Lisa Dillman’s report in the Los Angeles Times:
NBA Hall of Famer and former longtime Clippers executive Elgin Baylor alleges in a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles that team owner Donald Sterling has embraced a “vision of a Southern plantation-type structure” for his NBA franchise, accusing him of decades-long racist behavior.
Baylor worked for the Clippers for 22 years. The complaint against Sterling and others, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by The Times, presented Baylor’s version of an eroding relationship between Baylor and Sterling. Baylor contends, among other things, that the Clippers owner had “a pervasive and ongoing racist attitude as expressed to then-NBA player Danny Manning during contract negotiations.”
Asked about the nature of the allegations, Baylor’s lawyer Carl Douglas said in a telephone interview that “everything in the lawsuit is factual. . . . It would not be in Mr. Baylor’s best interest to disclose our trial strategy.”
There is a news conference scheduled for this morning at Douglas’ office in Beverly Hills.
Also named in the lawsuit was the team, the NBA and Clippers President Andy Roeser. Clippers officials said at their game against the Knicks on Wednesday they had not been served with the lawsuit.
“Not having seen the complaint, I cannot comment on Elgin’s specific allegations,” said Robert H. Platt, Clippers general counsel and partner at the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. “However, I can categorically state that the Clippers always treated Elgin fairly throughout his long tenure with the team. Prior to his decision to leave the team last October, Elgin never raised any claims of unfair treatment.
“It’s hard to believe that he would now make these ridiculous claims after the organization stood by him for 22 years and only three playoff appearances. It would be hard to find any sports team that has demonstrated greater loyalty to its general manager. The team intends to vigorously defend itself against these false allegations and will prevail when all the facts are heard.”
Sterling, after the Clippers’ overtime victory, said, “Really? Against who?” when informed of the lawsuit, and expressed dismay at the development.
The suit alleged NBA Commissioner David Stern was present when Sterling allegedly said of Manning, “I’m offering a lot of money for a poor black kid.” That tone was echoed in another alleged incident in which Baylor claimed Sterling told him that “he [Sterling] wanted the Clippers team to be composed of ‘poor black boys from the South’ and a white head coach.”
Another part of the lawsuit dealt with Baylor’s role in the organization. It alleged, as far back as 2004, Sterling and other club officials were employing “a campaign” to force Baylor into retirement — using “ageist comments” and “repeatedly hassling” him about quitting.
Baylor also maintains his efforts went unrewarded when the Clippers made a postseason run in 2006.
The Clippers general counsel Platt, disputed that, saying Baylor asked for a playoff share in 2006 and “we gave it to him.”
The suit alleges “the Caucasian head coach was given a four-year, $22-million contract,” but Baylor’s salary “has been frozen at a comparatively paltry $350,000 since 2003.”
That coach would be Mike Dunleavy, who also replaced Baylor as the team’s general manager.
The NBA, Baylor contends, “condoned, adopted and ratified this gross pay disparity.”
I’ve been on the road all day and haven’t had a chance to read, hear, or consider anything more than this report. I’m eager to learn more, and will be in the process of doing so.
23 Responses
Baylor’s claims seem extremely far fatched. Why stay for 22 years in a job if you were so mistreated??? Really??? If thats the case, I want to sue Elgin for being one of the worst GM’s in the history of sports. Give me a break.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Gotta love our Clippers…always finding interesting ways to stay in the news. Sterling’s no saint, far from it…but I don’t think Elgin has that much to stand on with this lawsuit. However, if what Baylor said about Sterling has any merit (and you know that Elgin’s lawyers will play up Donald’s racial discrimination lawsuits), David Stern may have no other choice than to pull the plug on Sterling once and for all.
It doesn’t make much sense (if any at all) to stay on a job for 22 years, and claimed to be mistreated, underappriecated, and underpaid, especially when you’re one of the biggest names in NBA history. I honestly think someone got into Elgin’s head and created this lawsuit.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I know, huh
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I love the way our “general counsel” goes from “Not having seen the complaint, I cannot comment on Elgin’s specific allegations,” to describing them as false and vigorously disputing them within a couple of sentances. Can’t we even hire competent legal representation?
On the other side, Baylor seems intent on coming out of this whole situation with as little dignity as possible. You’d think that after 22 years of suck he would have been somewhat relieved to be put out of his misery. But no, he wants the world to be reminded just how inept he was for as long as these legal proceedings last.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Baylor is playing the typical role of victim in order to get paid.
Sure Sterling probalby said a few things here and there. Sure Dunleavy got paid. If Dunleavy were black, Baylor would sue for just regular discrimination instead of racial discrimination.
If Baylor wants to talk about what he thinks he deserves, ask him if he should have been fired long ago for such a disastrous stint of trades and draft picks.
