[Doc Rivers, Head Coach And Senior Vice President Of Basketball Operations, Nba Los Angeles Clippers:] Bottom coach of the team right now and I actually don't know, you know, who to call if I need something, you know. And so, the quicker that this is done, the better for everyone, having said that, is going to take time and we all have to be patient.
[Unidentified Male:] And could I also ask you just, obviously, the players, yourself, you're a very wealthy man, at the same time, you're in a situation you're working for a man who has these views, how insulting is it to you as a human being to be working for a man who express these views?
[Rivers:] Well, that's the difficult part and that's over the last three or four days, it's been very difficult, you know. That matter the wealth, to be honest that you could be making nothing. You want to work for someone that had at least shares your values or respects, and they don't have to actually share them, but they have to respect them. And that's difficult, you know. And it's best seen when you're working in a company that when you do your job, you have it on your chest, you know. I think that's hard, right. I got to wear a suit and tie the other night, but I had a sense that that was very hard for the players, you know. They have to wear that. And I think that was hard for them. I really do.
[Unidentified Male:] Doc, you said excuse me. You said that you are in film and then you told them about the decision that Adam Silver that handed down and then you said what you needed to say to them. What did you need to say them or what did you tell them?
[Rivers:] Well, that would be private, that part. I just, you know, a lot of it was just how much I admire them and how they try to handle this. And just to let them know that this was some closure, but there's still work to do. And, you know, I just thought that they set a very good example around the league on how they conducted themselves.
[Unidentified Male:] Doc, you said you expected an amazing crowd tonight. A couple of nights ago, you had questions about it and you get no feedback between now and in the
[Rivers:] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe I'm hoping too. Maybe that's part of it. Yeah. I think the mayor has been great by the way. And what he said today, Kevin Johnson, you know, has joke me, "I liked him again." You know, it's amazing, right? He's been great. He was great what he said today. I didn't know he can speak so well, so eloquently, my goodness. But, just derailing that this is not just Clippers or Lakers or L.A., this is some bigger and support this team. And again, I go back to the 14 guys that we dressed or that are, you know, that are players, they did nothing wrong and they need support. And I think that that will happen.
[Unidentified Male:] Doc, would you like to see the Clippers name changed?
[Rivers:] You know, Jim, that's been asked. I don't know. I honestly, someone asked me that today and it's the first time I've heard of or thought of it with someone. I have no idea. I think wherever whatever happens, whoever if there is a new owner or change of ownership, I think all those things would be answered by someone much smarter than me. I'm not smart enough to give that answer.
[Unidentified Male:] Last two questions. [Inaudible] I just need some clarification on something you said before. I thought the union said that if they didn't like the resolution from Adam Silver, players would consider not playing. Did your players consider not playing if they did not like the resolution?
[Rivers:] They hadn't discussed it. I think they had the trust that there would be. I'm glad we don't have to find out, would be the answer.
[Unidentified Male:] Doc, you said the players made the right decision by just not doing anything and waiting for Silver. Why was that the right decision to not make some kind of major statement or sit out of game before the decision?
[Rivers:] You know, I don't know Mark. Like I said the other day, I don't know I know what I think is right and that's all I can go by. There's a lot of people who think we didn't do the right thing and then there's a lot of people who think we did. And all you can go by is what you feel like you should do. You know, I lean on a lot of things in trying to help our guys get to this decision. And like I told you, they did talk about the, you know, that at when it first not playing. You know, I thought the Black Sox and the, you know, the shirts and all that was fine. But, at the end of the day, you know, I just for me at least, I always start to lean back on people that I've learned from and, you know, from Wayne and [inaudible], you know, I talked to a lot of people, you know. And my father who's no longer here, he would have tell me to go do my job and don't let anyone stop you from doing your job because of what they think about you and
[Michael Smerconish, Cnn:] Good evening. I'm Michael Smerconish. A sigh of relief. That's what L.A. Clippers Coach Doc Rivers called the decision to ban team owner Don Sterling for life. Coach Rivers just concluded the first team news conference since NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered a swift and decisive punishment to Sterling. Commissioner Silver says Sterling admits making racist remarks and so we kicked him out of professional basketball.
[Adam Silver, Nba Commissioner:] Effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organization or the NBA.
[Smerconish:] Let's get right to our discussion of Donald Sterling's banishment from the NBA. We're joined by A.C. Green, Former Professional Basketball Player who was a one-time teammate of Magic Johnson. And Judge Glenda Hatchett, she's the host of the Judge Hatchett Show, a consultant to the NBA and the NFL and she sits on the Board of Advisors of the Atlanta Falcons. A.C., let me begin with you. I thought that was an amazing briefing from Doc Rivers. He walked in, no notes, no prepared statement, just delivered it from the heart. And among the things that he said I've been taking notes, he said, you know, it's interesting that the offended party is the one that gets called on for a response. And then he said that in this particular case, Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner, he responded for everyone. Your reaction.
[A.c. Green, Former Professional Basketball Player:] Mike, I think he did. You know, I think Adam did give a response and I think he did for every single person, past players, current players, and those who are watching from elementary school, high schools, and collegiate wise that, you know, this is not going to be tolerated the bigotry, hatred of any sort, any type of prejudice is not going to be tolerated in the league under his watch.
[Smerconish:] Judge Hatchett, here we are. We are in the midst of the NBA Playoffs. You also heard Doc Rivers. The coach say, "Hey, this was bigger than basketball."
