Transcripts For FBC MONEY With Melissa Francis 20140429 : vi

FBC MONEY With Melissa Francis April 29, 2014

Donald sterling. Any moment now, nba commissioner ad sam silver will make an adam silver make announcement on the investigation. Lets go straight to the our panel and i inspiration for jerry maguire, Leigh Steinberg, we have sports attorney lee olenick and sports Business Journal adam kaplan and fox newss brian kilmeade. Give me the legal perspective on this one. What can he do. What he can do the commissioner can suspend him indefinitely and fine him up to 2. A Million Dollars. Constitution and within the bylaws allows for that. He can get rid of him. Melissa lee, that is not really get rid of him. Do you feel like that is meaningful punishment . If he suspended not doing business at work but could do anything from anywhere. A few Million Dollars will not make a difference for somebody worth billions. Do you that is meaningful. Whats going to happen here, they will indefinitely suspend him and they will start pushing to get the franchise transferred over. This is his last day as active owner of the clippers. They will force a trade. The whole nba is threatened by this. Every Revenue Source is threatened by it. The nationwide furor is pushing for it. The nba and players are united. They will get rid of Donald Sterling. They cant take the team from him. They can take away his ability to run the team. And then they will push for a sale. And there are a lot of willing buyers. This will be behind us. Melissa to our viewers. Youre looking at screen right now, that is the new york hilton in midtown new york. That is where were expecting nba commissioner adam silver at any moment to come on. As soon as he starts speaking well go to that live. Brian, let me ask you, do you agree what you heard so far. I do. Tmz who started this whole thing and word is done. I will share what tmz is reporting. The commissioner will suspend Donald Sterling indefinitely like lee mentioned and impose a million at this Million Dollar fine but sterling will not be forced to sell the team. The suspension does not include members of his sterlings family. Like the San Francisco 49er, eddie depart toe low situation where it went to his sister in the immediate family. He is out and there is a fine. Melissa that is what tmz is reporting. That is not what fox news is reporting. We want to make sure that we make that clear. Daniel, what do you think about that . What does that mean . Do you think that in in that situation he would be ultimately forced to sell the team even in that situation. Whether the nba can force him or not, and they cant under thereby laws and constitution, marketplace realities will likely dictate it. Not only are sponsors are pulling out. Ticket renewals will have to go out. Who will renew their season tickets to a team owned by Donald Sterling. Whether he wants to go or not, also who will sign with the team . What free agent players will sign with the team. Beyond the nbas authority, there is marketplace reality. Melissa lee, let me ask you, youre a sports agent. If he just suspended and still the owner would that impact the ability of them to place players on the team, if he is supposedly not actively running daytoday but still the owner . These are the most blatant comments ive seen by an owner on racial issue ever. Melissa right. This is not a Single Person black or white that will sign with that team. This is not a black versus white incidentally. Every single this country who is not, doesnt have racial animus is condemning this. Melissa even if he is fined and suspended, what tmz is reporting, if that is the reality we hear here in a few minutes even then no one would sign with the team . I predict this is just the beginning. Behind the scenes as daniel said, Market Forces are going to push him out. He cant walk out in public in Southern California at this point. This will end up with the team being sold and, it will happen before next season. Melissa steve, do you agree with that . If he is suspended, is it enough to bring any sponsors back . Well, yeah. I mean thats the key. Melissa it is the key. You have to suspend him. You have to. This show is about money. It is all about the money. The sponsorships are key here. The nba wants to see the sponsorships back and you know, i know just because i deal with some of the players that actually play on the team melissa what are they saying by the way . What are they saying to you . Theyre disappointed and, you know, they have a job to do. Theyre in the playoffs. This is a huge distraction. I think that hopefully this is resolved quickly enough that everyone can just move on. Are they saying they want to get off the team or do they think something really is going to change . They, i think its, more the latter, that something is changed. So immediately. Melissa yeah. Daniel, do you agree with that and, you know, in order to get the really full support of the community and sponsors back does he have to make moves to put the team up for sale or sell it . Oh, yeah. This is step one for the nba today. This is the not endgame, indefinite suspension and a fine. This is just step one. They are going to do what they can to push him out. As i said, i think marketplace forces will do that. But if he, if situation today were the status quo, that would clearly not be enough. He has to go. Melissa yeah, brian, what is frustrating about this he paid, 12 or 18 milliondollars, 12 million in the 80s for this team. If he is quote, unquote, forced to sell it, he could get 700 million, 800 million. There is a whole bunch of different numbers floating around what the team is actually worth. Forced to sell, he still has made an enormous profit. Is that annoying . No. Not really. That is the way business works. You know better even