Baylor was treated relatively well in his long stint with the Clippers. He is making a huge ass of himself.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
If he was feeling litigious, he should have sued whoever makes those goofy sweaters of he’s always wearing.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I didn’t know that there was an affirmative action program to pay incompetent black GMs multi-million salary packages for life. Elgin, now that we have a black in the White House, get over it and brush up on Bill Cosby.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Elgin is living the american dream, get paid over 350K and do absolutely nothing for 22 years. Sign me up for the GM job.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Elgin is a disgrace to the NBA and a mere shadow of his former great Laker self.
Funny how he had no qualms taking a quarter of a million dollars + from that racist, Sterling, for 22 years and racism only became an issue once he was let go.
Hey Elgin, where can I sign up for a cushy long-term 6-figure salary job and completely suck at what I do?
All of us Clipper fans should file a class action lawsuit against YOU for having to put up with your abuse and making the Clippers the biggest joke in the NBA because you were too dense to draft anybody worth a damn.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
when all is said and done though, sterling is the worst owner ever… he’s the root of the clippers’ problems; baylor was his underling
we’ll never get anywhere until sterling either sells or decides to actually care about the team
Shawn H. Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Remember that Donald Sterling is not that much younger than Elgin Baylor…in fact, Sterling is only about two years younger than Elgin. Hopefully with age playing a factor, Sterling’s reign as owner doesn’t last that much longer. I’m wishing death on anyone, even on a scumfuck like Donald Tokowitz Sterling, but I can’t imagine his family holding on to the Clippers when he passes on, and have to worry about playing estate taxes.
I do think, however, that whomever winds up owning the Clippers will move them out of Staples…no new owner wants to play second-class citizen to the Purple and Piss in their own building. But, it doesn’t mean that they’ll move out of Southern California…it can be Anaheim or wanting to build a new arena somewhere else in the arena.
Either way, this drama is going to end badly, and there are no winners in this situation.
Shawn H. Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Oops…I meant to say “that I don’t wish death on anyone”.
neiljphx Reply:
February 14th, 2009 at 7:53 am
i can’t see any new arena getting built any time soon in this economy but that Anaheim place would make sense and is the only place i could see them going to. but still think when the time comes, Staples will offer the right deal to keep them there.
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
This whole situation is ugly. Whether the allegations are true or not, we kept help but see this as another black eye on the organization.
I do however think it is funny that in the picture taken with his attorneys (In the LA Times) we see the same Elgin “Sleepy” Baylor that we say in the stands.
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-02/45042078.jpg
RaymondInClipperland Reply:
February 13th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I meant to say…
“…that we saw in the stands.”
Posted on February 13th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Off the subject: no repect, even from Stephon Marbury
Marbury, who attended the Knicks-Lakers game at Staples Center last December to demonstrate the absurdity of his banishment, said he wasn’t coming last night.
“Not to watch the Clippers,” Marbury said.
Posted on February 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am
In NBA News…
ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher is reporting that the Toronto Raptors will trade center Jermaine O’Neal along with forward Jamario Moon to Miami in exchange for forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks.
The deal is reportedly awaiting league approval.
Posted on February 13th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Maybe the judge will rule Dunleavy’s contract is racist and cancel it. Gotta hope.
Posted on February 13th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
get rid of ownership and coach start with a fresh set of faces – at least there would be some HOPE for a change. it is never a question of if they are going to mess up but rather when.
Posted on February 13th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I think Baylor was cool taking the 350 every year because Dr. Buss was paying him another 500 to screw up the Clippers from the inside out. What a brilliant idea. Plant the ex Laker great into the heart of the opposing team and just let it rot.
Posted on February 14th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I love this quote from his lawyer, “It was his life, working in the city that he loved, and he hoped that with his continued effort, he’d be able to turn the team around and to make them into a winner. …Regrettably, he was tossed out before he was given that chance.” If 22 years isn’t “a chance” what is?
Posted on February 15th, 2009 at 1:38 am
C’mon guys…i mean elgin didn’t do that poor of a job. He drafted the “right” player every year except one (Kandiman — I don’t count Korolev bc he was clearly Dunce’s pick). He wasn’t really allowed to sign players because of Donald’s frugality so i don’t hold him responsible for our lack of competitiveness. As far as the allegations of racism go, as a black man I am all too aware that you can pay an employee well and treat them fairly well with regard to the basics of their employment and STILL create an environment that is deeply uncomfortable for them due to their color/race/class/gender. As for the pay discrimination, it seems that EBaylor should have been paid just a hair more but certainly no where near as much as dunce — after all, all he did was draft and manage day to day ops.
Posted on February 15th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Elgin may have been a great player, but in 22 years he proved he was a JOKE as a GM, most people with pride , would have quit 10 years earlier with the lack of success generated from his department.
Posted on February 15th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
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