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By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Donald Sterling, the disgraced owner of the Clippers, went on the Anderson Cooper television show over the weekend and apologized for racial remarks that have the NBA attempting to force him to sell the franchise. “I said a terrible thing but I am not a racist,” he said. “I feel so sorry for the people I’ve hurt.” Despite the apology, Sterling is investigating the possibility of suing the NBA for $1.7 billion. In a related development, Sterling’s wife Shelly...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The Lakers have indicated they plan a long search for a coach to replace Mike D’Antoni, who resigned last week following two unsuccessful seasons. The Lakers are in the difficult position of being without a coach or many players. Only three players, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Robert Sacre have a Laker contract for next season and Nick Young has a player option. It is believed the Lakers may interview as many as 20 coaching candidates. Two college coaches, John C...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Magic Johnson issued the following statement concerning rumors he might buy the Clippers. ´I am not going to buy the Clippers," he said. The NBA is attempting to force disgraced owner Donald Sterling to sell the team soon. Unlike Johnson, Oprah Winfrey has expressed interest and has two highly qualified partners....
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor What other news, what other developments could there be from the Clippers’ bizarre week as they await a deciding Game 7 of their opening round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors? Well, there is one more development. The New York Post reported that 80-year-old ousted Clipper owner Donald Sterling has been battling prostate cancer for several years. Most Clipper players and Coach Doc Rivers said they weren’t aware of the situation. “I hope it isn’t...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Donald Sterling has been confrontational during his 33 years as the Clippers' owner so it isn't surprising that he isn't taking his lifetime suspension without a fight. Sterling has a $1.7 billion lawsuit against the NBA in mind after he was banned for life by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. He is considering several major law firms. Sterling's advisors aren't disputing the fact that Sterling's comments were racial but they are disputing the fact the tape he made...
The Lakers have indicated they plan a long search for a coach to replace Mike D’Antoni, who resigned last week following two unsuccessful seasons. The Lakers are in the difficult position of being without a coach or many players. Only three players, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Robert Sacre have a Laker contract for next season and Nick Young has a player option. It is believed the Lakers may interview as many as 20 coaching candidates. Two college coaches, John Calipari of Kentucky and former L...
What other news, what other developments could there be from the Clippers’ bizarre week as they await a deciding Game 7 of their opening round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors? Well, there is one more development. The New York Post reported that 80-year-old ousted Clipper owner Donald Sterling has been battling prostate cancer for several years. Most Clipper players and Coach Doc Rivers said they weren’t aware of the situation. “I hope it isn’t true,” said forward Blake Griffin....
Magic Johnson issued the following statement concerning rumors he might buy the Clippers. ´I am not going to buy the Clippers,” he said. The NBA is attempting to force disgraced owner Donald Sterling to sell the team soon. Unlike Johnson, Oprah Winfrey has expressed interest and has two highly qualified partners....
After NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Tuesday morning the voice on the racial rant alleged to be Clippers owner Donald Sterling is indeed Sterling the commissioner took action. Sterling has received a lifetime ban from the NBA and fined $2.5 million. He will not be permitted to attend Clipper games or practices or appear in the team's offices. Silver also said the league will attempt to convince Sterling to sell the team. This is Silver's first major action since he recently succeeded...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Shelly Sterling, the estranged wife of ousted Clippers owner Donald Sterling, wanted to attend the team’s Game 5 victory over the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night but didn’t know if she’d be welcome. Considering the fact her husband had been banned for life from NBA arenas earlier in the day she had reason to be concerned. She sought out Coach Doc Rivers for permission, which was granted. Shelly, who usually sits in a courtside seat, watched this game from...
