A media-obsessed woman who wore visors and skates. An octogenarian billionaire with memory problems. An NBA team that almost boycotted their playoff run.
They are among the people and events depicted in FX's “Clipped: The Scandalous Story of LA's Other Basketball Team.” The limited series, now streaming on Hulu, follows the real-life scandal that erupted in 2014 after TMZ published a voice recording of billionaire Donald Sterling and his mistress V. Stiviano. In the recording, Sterling is heard telling Stiviano not to associate with black people, including NBA superstar Magic Johnson, with whom Stiviano had been photographed before posting the image on Instagram. The ensuing outcry ultimately led to Sterling receiving a lifetime ban from the NBA, forcing him to sell the Los Angeles Clippers, the team he co-owned with his wife, Shelly.
“Clipped” stars Ed O'Neill as Donald Sterling, Jacki Weaver as Shelly Sterling, Cleopatra Coleman as Stiviano and Laurence Fishburne as Doc Rivers, head coach of the Clippers and former NBA star point guard who played for the team in the '90s. Last month, creator and showrunner Gina Welch spoke with Greg Braxton of The Times about adapting the events of the series: “We want this show to be fun and entertaining, but we also want to make sure we measure and maintain live the tragedy of history. and everything it represents.”
“Clipped” uses ESPN’s “30 for 30” podcast series, “The Sterling Affairs,” as the basis for the story.
But what really happened when the recording was leaked? Who were the people involved? And what was the reaction to Sterling's comments? The Times reported extensively on the scandal as it occurred and the fallout that followed. Here's a look at our key coverage on Sterling, Stiviano and the Clippers.
When the recording was leaked
'NBA investigates alleged racist comments by Clippers' Donald Sterling'
TMZ broke the story about the tape at 10 p.m. on April 25, 2014, a Friday night. On Saturday, The Times published an initial news report from Ben Bolch, which said the NBA was conducting an investigation due to “an audio recording that allegedly captures Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racist remarks in the course of an argument with a friend.” .”
'Clippers owner Donald Sterling in the middle of a storm over alleged racist comments'
Later that day, Bolch wrote more extensively about the tape's fallout. The Clippers were in the first round of the playoffs, having completed one of their best seasons, and the tape was released on the eve of Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors. According to the story, “players considered wearing black socks or armbands in protest during Sunday's game, but were worried about being seen as radicals. Center DeAndre Jordan posted a black rectangle on his Instagram account and tweeted a link to his more than 426,000 followers. Rivers said he entertained the idea of boycotting a game, but it was quickly ruled out.
'Anger towards Donald Sterling spreads through social media'
Outrage over Sterling's comments ignited social media, where the hashtags #BoycottClippers and #Donald Sterling proliferated. Snoop Dogg, director Adam McKay and other notable figures further joined the chorus. The racist comments “united hardcore basketball fans and sports neophytes, celebrities and everyday people, young and old in their condemnation of the 80-year-old Sterling.”
the people involved
'Donald Sterling built an empire and an image; Words were his downfall.
Who was Donald Sterling? In this article, written by Nathan Fenno, Kim Christensen and James Rainey, we get a picture of a lawyer and real estate mogul described as eccentric, who “always lived in his own world”: “Sterling had worked hard to create his own reality, spending millions in newspaper ads promoting his real estate empire, his charitable work and himself, even when his Clippers were perennial losers and he was accused in lawsuits of discriminating against minority tenants whose rent payments helped him get rich.”
'Sterling's wife describes alleged mistress as gold digger in lawsuit'
An article by Bettina Boxall details a lawsuit filed by Shelly Sterling against Stiviano, describing the affair and the gifts Donald Sterling gave her lover. Shelly Sterling alleged that Donald bought from Stiviano “a 2012 Ferrari, two Bentleys and a 2013 Range Rover, for a total value of more than $500,0000” and also gave “$1.8 million to purchase a duplex on West 4th Street, near the Beverly Center, last year. December” along with “$240,000 for living and maintenance expenses.” The lawsuit claims that the gifts were made without Shelly Sterling's knowledge or consent, and that she sought restitution from them along with damages.
'The women in the life of Donald Sterling'
This story by Harriet Ryan and Victoria Kim further details the lawsuit between Shelly Sterling and Stiviano while explaining who the women are and how they were connected to Donald Sterling. Stiviano met Donald Sterling at a Super Bowl party in 2010 and said she “never had a sexual relationship” with the billionaire, who supported his lifestyle. As for the relationship between the Sterlings, she describes them as “dedicated business partners who worked hand in hand to amass a real estate fortune during their 59 years of marriage. However, on a personal level, theirs was not a storybook union.”
'Donald Sterling sanctioned: Adam Silver tries to expel Clippers owner'
At the time the scandal unfolded, Adam Silver had been NBA commissioner for less than three months. His decision to give Sterling a lifetime ban from the NBA, which had to be approved by three-quarters of the league's owners, ultimately led to the sale of the team. Silver imposed a fine of $2.5 million, the maximum allowed, and the punishment also meant that “Sterling, 80, cannot attend any NBA games or practices and is not allowed to inhabit any NBA facility.” Clippers or participate in any commercial or personal decisions of the players.” involving the team.”
'Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wins Clippers' $2 billion bidding war'
On May 29, 2014, Steve Ballmer made the winning bid for the Los Angeles NBA franchise. According to Rainey's article, “The asking price would be nearly four times the previous NBA franchise's high: the $550 million paid earlier this month for the Milwaukee Bucks. It is the second highest price ever paid for a sports team in North America. The Dodgers were sold in 2012 for $2.1 billion.”
Additional viewing: the television interviews
Interview by Barbara Walters with V. Stiviano
Stiviano spoke with Barbara Walters on ABC News' “20/20” about the recording and her relationship with Donald Sterling. Yes, she described herself as his best friend, confidant, and “dumb bunny.”
Shelly Sterling also talks to Walters
Days later, Shelly Sterling spoke with Walters and told the news anchor that she was “shocked” by what her husband said and that he should apologize. Sterling also revealed that she thought he had the beginnings of dementia and said she planned to divorce him (they are still married to this day). Walters asked Sterling if she thought Donald Sterling was racist, to which she responded, “I never heard him say racial things… But as far as racist, I really don't think he's racist.”
Donald Sterling in 'Anderson Cooper 360'
Sterling sat down for an interview with Anderson Cooper 10 days after Stiviano's interview with Walters. His most notable statements were when he said: “I am not racist” and wanted to “apologize and ask for forgiveness for all the people I have hurt.” But then Cooper asked Sterling about Magic Johnson's comments about the scandal, in which Sterling said he “was hurt, but it doesn't matter,” before proceeding to say that Johnson “made love to every girl ever.” the cities of the United States and he had AIDS.” (Johnson is HIV positive and does not have AIDS).
