Three days after announcing that Clippers CEO and longtime Donald Sterling crony Andy Roeser would be taking an 
indefinite leave of absence, the NBA on Friday named his replacement, a black man with a long history of success in both business and politics.
Effective immediately, Dick Parsons is the interim CEO of the Clippers, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced. Parsons will oversee the business side of the Clippers, who are still very much alive in the NBA playoffs.
“I believe the hiring of Dick Parsons will bring extraordinary leadership and immediate stability to the Clippers organization,” Silver said in a statement. “Dick’s credentials as a proven chief executive speak for themselves and I am extremely grateful he accepted this responsibility.”
Parsons, 66, has been the chairman and CEO of Time Warner and the chairman of Citigroup in an illustrious executive career. He also has basketball in his background, having played four years for the University of Hawaii in the 1960s.
“Like most Americans, I have been deeply troubled by the pain the Clippers’ team, fans and partners have endured,” Parsons said in a statement. “A lifelong fan of the NBA, I am firmly committed to the values and principles it is defending, and I completely support Adam’s leadership in navigating the challenges facing the team and the league.”
Sterling was banned for life by Silver after admitting to making racist remarks on an audiotape obtained by celebrity gossip site TMZ. The NBA’s Board of Governors has met twice since the banishment, moving forward slowly with plans to force Sterling to sell the Clippers.
Roeser released a statement defending Sterling and questioning the validity of the audiotape, angering team employees. A friend and business partner of Sterling’s for over 30 years, he was removed Tuesday.
Despite the biggest distraction in recent NBA history, the Clippers won their first-round series in seven games vs. the Golden State Warriors and are even at one game apiece in their Western Conference semifinal series vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, which resumes tonight in Los Angeles.
“The Clippers are a resilient organization with a brilliant coach and equally talented and dedicated athletes and staff who have demonstrated great strength of character during a time of adversity,” Parsons said. “I am honored to be asked to work with them, build on their values and accomplishments, and help them open a new, inspiring era for their team.”
Labeled as a Republican on his Wikipedia page, Parsons is an attorney who worked for Nelson Rockefeller, both when he was Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States. He has worked closely with President Gerald Ford and was a member of President Barack Obama’s economic advisory team. He also has worked on the transition teams of New York politicians Michael Bloomberg and Eliot Spitzer.
Parsons worked for Time Warner from 1995-2008, spending the last seven years as chairman and CEO. He worked for Citigroup from 2009-12.
While at Citigroup, Parsons had a relationship with model MacDella Cooper that produced a child. He has three children with his wife.
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With this move, I see no reason why there would be 23 owners (75%) ready to vote to take away ownership (in Title) from Donald Sterling. Sterling has already been banned from the Clippers. No good free agents would go there (not an option this summer), nor would Silver ever weaken the Clippers’ value by freeing any players under contract.
Already a CNN poll from last week had a slight majority (50-49%) believing that Sterling shouldn’t be forced to sell team. (Likely a much higher majority among Whites). After the recent comments about Sterling confessing that his comments against Magic Johnson being motivated by jealosy, are digested by the public, that majority will likely rise.
I’m not sure where the media first got the idea that the Silver had the votes to take away Sterling’s ownership, other that pressure by Silver. The 10 owner committee only unanimously voted to continue with the process.
For the owners to vote to take away Sterling’s property based on a public lynch mob (which we now know is a minority of Americans and decreasing), would be analogous to McCarthyism, removing anyone suspected of being a Commie, from ownership.
I expect the owners to choose to delay, and try to work out a mutually agreeable settlement, such as where Shelly has a passive ownership.
PS. Regarding Parsons, I think Sterling would approve of his taste for beautiful women.