than me. I was in los angeles interviewing Leigh Steinberg whenever he would take my phone calls when i was on sportssports radio, they were biggest joke. They couldnt get anyone to their games and he wouldnt spend money on players. Franchise is not worth anything. He decides to hold on draft picks and changes general manager and gets 57 wins. The worth of something is here. He is here and players keep rotating but the franchise is growing. So far they picked the right venue. Im very interested to see what is going to happen tonight. For example, if he is suspended do players come out with shorts reversed . Do fans do the same thing . Do they listen to the coach of the other team and mark jackson, boycott the became which he said with his tongue in his cheek and great to go on the road and not have enemy fans yelling at you . There is lot of action going on in front of the building on top of that regardless what is going on in a matter of minutes. Melissa brian go ahead. The players have to tune all this out. They have have an ability to have a quiet mind. Theyre always surrounded by distractions. This is obviously over the top but, players have unique ability to focus. I think they were impacted on sunday but they have got to win in spite of Donald Sterling. They have to win because they started in october working for a goal and now its close to it. Sterling will be long gone but what happens in the playoffs will be right here. Sterlings never been a popular figure in los angeles. Melissa that is exactly where i was going to go next. Is, you all have been involved with this and covered this for a long time. This is not a big surprise, right . That this is i live here. Melissa go ahead, yeah. I live here. He has never been popular. He buys big ads in the l. A. Times touting his charitable contributions. In his picture in there many inches high, every single month. So hes, hes all about that. If, taking the team from him is the worst thing you could ever do. He loves being in the spotlight. Melissa even if he makes an incredible mint and ups his fortune by another billiondollars doesnt matter . Wry an referenced the depart toe low situation where he was involved in gambling. All ed wanted to do was own the team. That was his life. Instead he got a lot of money from his sister. She ended up running the team. That was the worst punishment you could ever do. Donald sterling who enjoys being on the cuttingedge in the spotlight surrounded by celebrities will now be out of that. And he has got 2 billion. So money is not a concern to him. He is about to be exiled. This is like 1984 with your worst fears in the little cell. This is his worst fear. Melissa brian, do agree with that . Absolutely, 100 . Obviously not doing for the money at this point. He wants to sit in front row and myriad of girlfriend and his wife. Cant figure out that situation. Melissa you need a chart. In terms of the sports angle they have one the most eloquent coaches, one of the greatest leaders, one of the best people running that team in doc rivers and he is the type of guy that can use this to rally his team. However he has made it clear he might not come back next year, depending on the situation that comes down. So this franchise could end up in disarray. There is a lot of different, there is a lot of different storylines milling about around this because it is no longer the clippers, the butt of everybodys joke and laker are the big team on the block. The world has flipped upside down of the clippers are intryinging, theyre young, exciting with this charismatic coach. Lets see if they get to the 57 wins and look to do something in the playoffs to spiraling downward again. Melissa but you know, i would ask any of you, maybe steve, you can start, when you look at somebody like doc rivers who is inspirational, everyone is behind, this cant be a surprise to him though this is who this guy is . He deals with him on a daytoday basis. Not like he could have kept these beliefs tucked away. If youre like this, youre like this, right . I mean he already been living in this climate. Steve, go ahead. One one hers, this show is all about the money and doc rivers was paid very handsomely to take that job. Melissa but it is not enough now . Well, no now its not. It is not now because a lot of people are just fed up and theyre disgusted by this. And so, but, with that being said, it is about the money in terms of what a lot of people, there is lot of these players that are playing for second contracts, marketing. I mean, theyre just not going to stop playing. Melissa yeah. That is not melissa daniel, you agree with that. I totally agree with that. What were going to see in the next five, 10 minutes, when adam silver is going up there, he is cleaning up his predecessors dirty laundry david stern would not clean. It is no secret Donald Sterling is like this. One of the great black marks on i believe sterns legacy, orchestrated the trade of chris paul to Donald Sterlings team even though wellknown sterling had this racist comments and decision by the department of justice against his he will Real Estate Company about discrimination. Silver has to undo the damage. It is significant damage. Melissa lee, do you agree with that . That is interesting perspective what it says about david stern . First of all you have to ask yourself, given the fact that elgin baylor had a lot to say about racism when in his own lawsuit and department of justice do the same thing. Now you have players coming out of the woodwork who are saying talking about states he made, why did it take this long . That is the first question. And this is, amazing test for adam silver. Can you imagine being the job of your dreams and a couple months into it the irony of this all, is that this is a laker town. Its a laker town and i love