NBA: Blake Griffin Unsure If He’ll Play For The Clippers If Sterling Still Owns Team Next Year

Donald Sterling plans to fight the NBA’s attempt to remove him as owner of the Clippers. Between the legal battles and the time it takes to approve the sale of the team, this process could take quite some time. That means the players will have a decision to make about what they will do if Sterling is still the owner when next season rolls around. Clippers star Blake Griffin concedes that he is uncertain what he will do.

“I don’t anticipate that being how it’s going to be,” Griffin said when asked whether he could continue to play for the team if Sterling were owner at the start of next season. “If it still is, I’ll make a decision then. It’s not something that’s ideal. Personally, I don’t know all the ins and outs of everything. I hear stuff just like everybody else does, but I don’t know what’s really true or not. It’s up to [the league], but I don’t think that’s an ideal situation for us, to start next season with that still going on.”

“Personally, I think the longer it lasts, the worse it’s going to be,” Griffin said. “I think something should happen and I think it should happen quickly. I think guys need to make decisions. I don’t think anybody wants this to drag out except for one or two people. I think it needs to be swift.

“We need to make our decision or they need to make their decision or whatever it is and make a change. But, at the same time, we have to be patient. There is a due process that has to happen and I understand that, but I don’t want to keep answering questions about it.”
 

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Major Companies Ditch Clippers Over Donald Sterling Controversy, Gatorade & Taco Bell Next?

Less than 48 hours after the Donald Sterling alleged audio recording turned into a global topic, new reports claim multiple companies have pulled back their support from his Los Angeles Clippers.

 

According to reports, sponsors CarMax and State Farm have taken action in light of the owner’s alleged remarks.

CarMax pulled its sponsorship of the team and Steve Stoute, CEO of Translation, a marketing firm connected to State Farm, urged the insurance company and others to suspend sponsorship of the team because of comments that have stirred an outrage over the weekend. State Farm, of course, is the company that pays Clippers guard Chris Paul, who is also president of the National Basketball Players Association, for those wonderful Chris Paul/Cliff Paul commercials. “Sponsoring the athletes is one thing, but not the team.” CarMax ended its nine-year relationship, saying in a statement that it “finds the statements attributed to the Clippers’ owner completely unacceptable.” (Washington Post)

Almost immediately following the reports, updates suggested the relationship could be resumed after the Sterling controversy is addressed.

UPDATE No. 2: State Farm has said that they are suspending their relationship with the Clippers, but will leave the door open. “We are monitoring the situation and we’ll continually assess our options. We have a great relationship with Chris Paul and will continue supporting the Born to Assist advertising campaign involving Chris and now other NBA players,” a State Farm rep told TMZ. (Fansided)

ESPN reporter Darren Rovell revealed a couple other sponsors have not taken any immediate action following the publicized drama.

“NBA sponsors Gatorade and Taco Bell say they have no immediate comment on the Sterling controversy.,” Rovell tweeted April 28. (Darren Rovell’s Twitter)

Over the weekend, West Coast rapper Game announced how he would join the protest against Sterling.

“I have now started the #ESC which is short for #EMPTYSEATCAMPAIN asking ALL Los Angeles residents to boycott the next Clippers game by not attending which will prove that we are more of a MAJORITY than the previously stated “minority” label given to us by Mr. Sterling. Although I feel for friends of mine that play for the Clippers franchise such as @CP3 whose own team owner considers a minority…… I now, along with good friend & designer @ceoselfmade ask everyone who reads this WORLDWIDE to RE-POST this picture & hashtag: #BoycottClippers #ESC #EmptySeatCampaign #Support #OGMagicJohnson #StopRacism #OneWorld #WeAreAMajorityFollowing” (Game’s Instagram)
 

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