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LA Clippers: ESPN releases five part 30 for 30 Sterling podcast series

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Los Angeles Clippers hold up signs referencing the Donald Sterling situation before the game with the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 29, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Los Angeles Clippers hold up signs referencing the Donald Sterling situation before the game with the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 29, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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Today, ESPN released a five part 30 for 30 series, The Sterling Affairs, based on former LA Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling and his removal from the NBA.

It’s both the darkest and brightest moment in LA Clippers’ history. In 2014, a recording of LA Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling surfaced which not only changed the direction of the team, but the entire league.

Five years have passed and the Clippers are heading into the 2019-20 season as one of the premiere teams in the league. ESPN, in collaboration with The Undefeated, released “The Sterling Affairs” today as part of their 30 for 30 Podcasts.

The series, which spans five episodes hosted by Ramona Shelburne, follows the saga from the time the tape released to Sterling’s ousting from the NBA. Sprinkled in is the history of Donald Sterling, where he came from and how he got to this point.

The episodes and their descriptions according to ESPN are as follows:

"Episode 1: Holy Sh** That TapeThe explosive tape of Donald Sterling breaks the internet. Ramona Shelburne explains how a fight between V. Stiviano and Shelly Sterling lit the match.Episode 2: The Opposite of ShowtimeNothing explains where Donald Sterling fits into the L.A. scene better than his relationship to the Lakers, Jerry Buss, and Showtime. Everything came easy for Buss; everything Sterling did reeked of desperation.Episode 3: PropertyDonald and Shelley grew up in the poor neighborhood of Boyle Heights, and as they built their real estate empire and bought the Clippers, they worked hard to reinvent themselves. As part of that reinvention, however, Donald Sterling also engaged in womanizing and housing discrimination — and was rarely held accountable.Episode 4: FalloutWith the threat of players boycotting playoff games in protest, for once it was the players — not the owners — who had the power to hold Sterling accountable. New commissioner Adam Silver heard the outcry and banned Sterling for life.Episode 5: Not FitSterling’s ban was a bold statement, but the devil was in the details. Sterling still owned the team. Ultimately, this drama was going to be resolved where it started — in court, with Donald and Shelly. And in a Shakespearean move, Shelly had her husband of 60 years declared mentally unfit in order to seize control of the team and sell the franchise."

With the ownership of Steve Ballmer over the past five years having been so pleasant, it seems like the Sterling era was ages ago. Just the other night as part of their LA Clippers’ Day, NBA TV aired the Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors that occurred just days after the tape aired.

The Clippers had formed silent protests, most notably turning their warmup jerseys inside out and throwing them down mid-court prior to Game 4. It sent a message that they wouldn’t let the whole fiasco derail them and became one of the top moments in not just Clippers history, but league history.

The lifetime ban and forcing him to sell the team was also a big moment for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who had just had the job for a few months. After many ups and downs under David Stern, this move was the perfect way to ensure that Silver had the respect of both players and fans.

Next. Player profiles: Patrick Beverley. dark

The 30 for 30 series will be interesting and I’m sure we’ll all get new insight to the fiasco. You can listen to the series on all major podcast platforms including iTunes and Spotify. As you’re listening today, make sure to reach out to us on Twitter with any thoughts and insight and as always, follow along here for all your LA Clippers news and rumors!

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