'Clipped': Inside Donald Sterling's turbulent life after controversial sale of LA Clippers
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Clipped', an American sports drama miniseries created by Gina Welch, is set to debut on FX on Hulu on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Based on the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast 'The Sterling Affairs', the series delves into the scandal involving former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
Starring Laurence Fishburne as Doc Rivers, Ed O'Neill as Donald Sterling, Jacki Weaver as Shelly Sterling, Kelly AuCoin as Andy Roeser, and J Alphonse Nicholson as Chris Paul, the series offer a dramatic portrayal of the events surrounding Donald's downfall.
Who is Donald Sterling?
Donald Sterling, born on April 26, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American attorney and businessman. He is widely known for his controversial tenure as the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team.
His family relocated to the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles when he was just two years old. He later enrolled at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, where he participated in the school's gymnastics team.
Later on, he pursued higher education at California State University, Los Angeles, graduating in 1956. He then went on to study law at Southwestern University School of Law. He got married to Shelly in 1955. His wife's birth name is Rochelle Stein, while he was born Donald Tokowitz.
Donald and Shelly changed their surname to 'Sterling' by filing a formal petition on December 9, 1959.
They share three children: Scott, Chris, and Joanna. Tragically, Scott, their eldest son, died in 2013 at the age of 32 due to a drug overdose.
When did Donald Sterling purchase the Los Angeles Clippers?
In 1981, Donald acquired the San Diego-based Clippers for $12.5 million. This marked the beginning of his ownership of the team, which underwent a significant change in 1984 when Donald decided to relocate the franchise to Los Angeles.
Following their relocation to Los Angeles, the team was rebranded as the Los Angeles Clippers. Their longest winning streak in March 1981 consisted of two consecutive wins against the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Clippers experienced a significant shift when Blake Griffin and Chris Paul joined the team. This resulted in the Clippers achieving their best-ever record of 57–25, earning them the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
They also made numerous playoff appearances, showcasing their competitiveness in the NBA. The team's 'Lob City' era, featuring players like Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Jordan, led the Clippers to multiple playoff appearances.
Inside Donald Sterling's racist comments that led to his downfall
Donald's downfall began in 2014 when recordings of him making racist remarks were made public. In these recordings, Donald can be heard making derogatory comments about African Americans, particularly criticizing his companion, V Stiviano, for associating with black people, as reported by TMZ.
TMZ Sports acquired audio recordings of Donald making racist remarks on April 9, 2014. In these recordings, he can be heard making harsh and racist comments about African Americans, including players on the Clippers team.
He told V Stiviano that he does not want black people to attend Clippers games or be associated with the team. He also condemned her for posting pictures on social media with black people.
He also criticized V Stiviano for associating with Magic Johnson, a beloved former NBA player and prominent figure in the African American community.
He said, "You can sleep with (black people). You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games."
The recordings sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver responded to the controversy by imposing a lifetime ban on Donald from all NBA activities and fining him $2.5 million.
Later on, his wife negotiated the sale of the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion, as reported by NBC News. This sale marked the end of Donald's ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Where is Donald Sterling now?
In 2012, Donald started receiving treatment for prostate cancer. In 2014, several doctors confirmed that Donald was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Later on, he was declared mentally unfit to manage the financial matters of the Sterling Family Trust. This decision paved the way for his wife, Shelly, to sell the Los Angeles Clippers on his behalf.
He has stayed out of public view since leaving the NBA, but he continues to be wealthy following the sale of the Clippers. As of June 2024, his net worth is $4 billion, placing him among the 800 wealthiest individuals globally, as per Forbes.
How to stream 'Clipped'?
'Clipped' will be exclusively available for streaming on Hulu from Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
One needs to have Hulu subscription to watch this captivating series. Don't have a Hulu subscription? Worry not!
The ad-supported Hulu package, which includes commercials, is available for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. In comparison, the ad-free package, which offers uninterrupted viewing, is priced at $17.99 per month.
'Clipped' trailer