NBA Basketball Betting -- Clippers, and Their Owner, Are Poised For Battle

It's likely that the Los Angeles Clippers can concentrate on basketball a little more now, unless another bombshell comes our way in the case of "Let's get rid of Donald Sterling." They will play the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, and they are one-point favorites in the NBA basketball odds that are posted at WagerHome.com.

Reportedly there was the threat of a boycott on the part of up to four teams on Tuesday night if the new NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, didn't take decisive action against Sterling, which to their way of thinking was to take away his franchise. 

Silver, succumbing to those strong-arm tactics, went out and did the "smash and grab" at an early afternoon press conference, in which he said he had all but secured the votes of the other NBA owners to throw Sterling out of the league, forcing him to sell, and perhaps to a buyer they are going to manipulate him towards (read: Magic Johnson). Things couldn't have been more joyous. As WagerHome basketball betting patrons heard, the announcers on the TNT game later that evening were slobbering over themselves, talking about this was a "great day for the NBA, and a great day for America." 

Slow down, fellas. 

Sterling didn't make his questionable remarks at a press conference or an interview with a reporter. And he didn't pull a "Jimmy the Greek." The evidence Silver used to issue his "lifetime ban" ruling - indeed, the only evidence, according to him - was the tape of a conversation that was private, and most likely illegally recorded. The state of California requires "two-party consent," meaning that both sides have to give permission to have a conversation taped, and if all the league has is something that was recorded and distributed illegally, it may ultimately be inadmissible. In that case, they are essentially punishing Sterling for thoughts they don't like. 

But nobody seems to me making much noise about the invasion of privacy. 

Regardless of who did it - whether it is the gold-digging "girlfriend" or someone else, almost every one of the people who have weighed in on this matter are of the opinion that the end justifies the means, as long as the desired result is obtained. They would seem to advocate what amounts to an illegal search as long as it "helps get rid of" someone they don't like. Since there are many African-Americans in this group, who might routinely complain about things like "racial profiling," they might be well-advised to consider their position, because they are tacitly endorsing the violation of certain rights against someone just because they may be "unpopular."  

The point is, WagerHome.com basketball betting fans will almost certainly be hearing more about this, since it would be quite surprising if Sterling did NOT sue the NBA, and when that happens, he is going to have a lot of ammunition to work with. It could almost be like one of those instances where they arrest the town madam, but all the politicians are worried about what kind of dirt she has on them. Whether those dirty little secrets are revealed is up to HER. And that is a frightening place to be. 

What certain people, including the interim executive director of the NBA players' union, apparently, don't realize about Donald Sterling is that he is precisely the guy the NBA would LEAST like to have done this to, from the perspective of a guy who has the capacity and tenacity to punch back. He has taken on the league before and won't mind it again, and he will know what he is doing when he does it. 

He has been an owner for over thirty years. He knows where the "bodies are buried." If there is a skeleton in an NBA owner's closet with regard to the same issues he is being skewered for now, he either knows it already or has the resources to find it. And WagerHome.com patrons need to know that he will spend whatever resources are necessary. If he chooses, he will make it draw out for years, and may get an injunction against the league taking control of the Clippers (-800 to win their current series in the basketball betting futures) for as long as it takes to litigate. There's a word for that - "limbo." 

He'll put the NBA in a very tough position, and he will love every minute of it. The owners will be scared, and perhaps they will deserve to be, after the self-righteousness they are exhibiting now. The league may take a big hit, for which it will learn that it should have addressed its "Sterling problem" long ago and perhaps should show some even-handedness with respect to the non-tolerance for racism of any kind (re: Larry Johnson's separatist comments). 

When all is said and done, it might be a "very gray day for the NBA." 

And it will happen because everyone, including the league itself, insisted on getting their pound of flesh from a bigoted old man but felt no concern whatsoever about how they got it. 

The lesson here, for WagerHome.com customers and others, may be something much bigger than basketball, which is that our own rights don't mean anything unless we're willing to honor those of someone we may not like - at all. 

What do YOU think? Join the discussion by following us at 

http://www.twitter.com/wagerhome

- Charles Jay, Gambling911.com