Clippers President To Take Leave Of Absence For CEO 'Clean Slate'
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles Clippers President Andy Roeser will be taking an indefinite leave of absence, effective immediately, NBA officials announced Tuesday.
"This will provide an opportunity for a new CEO to begin on a clean slate and for the team to stabilize under difficult circumstances," said Clippers spokesperson Mike Bass.
The announcement comes after owner Donald Sterling's racist comments were exposed one week ago on a recording where Sterling expresses his unhappiness with his alleged mistress for posting online photos of herself with black people, including basketball great Magic Johnson.
Roeser had been expected to take control of the team after the NBA issued a lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine for Sterling in response to his comments.
On Saturday, the NBA announced it would appoint a CEO to manage the team while the process of attempting to terminate Sterling's ownership moves forward.
According to the NBA Constitution, the league's Board of Governors can force a sale if three-quarters of the league's team owners vote in favor.
Sterling is widely expected to fight such a move.
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