'Clipped': Why LA Clippers continued playing even after Donald Sterling's controversy dragged them to the ground
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Clipped' on Hulu centers on Donald Sterling's 2014 scandal that shook the basketball fraternity and caused anger among the Black Americans.
A private conversation between Donald Sterling (played by Ed O'Neill) and his assistant/mistress V Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman) was leaked into the media. The audio clip contained Sterling's racist remarks barring Stiviano from bringing Black people to his game.
How did LA Clippers react to Donald Sterling's audio tape?
'Clipped' sheds light on the aftermath of the leaked audio tape. It highlights Shelly Sterling's (Jacki Weaver) public embarrassment and explores the turmoil within the NBA team, which went from preparing for a championship to debating whether to continue playing or stage a boycott.
Episode 3 of 'Clipped', 'Let the Games Began', contains the most powerful scene of the series as Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) and the players sit together, discussing their feelings and contemplating their next course of action amid the blown-up scandal.
Ultimately, Doc Rivers convinced the players not to boycott the games. He, who remained the only point of contact for the media, said, "Our message is to play. Our message is that we're going to let no one and nothing stop us from what we want to do. And I think that's a good message. I really do. I think that's the message we're trying to send. And if we can pull this off all the way, I think that would be a terrific message," as quoted by CBS News.
Though the players went on to continue playing at the championship, they expressed their resentment with a silent protest.
At the game, they removed their team logo jackets, threw them on the ground, and played the game in long-sleeved red shirts. They wore black wristbands, giving out a statement of unity and protest.
Other NBA players expressed outrage against Donald Sterling
While Doc Rivers wanted Clippers to let their game do the talking, other NBA players felt the need to speak up on the scandal.
CBS News quoted Garrett Temple: "We're more than basketball players. We're human beings, first and foremost, and when you hear something like that, it's very unfortunate that whoever that is talking feels that way, and I don't think there's any place in this game or in the world, for that matter, for thoughts like that."
LeBron James, who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers wanted Sterling's removal from the NBA as he said, "There is no room for Donald Sterling in our league."
Kobe Bryant and Mark Jackson also expressed that they couldn't play for Sterling.
Magic Johnson, who was targeted by Sterling in the audio clip, said that he was hurt.
"We've had lunch and even shared meals to talk about his team, so I thought we had a sort of a friendship, even though it may be a distant one. I respect him, I thought he respected me, but when these comments came out, it hurt. It didn't hurt me as much personally as it hurt me for all African Americans," CBS News quoted Johnson.
But Clippers's coach Doc Rivers wanted to keep the scandal separate from the games and wanted his team to win. That may or may not have been his best decision as the scandal was too big to limit it out of the court.
Donald Sterling was eventually banned by the NBA
With the growing rage against Sterling in the NBA and the Clippers continuing to feel the need to boycott the games, Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA announced a lifetime ban on Sterling.
Sterling was also handed a fine of $2.5 million and was effectively forced to sell Clippers.
Sterling had bought Clippers for just $12.5 million in 1982 and sold it to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for a whopping amount of $2 billion, a stellar profit for someone who left the League in disgrace.
How to stream 'Clipped'?
'Clipped' is a six-episodic miniseries featuring Laurence Fishburne, Ed O'Neill, Jacki Weaver, and Cleopatra Coleman.
The sports drama series, created by Gina Welch is available to stream on Hulu on Disney+.
'Clipped' trailer