been banned for life and fined $2.5 million for that racist rant that was caught on tape. sterling cannot attend practices or games. he is still technically an owner, but commissioner adam silver said he will work through the bilaws of the league to make sure that is soon no longer the case. reaction is pouring in on this big decision. especially in los angeles where game five against golden state is happening tonight. we'll take you there in just a minute, but, first, where all the action is happening now, at tha