[Judge Glenda Hatchett, Nba And Nfl Consultant:] Absolutely. It is bigger than basketball. And the Commissioner I thought was bold and swift today and did what was necessary. And I hope that the owners will take the next step to do what is necessary on their part because the Commissioner give all that he could do today. But it is bigger than basketball. And I think that some good things will come out of this. That there will hopefully be some constructive candid conversations that we need to have about healing and not just tolerating people, but understanding people because it is our diversity, it's our differences that really make us strong and we have to embrace that.
[Smerconish:] You know Judge, to your point, Doc Rivers was also asked if he have the opportunity to address that present team owner, although that might not be the case for long, what would you say to him, and he said, "Well, I'm really not sure what I'd say specifically, but I'd like to change them." I thought that was a really refreshing response.
[Hatchett:] I thought that was a wonderful response. And I absolutely think the role of Doc Rivers. I have always since he played in Atlantis a thousand years ago. And he has been absolutely marvelous I think through all of this. But isn't that what we really want? Don't we want people to go and to learn and not get more than divided in this conversation? But for there are to be some change and some understanding which I think coach really hit it when he said that.
[Smerconish:] A.C., recognizing that the game itself is far less important than the subjects we're addressing tonight, I nevertheless want to ask you, Coach River said that emotion drains energy. How in the world does his team go out and play this evening?
[Green:] Well, you know, I think they go out and play thinking that hey, you know, big brother really did step up for us today, you know. We know that actually that league, this league, Adam Silver, has all that. And so, I don't think that could have been seen the last he came up in Golden State because it was all new, all fresh. And maybe if they did make a symbolic gesture of the jerseys removing on, well, at the same time, they still knew what they and who they were representing and they still wanted to say more and do more, but I really think because of what was set out in New York, our leader of basketball, Adam Silver, stepped up and spoke for those who really couldn't speak for themselves at this time. And so, I think it's a new day, a new game, a new beginning for the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.
[Smerconish:] Judge, given your
[Hatchett:] I don't think it shows
[Smerconish:] I'm sorry. Go ahead ma'am.
[Hatchett:] No, I'm just going to say that it also shows that the players have power and they used that power. They were very clear to Mayor Johnson to say these are the things that we want, this is when we want it, and for the Commissioner to address that. So I think that we have to remember that there's an obligation on both sides contractually. And if I were representing these guys in the league, you know, I would say listen, you can't have a hostile work environment. There has to be a place that we are doing what is right for the players.
[Smerconish:] Judge, is it a given that Sterling gets out of the way? Is there a likelihood here that he may try and stand his ground and fight?
[Hatchett:] He may well do that. Now, he can't. Under the constitution of the NBA, he cannot appeal the Commissioner's decision today. He has a right to respond if the owners decide that they want to have a hearing and he has a right to present evidence at that time under the constitution. But I will tell you, I don't think his going to get to that frankly. I think that this there's going to be so much pressure for him to lead the NBA all together and not have any ownership interest because you've got sponsors, you've got fans, you've got players. We're all watching.
[Smerconish:] A.C. Green, Adidas and Samsung already announcing tonight that they're coming back to the Clippers. Is that premature?
[Green:] I don't think it's premature. I mean, I think they too were waiting and that they were making a statement, you know, that they're not going to standby in silence and not have their voice be heard and their voices removing their support, their physical support, their financial support of the Clippers. And so, I think, them coming back now that they've seen decision, I think this is a smart move. I really do. And I don't think it's premature at all because and once again, you know, you have to stand for something. You got to step up and speak when you have an opportunity and I think the sponsors are having opportunity and some of them are making that decisions that they are making and we're seeing the ramifications of that financially.
[Smerconish:] A.C., let me ask you about your former teammate Magic Johnson who [inaudible] of its own gets swept up on this because of those hateful comments that were offered. I'm not the only person thinking, I'm sure that it would be poetic justice if when all were said and done. It's Magic Johnson who owns the LA Clippers. What's the likelihood of that?
[Green:] I think it's a strong possibility. I really do and I will love to see that happen. I really he's a great man, a great leader in our community, just a great person from that standpoint. He and Cookie, they only want good. They only have been trying to do good in our society as a whole. And even the comments that were even made about him that brought his name into it, it was because he was admired for what he was done in the community and open up jobs and create an opportunities for people. And he and I share something so much alike in the fact that the message that all of this is really condemned, we're worried about what this is saying to our kids, what is this saying
[Hatchett:] Right.
[Green:] to our youth. And so, that's why it's so important for decision to be made
[Hatchett:] Yes.
[Green:] and Magic, yes, I will love for him to be the owner of the Clippers one day. I'm staying it right here, right now.
[Hatchett:] And I should have agree more. Oh yes, I still agree. Actually, tweeted back at the very beginning when it started, talk about poetic justice. If he were to lead a group of investors on this, I mean, I think that would just be absolutely [inaudible].
[Smerconish:] Your honor, thank you. A.C. Green, Judge Glenda Hatchett, we really appreciate your having been here. Thanks so much. This morning, the Clippers story was about a villain. Now, it may just be about a new hero. Did Adam Silver just rescue the NBA brand? And speaking of Silver, it looks like the Clippers may soon be after sale if the NBA Commissioner has his way. And next, I'm talking to a man who just might be one of the bidders. You ready to announce your bid tonight before you leave us? How much?
[Pat Croce, Former Owner Of Philadelphia 76ers:] No. Listen, I don't have that kind of clink, but I know where I can get it.