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CEO: If Sterling stays, Doc likely goes

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by mr. 13 in 33, Jul 22, 2014.

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mr. 13 in 33 Member

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LOS ANGELES -- The interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers testified in state court Tuesday afternoon that coach and team president Doc Rivers has told him on multiple occasions that he doesn't think he wants to continue as coach if Donald Sterling remains owner of the team.

Dick Parsons said he's talked to Rivers, several players and key sponsors who are troubled by Sterling's continued ownership of the franchise, which is being adjudicated in a California probate court.

At issue is whether Shelly Sterling acted properly in selling the franchise for a record $2 billion to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, without her husband's expressed consent.Parsons was called as a witness in the trial Tuesday to discuss the impact the continuing uncertainty over the ownership situation has had on the Clippers franchise.

"If Doc were to leave, that would be a disaster," Parsons said. "Doc is the father figure of the team. Chris (Paul) is the on-court captain of the team. But Doc is really the guy who leads the effort. He's the coach, the grown-up, he's a man of character and ability -- not just in a basketball sense, but in the ability to connect with people and gain their trust.

"The team believes in him and admires and loves him. If he were to bail, with all the other circumstances, it would accelerate the death spiral."

Sterling's lawyers objected to Parson's testimony on Rivers, arguing that only Rivers should be allowed to speak on his state of mind in this matter and if that was the case, Rivers should be called as a witness. While Judge Michael Levanas agreed with that notion, he allowed Parsons to express his opinion on the matter and noted he would not consider it as fact.

Parsons said that while ticket revenue was essentially the same as last year, he had concerns about the franchise's finances if Sterling continued to own the team.

"The issue or the cloud hanging over the team is the continued ownership of Mr Sterling," Parsons said.

While the team has retained the majority of its 20-22 sponsors, he said several have made it clear they only want to continue a relationship with the team if Sterling is replaced as owner.

Parsons cited Mandalay Bay and Kia Motors as examples of sponsors who are "sitting at the edge of the pool and don't want to go in the water unless there is resolution" on the ownership situation.

Parsons said during cross examination that only six or seven sponsors had explicitly asked to be disassociated from the Clippers following the scandal that enveloped the team after Sterling's racially insensitive comments to TMZ were published on April 25.

The team gave the remaining two-thirds "a holiday" before they felt compelled to disassociate from the franchise.

Parsons said losing Rivers would be "a disaster" that would "accelerate the death spiral" for the franchise.

"If none of your sponsors want to sponsor you, your coach doesn't want to coach you, and players don't want to play for you, what do you have?" Parsons said.
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http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=11249652

#1 mr. 13 in 33, Jul 22, 2014

LikeMike Contributing Member

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I'd take him for the Rockets...

#2 LikeMike, Jul 22, 2014
RV6 Contributing Member

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Dick Parsons.

#3 RV6, Jul 22, 2014
dback816 Member

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Why does he even care?

#4 dback816, Jul 22, 2014
haydenfisher342 Member

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call his bluff

#5 haydenfisher342, Jul 22, 2014
Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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Say hello to the new rockets assistant.

#6 Mr. Clutch, Jul 22, 2014
PhatPharaoh Member

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Mr. Clutch said: ↑

Say hello to the new rockets assistant.
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haha one can only dream...the only way Doc comes to Hou is if we give him full control of basketball operations as he had with LAC, or at least paid him like he did...

#7 PhatPharaoh, Jul 22, 2014

Remii Member

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PhatPharaoh said: ↑

haha one can only dream...the only way Doc comes to Hou is if we give him full control of basketball operations as he had with LAC, or at least paid him like he did...
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I'm fine with either.

#8 Remii, Jul 22, 2014
BeardSanity Member

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Wow, if sterling really doesn't sell I think we should forgive him.

He clearly is mentally handicapped.

If Doc leaves, they could let every player become a Free Agent.

With the offer of 2Billion that could easily more than half if he doesn't give the team up quickly.

#9 BeardSanity, Jul 22, 2014
DREAM ON! Member

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haydenfisher342 said: ↑

call his bluff
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yep, no way he leaves money on the table. Just like the inside out warm up shirts did SO much... if the players and coaches want to make a stand how about they quit the NBA? lol, ya right

#10 DREAM ON!, Jul 22, 2014
vstexas09 Contributing Member

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we better be the first ones knocking for him to coach

#11 vstexas09, Jul 22, 2014
PhatPharaoh Member

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DREAM ON! said: ↑

yep, no way he leaves money on the table. Just like the inside out warm up shirts did SO much... if the players and coaches want to make a stand how about they quit the NBA? lol, ya right
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he could get that money elsewhere as well, the clippers aren't the only team that wants him to run their organization

#12 PhatPharaoh, Jul 22, 2014
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LikeMike said: ↑

I'd take him for the Rockets...
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Better than McFail but no thanks.

#13 Bandwagoner, Jul 22, 2014

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Quick Morey trade for Austin Rivers to persuade Doc to come here.

#14 ThatBoyNick, Jul 22, 2014
blahblehblah Member

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Best case scenario that I'm hoping will happen is:

- Sterling prolongs lawsuit enough that Balmer backs out before season starts.

- Doc Rivers resigns, takes year off or coaches in the East.

- CP3, Griffin, DJ and other Clippers unhappy/demand trade, play poorly leading Clips to miss Playoffs

- CP3 continues to berate Sterling in the media and on/off the court

- Sponsors, ticket buyers etc, boycott Clippers, Sterling the entire season.

- Sterling at the end of a dismal season decides to sell the team, due to mounting debts

- Balmer is the highest bidder and buys the Clippers for 1 billion dollar, donating one billion dollar windfall to charity.

#15 blahblehblah, Jul 22, 2014
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I really wish that the Rockets after the season is over would bring Doc in to coach this team. I doubt it happens because I am sure there is a team out there who either doesn't have a coach right now or would fire their coach in a heartbeat for Doc. I would love to bring him here though. McHale is a great man but he is not a great coach like Doc Rivers is and always will be.

#16 Tristan_fiore, Jul 22, 2014
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Clippers are a mess.

#17 afk, Jul 22, 2014
Icehouse Contributing Member

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I stopped following. Anyone care to do a quick recap on the status of the sale?

#18 Icehouse, Jul 22, 2014

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Haha doc can quit on his third consecutive team.

#19 justtxyank, Jul 22, 2014
daherro^_^ Member

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boo hoo cry me a river rivers, he is acting like this is the first time he has experienced racism, he is one of if not the highest paid coaches in the league

#20 daherro^_^, Jul 22, 2014

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