Local Sports Attorney Weighs In Ahead Of NBA's Press Conference On Sterling Investigation
By Todd Quinones
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The NBA will hold a press conference Tuesday to make an announcement about its investigation involving Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
As the controversy continues to heat up, all eyes will be on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as he is expected to announce what he plans to do about it.
The racist remarks attributed to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling prompted 76ers managing owner Josh Harris to release this statement:
"Without question, discrimination in any form is unacceptable and has no place in the National Basketball Association or anywhere else in society. The comments were hurtful and outrageous, and in no way reflect the values and beliefs of myself, our ownership group or the Philadelphia 76ers organization."
Sterling allegedly made the remarks during a conversation with his girlfriend that were recorded and then posted on TMZ Sports.
"…don't come to my games. Don't bring black people and don't come," Sterling allegedly said.
Kenneth Shropshire is a Wharton professor and sports attorney.
He says the NBA should force Sterling out as owner, but that will be tough.
"As we understand in their constitutional bylaws which are largely confidential for economic reasons you can take away a franchise interest, but there's really nothing else built in there as there are in player contracts, or endorsement deals kind of a morals clause," Shropshire said.
And now advertisers such as CarMax, Virgin America, State Farm and Kia have begun dropping out as sponsors with the Clippers.
Marc Brownstein is the CEO of a Center City branding agency.
He says advertisers have little choice but to back away.
"If there's an outlier, if there's a company that is standing with the Clippers imagine what consumers are going to think and feel about that company," he said.
