Kings Owner Vivek Ranadive Expects 29-0 Vote To Oust Donald Sterling
By Phil Watson
Feb 5, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive answer questions from the media during halftime of the game between the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive said in a radio interview Wednesday that he expects unanimous support for NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s call to force Los Angeles Clippers owner Donadl Sterling to sell his team in the wake of being handed a lifetime ban from the sport on Tuesday.
Ranadive, on ESPN Radio’s “Mike & Mike” Wednesday, voiced his enthusiastic support for Silver’s decision.
“I would be surprised if this was not a unanimous vote,” Ranadive said. “The owners are amazing people—they’re color-blind—and I fully expect a unanimous vote.”
Ranadive, a native of India, is one of two minorities who is a majority owner of an NBA franchise. The other is Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.
The next step for the NBA is for its advisory and finance committee to meet to discuss the process of Sterling’s removal. That meeting is set for Thursday, according to ESPN.com.
Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is the chair of the committee. Other members include Micky Arison (Miami Heat), Jeanie Buss (Los Angeles Lakers), Clay Bennett (Oklahoma City Thunder), James Dolan (New York Knicks), Wyc Grousbeck (Boston Celtics), Peter Holt (San Antonio Spurs), Robert Sarver (Phoenix Suns), Herb Simon (Indiana Pacers) and Larry Tanenbaum (Toronto Raptors).
“There’s still a process that the NBA has to go through,” Ranadive said. “I expect that they’ll have a subcommittee that examines this issue and takes it to the entire board. The commissioner has shown that he can act quickly, so I expect him to continue acting quickly.”
A vote to oust Sterling as the Clippers owner would require a 75 percent super-majority of the owners, or 22 of the 29 voting teams. However, if a representative from the Clippers is allowed to vote, that number increases to 23.
Ranadive also appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Wednesday and said if he had the opportunity to advise Sterling, he’d tell him to sell.
“What I would say to Mr. Sterling is, ‘Mr. Sterling, do the right thing now.’ Apologize to Magic Johnson. Apologize to the NBA, the fans, the black community, the world at large. And respect the wishes of the NBA—put the team up for sale. Take some of the profits and donate them to a good cause.”
It’s obvious by that statement that Vivek Ranadive doesn’t know Donald Sterling terribly well.