Donald T. Sterling
Sterling World Plaza
Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210
Dear Donald,
I’m not worthy!
I know you didn’t see “Wayne’s World,” but that’s what the kids say when they’re in the presence of greatness, falling on their knees and bowing.
You just did the impossible… you neutralized yourself!
I know the deal—Doc Rivers isn’t just coming to call plays and BS the press.
Doc’s going to be your coach the way Gregg Popovich is the Spurs’ coach, with control of the basketball operation.
You’re such a sly fox!
Who else would have done it your way, stonewalling the Celtics over and over until they gave up hope?
I mean, Doc’s sitting at home in Boston Saturday, thinking it’s over after 12 days of dangling while all around him, the townspeople mutter darkly.
Doc’s muttering darkly about, well, uh, you, saying he wouldn’t take the job if you showed up on his doorstep bearing the contract on a royal pillow.
And then and only then, you finally offer the Celtics a No. 1 pick… in 2015… three drafts out!
So what if you did it because Chris Paul told you to? You did it!
You know how long I’ve been telling you to get someone to run your team… aside from you, I mean.
I was thinking of a GM, more than a point guard, but any port in a storm!
You just had the best back-to-back seasons in Clipper (ugh) history and the most stable management, because you were all on the same page… CP3’s.
Of course, it’s sort of embarrassing for Chris, since you acknowledged firing Vinny Del Negro for his sake to the Los Angeles Times’ T.J. Simers. (I understand why you said it. T.J was my teammate at the Times. I know he gets info out of you the way kids shake coins out of piggy banks.)
And now… a new era?
I’m speechless.
OK, not quite, but talk about your 180 degree historical pivots.
OK, it’s a tad overdue, seeing as how with your basketball operation now headed by President Andy Roeser, whose background is accounting, and young GM Gary Sacks.
Gary’s in his first season after replacing Neil Olshey—the guy who snatched CP3 after David Stern nixed the Laker deal, before the Lakes could re-engage after trading Lamar Odom for a No. 1 for the Hornets.
Unfortunately, you let Neil’s contract run out last spring without offering him a new one… until Portland did.
Yes, Neil’s now in Portland.
Happily, you didn’t have to worry about Sacks’ contract running out. He doesn’t have one.
So, yeah, I’d say Doc fills a void in the front office, manned for the last year by Roeser, Sacks–and Vinny Del Negro, the point man in last summer’s acquisitions of Jamal Crawford, et al., which didn’t keep him from getting the axe.
Hey, better late than never!
I remember you telling me in your office in 1997 that you had a strong man running your team—Bill Fitch.
Of course, Bill was your coach—or would be for one more season—so it was hardly a compliment for your GM, Elgin Baylor.
That was the day I asked you about Baylor… and you paused 22 seconds (I timed if off my tape recorder) before answering.
What a card you are!
Then there was Mike Dunleavy, whom you actually empowered to make trades in 2003.
Unfortunately, this led Elgin to think Mike had back-doored him and gone to you–since you told Elg when he asked that nothing had changed.
Yes, it’s been a long, hard haul, getting your guys on the same page… and getting you off it!
The important thing is it has happened… or at least that’s the way Clippers fans are praying.
What can I say? You Da Don!
Mark
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Hall of Fame writer Mark Heisler is a regular contributor to SheridanHoops and LakersNation. Follow him on Twitter.
Heisler is a bitter old man, a Laker homer and a condescending egocentric writer who thinks he’s more important than the story. Much of what he writes may be accurate, but his utter disdain for anything Clippers severely clouds his judgment.
And there is nothing new, novel or interesting about what he writes. Yes Sterling should have signed Olshey to a long term deal but he made up for that mistake, didn’t he?
And dunleavy was always supported by Heisler despite the fact that he was a terrible coach and was complicit in the Baylor subterfuge and was insubordinate. Where is Heisler on these stories.
Sterling must have kicked Heisler’s ass or stolen his girlfriend at some point.
His compatriot Simers, equally poor, is finally gone too.
is taht all you have after all these years????? i have been reading what seems like the same OLD story from you regarding sterling…..who cares???????? the NEW story is how the clips are the current “toast of the town” (ed sullivan for those who like OLD stories)….please get over your sterling fixation and write something new.
The kids? Wayne’s World was 20 years ago, dude.
The still brilliant Mark Heisler, One of the all-time greats.