David Aldridge on his one and only interaction with Donald Sterling
With the exception of a three-year period (1993-96) when I was covering the NFL, I've been covering the NBA since 1987. I've had one conversation with Sterling. It lasted about four minutes. This was in 2006, when the Clippers, to the surprise of the entire western world, didn't have a team that stunk. They had a functioning Elton Brand and Chris Kaman, and an old head in Sam Cassell, and a coach in Mike Dunleavy -- who, just a few years later, would have to sue Sterling to get what had been promised him contractually -- who made the Clips into a promising squad.
Anyway, the Clippers were in the playoffs for the first time in years, and playing the Denver Nuggets. At halftime of one of the games, I was talking to the team's GM, Elgin Baylor -- who, just a few years later, would have to sue Sterling to get what had been promised him contractually. I mentioned, quite casually and not expecting anything in response, that I had never met Sterling.
Elgin got a look on his face. It was a familiar look; the look of someone who was about to do something he really didn't want to do, but felt obligated to do -- like shovel five feet of snow off the elderly neighbor's stoop.
"You want to meet him?," Elgin asked.
"Uh, sure," I said. It was halftime of a playoff game -- the clock was running in the press room at Staples. How much damage could be done in one pithy conversation?
Baylor introduced me to Sterling and his wife, Shelly -- who, just a few years later, would sue the woman who ... oh, God, never mind -- and we made about two minutes of small talk about the game and the great season the Clippers, finally, were having.
Then Sterling said, and I'm quoting, "Can I ask you a question?"
I said, "Sure."
And he said, "Why are all these black women having these children out of wedlock?"
To repeat: I had never, until this day in 2006, ever been introduced, or said hello, or called, or had anything to do with Sterling -- who, just a few years later, would pay $2.725 million to settle the largest housing discrimination lawsuit in the history of the United States of America. I had never written him a note or an e-mail, or received one from him. Nothing. Nada. Nuttin'.
I looked at the clock on the wall. I believe it was under seven minutes, and counting, until the second half began. I found what little composure was in my body.
"Well, Mr. Sterling, that's not a question I can answer in seven minutes," I began, gesturing to the running clock. "First, I'm not sure it's 'All' these black women,' and the ones that do have a lot of factors that contribute to their decisions -- "
"Oh, I know," he said. "I was just wondering what you thought."
I have not had a conversation with Sterling since. Nor do I plan to.
warriorsworld.net | Golden State Warriors Forum: David Aldridge on his one and only interaction with Donald Sterling
there were too many of them anyway, what were they doing out there type shyt 