Three sponsors of the Clippers basketball team, Red Bull, CarMax and Virgin America, have been the first to sever their relationship with the NBA team. On Tuesday two other sponsors, Chumash Casino and Mercedes Benz also pulled out. CarMax’ statement called comments by Clippers owner Donald Sterling on a tape being investigated by the NBA as totally unacceptable. CarMax has been a Clippers’ sponsor for nine years Two other Clipper sponsors, State Farm and Kia, both are believed to be con...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The Lakers said they had no position for Phil Jackson, so he joined the New York Knicks and made his first move this week, firing Coach Mike Woodson. The Knicks didn’t make the playoffs and needed a change in direction. As the new man in charge Jackson acted quickly. Had he been given the same position with the Lakers Mike D’Antoni would most likely have been fired by now. Instead, the Knicks are moving toward hiring someone with a background in the Triangle Off...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor I saw two versions of Blake Griffin in the opening games of the current playoff series between the Clippers and Golden State Warriors. In Game One I was wondering why Griffin was committing useless fouls, scrapping too hard for rebounds even as the whistle was blowing. Get away, I thought. You don’t need this. Being competitive is good but, man, use your head. Griffin has been a star from the day he joined the Clippers but he took a significant leap this s...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor A year ago, when the Lakers completed one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, I wrote Anatomy of a Disaster and had no intention of following with another similar article. But throughout this season, the worst since the Lakers moved here in 1960 from Minneapolis, readers have frequently requested Part 2 of this story. So here it is. It was bad enough last season when Kobe Bryant averaged 45 minutes a game down the stretch trying to get the Lak...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Here's that time of the year again when talented teams with excellent coaches are in danger of finishing as failures. It gets crazier every year because only eight Western Conference teams qualify for the playoffs and several more barely miss. There's even talk that Golden State's Mark Jackson could lose his job if the Warriors lose their first round playoff series against the Clippers. What a shame that would be as the Warriors have won 19 more games than they'v...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The Dodgers have been favored by numerous media outlets as favorites to win the World Series. Their off-season spending spree, totaling a record $240 million, is the primary reason. But championships are decided on the field, and on the Dodgers' home-opening weekend they got all they could handle from the long-time rival San Francisco Giants. As the Giants won two of the three games they proved to be a worthy opponent for the Dodgers. A very worthy opponent. I'm...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The new Dodger owners spend lavishly and they’re attempting to build a championship team. “Last year we made a lot of progress and reached the playoffs,” said Magic Johnson. “Now our goal is to go all the way.” Many forecasters have listed the Dodgers as favorites to win the World Series. One consideration is their record $240 million payroll. But there’s been enough early trouble for fans to be concerned. Let us count the difficulties – quite a few since it’s on...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Just a few more weeks and the Lakers' season will be over. No playoffs this time. Of all the negatives that have occurred the one that bothers me the most is the way Pau Gasol hasn't been appreciated. This is one of the top 100 big men ever to play in the NBA, a professional who has had championship seasons here but now is struggling against age and injuries, plus a coach who doesn't want the center to have the ball in the post. Instead of Gasol being celebrated...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor The last of John Wooden’s 11 UCLA national championships was won 37 years ago. It’s too bad that Bruin fans remain spoiled. How else can we explain the lack of enthusiasm for the program in the recent past? UCLA has a fine team with a 26-8 record this season, a championship in the Pac-12 tournament and respect from the media across the country as it begins March Madness this week in San Diego. But crowds have been embarrassingly small all season at Pauley Pav...
After Phil Jackson was introduced Tuesday as president of New York Knicks basketball operations no player immediately changed teams. But the initial impact is that it was a grand day for the Knicks and a dreadful one for the Lakers. Both teams began the day in horrible shape, both out of playoff contention, both needing a change in leadership. Both with a dominating owner. But James Dolan of the knicks said he is gladly yielding authority to Jackson in building a more cohesive Knicks roster....
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor As of this writing, Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks are making progress on details of a contract that will bring him to the team with total control in running the basketball operation. This is what the man who won 11 NBA championship rings as a coach and two as a player has sought in recent years from the Lakers. Apparently, however, Laker owner Jim Buss isn't interested. Avery Johnson, who played in the league for 16 years and then coached Dallas and New...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor John Wooden won 10 national championships as the UCLA basketball coach from 1964 to 1976, the greatest dynasty in the history of the sport. Since Wooden retired, UCLA has won only one more in 37 years. In an intriguing new book by Southern California author Steve Bisheff, In The Shadow Of A Legend, the case is made that the Bruins missed out on several more championships because Wooden's prized assistant coach, Jerry Norman left the program at age 38, due...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Darius Banks, one of the most talented quarterbacks in Culver City High history, is planning to resume his career at Bethany College in Kansas next season. Banks has received a full scholarship, which is unusual at an NAIA school. Banks’ last year at Culver City was in 2008. He played two successful years at Fullerton College and also attended Central Washington. Banks may have former Centaur teammate Ijumaa Armstrong on the Bethany team. Armstrong, a receiver a...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Based on my actions of the last 30 years or so, I made a startling decision last Friday. Without question, if the Lakers were playing that night I’d go there. It’s been my work. I need to know what’s going on with the team. But reality set in. The story wasn’t at the Lakers’ game. They’re out of playoff contention and they were playing the Sacramento Kings, a similarly awful team. No, I needed to spend the day at the Clippers’ training facility, where there w...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor It happens every year late in the National Basketball Association season. Teams believing they have a chance to win the championship add potentially important players. Teams out of contention release players to lighten their payroll. What's different here is the reversal of roles by the Lakers and Clippers. Hopelessly out of contention, the Lakers have traded away Steve Blake. Usually they're adding a key part. With a championship on their mind, the Clippers...
