Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, was handed a lifetime ban from the National Basketball Association. According to The New York Times, TMZ caught Sterling making racist comments to his alleged mistress who is one third African American.

“He [Sterling] has a record of being a racist and he was bound to get caught,” said senior Moe Khatib. Sterling has since been fined $2.5 million.

This scandal has brought about quite the storm, with most people against Sterling in the matter.

“I was shocked because all the players are African American, as well as the coach and an estimated 80% of the NBA,” said Khatib. Others find themselves caught in the middle for both ethical and moral reasons.

“I think it was childish because he completely involved race and disrespected his players. I think it was very out of line. However, his girlfriend setting him up was a big deal and I don’t think he should have been set up in that fashion,” said senior Melih Delioglu. All this controversy led to the Clippers sponsors leaving the team and the mess behind. There are mixed feelings about his matter.

“You don’t want to sponsor negativity,” said Khatib. Others find themselves looking at it from the perspective of the players.

“It was the owners fault and the players shouldn’t have to pay for what he did,” said Delioglu.

Sterling does not want to accept his lifetime ban, nor, according to The New York Times, will he elaborate on what specific grounds the league has to force him to sell the team. According to CNN, the Advisory/Finance Committee must have a 75% vote for the forced sale of the Los Angeles Clippers.

“He has claimed he’s not trying to sell the team. His wife doesn’t want him to sell it, they have a 50-50 ownership,” said Khatib. Above all, Sterling finds this violation of privacy unacceptable.

“She [Sterling’s mistress] sold him out without him knowing, as well as TMZ who weeded their way into his privacy. It [exposure] was both good and bad; you have to get evidence, but you’re breaking the law through invasion of privacy,” said Delioglu.

In an effort to try to win both his team and the NBA back, Donald Sterling made a formal apology while being interviewed by CNN. According to USA Today, his apology went downhill after making rude comments about retired Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Sterling stated that he did not believe Johnson was a good example for children because of his contraction of HIV. According to USA Today, head clippers coach Doc Rivers is trying to not get involved, but said it did not sound like an apology to him.

Whether for or against Sterling selling his team, the majority agree his statements were wrong and disrespectful. Almost at risk of boycott, everyone seems to be frustrated.

“He [Sterling] treated his players like absolute garbage and disrespected everyone in the league,” said Delioglu.