Thoughts on Sterling

***NOTE - I do not in any way agree with what Sterling said/did.  Want that CRYSTAL clear.

Somethings I came across and heard yesterday - a bit of devil's advocate if you will.

1. Shaq posted a pic on Instagram (now removed) mocking a disabled fan's selfie. Isn't this discrimination too? Why is Shaq getting a by this?  Granted, not racism, but still discrimination and in poor taste.

2. From what I understood, the recording of Sterling could likely be illegal - interesting to see if the woman gets charged with anything.

3. I doubt this was Sterling's first time uttering such things, but I heard an interesting observance yesterday on the radio. It's likely people around him, including players and other employees of Sterling in the Clippers organization, knew he had racist views.  But until yesterday they were quite happy to take a paycheque from him (and still are, since he still owns the franchise).

4. Although the NBS made a big stand on this, basically Sterling is being nailed for a thoughtcrime and this becoming a problem in society - people being nailed to the maximum for a thought/belief. Even Mark Cuban noted that this could be the start of a slippery slope.  Who's next? Also related, Sterling got pretty much no due process.  The commissioner confirmed it was him, and basically acted unilaterally.

5. It'll be interesting to see the inevitable legal battle if the NBA presses Sterling to sell, since private property rights are held pretty highly in the USA especially. Can the NBA really act in the way the commissioner is hoping?  I don't think the legalities are as cut and dry as they think.

6. Although they fined him the maximum allowed, honestly, $3 million is peanuts to this guy.  The team alone is estimated to be worth $575 million, and Sterling has a personal worth of $1.9 Billion. He probably made more than that during the press conference ousting him. Plus if he does have to sell and get the estimated value, he'll have made nearly 50 times what he invested into it (bought for $12 million in '80-81).

Zimmerman Not Guilty - Good Call!

What did I tell you last year?  If the state of Florida pursued the 2nd degree murder charge, they were going to lose. Surprise, surprise!

I predicted this verdict from day one. Go read the definition of 2nd degree murder in Florida - the prosecution didn't come close to proving it. Hell, in some ways they made the case for Zimmerman's aquittal. They played so much of his interview footage, he didn't even have to take the stand. The additional bonus for the defense was that those statements couldn't be cross-examined.

I'm not saying (nor ever said) what happened was right, but there is blame to be put on both men. Unfortunately, Martin payed with his life. But he wasn't the innocent faced kid portrayed initially either. He had some history with drugs and violence.  Not to mention the media spin on this whole case?  Remember that famous hoodie pic - total media bias. That picture was years old, and Martin looked considerably different. Plus he outsized Zimmerman and was in better physical shape. Photos of Zimmerman that were used were older and made him look more sinister.  The media bias in this case was appalling.

I'm glad the jury saw past the media circus and delivered the right verdict based on the evidence & law... not emotion.

From the comments I've read in the last twelve hours, I'm glad that some of the people commenting aren't lawyers or judges.  It's scary how ignorant of the law and the process people are.  You want someone to blame for the verdict, go to the prosecution lawyers.  They couldn't make a case.  This entire trial was politically and racially motivated. Fortunately, the jury was able to see through that sideshow and deliver a proper verdict.