the clippers but its a laker town. This is their chance to finally retake los angeles and melissa does this help our hurt that . If you have a change in ownership, they have a fresh start, does it help them take over from l. A. . Im from l. A. Originally. I understand its a laker town but also a lot of fair weather fans in l. A. Originally from somewhere else. Its a town where people root for other teams as well. Not anymore. Melissa no. Thank you. Im part of the first generation of angelinos born here and the lakers have the heart of the town. However, Frank Mccourt did everything he could to screw up the dodgers and people were staying away from games. They were doing all sorts of things. Couldnt stand him. Leaves. The next group comes in, the dodgers are on top again. So a new owner whos pr savvy, community savvy, marketing savvy, will have a real chance to, to build on this because lakers are not going to win for the next three years. The clippers are the team with the real chance. Melissa yeah. And i think they will turn this all around. Theyre going to play in spite of Donald Sterling. Melissa yeah. In a few minutes youre going to see the pin go into the balloon and a lot of this anger and outrage dissipate because the dingdong, the witch is dead. Melissa i just want to remind viewers who are joining us right now were awaiting for a press conference to begin at the new york hilton in midtown new york. This is nba commissioner adam silvers big decision on what to do about Donald Sterling who is the owner of the clippers, who of course has been alleged to make some very racist remarks that since friday have been all throughout the media. Were watching him approach the podium right now. Thank you all for being here. I apologize for starting a little bit late. Shortly after the release of an audio recording this past saturday morning, of a conversation that allegedly included clippers owner Donald Sterling, the nba commenced an investigation which among other things included an interview of mr. Sterling. That investigation is now complete. The central findings of the investigation are that the man whose voice is heard on the recording and on a second recording from the same, from the same conversation that was released on sunday is mr. Sterling and that the hateful opinions voiced by that man are those of mr. Sterling. The views expressed by mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harlful. Harmful. That they came from an nba owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage. Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural, and multiethnic league. I am personally distraught that the views expressed by mr. Sterling came from within an institution that has historically taken such a leadership role in matters of Race Relations and caused current and former players, coaches, fans and partners of the nba to question their very association with the league. To them, and piniers of the game like pioneers of the game, early lloyd, chuck cooper, sweet water clifton, the great bill russell and particularly Magic Johnson, i apologize. Accordingly effective immediately, i am banning mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers Organization or the in ba. Mr. 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. Im 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. Sterlings 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 Johnson of sacramento, who has been acting as the players representative in this matter. We stand together in condeming mr. Sterlings views. They simply have no place in the nba. Thank you, and i will take any questions. Much. Take questions now. Start with scott in the back right. Adam scott, bloomberg. Do you or any of your emissaries have any clue whether mr. Sterling will acquiesce your wishes to sell the team or do you expect a fight . I have no idea. Take the next question, right here, rachel. From polling the owners that you have spoken to what support do you think you have to force mr. Steriling to sell the team . I didnt poll the owners. I spoke to several owners, and i have their full support. On the right, brian. From associated press. What kind of authority do they have to force a sale . The owners have the authority subject to 3 4 vote of the ownership groups, of the partners to remove him as an owner. Fifth row in the middle. Im Lisa Guerrero with inside edition. The word you used specifically was outrage. You said that you were personally outraged yet many people believe that they are outraged that for years people have known that this man is a racist, slum lord, and the nba hasnt done anything until today. Can you please answer why . I cant speak to past actions other than to say that when specific evidence was brought to the nba, we acted. Okay. Over here, second row on the left. Fox news, kelly file. Should someone lose their team for remarks shared in private or is this a slippery slope . Whether or not these remarks were initially shared in private, they are now public and they represent his views. Fifth row in the middle. Tim . Get a microphone there, please. New york post. Adam, what was the process to come to this decision over the last couple days and when did you decide that this was the appropriate action to take . I ultimately decided this morning that this was the appropriate action and the process beginning saturday morning when this first, when this tape was first released was, to appoint an investigator. It was david anders from the Wachtel Lipton firm. He conducted a series of interviews, some by phone, some in person. He concluded his investigation late last night. 7th row on the left, jeff. Give the microphone to jeff, please. No, jeff, right there. 7th row on the left. Jeff, usa today. Adam, you said you

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