Donald Sterling was born on April 26, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. His real last name is Tokowitz. When Donald was just two years old, he moved with his family from Chicago to a rough section of Los Angeles called Boyle Heights. Both of his parents were immigrants and his father supported the family with a small produce store. As a child, Donald bagged groceries at the store after school and was class President at Theodore Roosevelt High School. Despite the fact that the family was beyond dirt poor, they somehow managed to send Donald to California State University, Los Angeles for undergrad, followed by Southwestern University Law School. To help pay for Law School, Donald worked nights at a furniture store. It was at this job where Donald made the decision to change both his image and his last name. He no longer wanted to be perceived as a low class child of Jewish immigrants. From that point on, he would be known as Donald Sterling, not Donald Tokowitz.
He somehow graduated from law school and started his own thang, in 1963, Donald used some of his savings to purchase a 26-unit apartment building in Beverly Hills. This would be his first venture into the real estate business. Through his law practice, Sterling had become friendly with the business managers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Through these connections, he began purchasing properties in Beverly Hills directly from stars like John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Carol Burnett and Burt Lancaster. This was all part of a well conceived plan to further shine-up the "Sterling" name.
As chance would have it, many of Sterling's properties were acquired from future Lakers owner Jerry Buss. In fact, when Jerry purchased the Lakers, the Kings and the Forum arena for $67.5 million in 1979, he raised much of the funds by selling properties directly to Donald Sterling. Buss and Sterling were friendly rivals and Jerry is actually the one who told Donald to buy an NBA team.
Heeding his cross-town rival's advice, Donald purchased the struggling San Diego Clippers in 1981 for $12.5 million. In typical Sterling fashion, $10 million of the purchase price was paid on layaway.
In 1984, after three disastrous seasons in San Diego, Donald moved the Clippers to Los Angeles without even asking for the NBA's permission. For this transgression, the NBA tried to fine Don $25 million. He countersued the league for $100 million in damages. The NBA quickly reduced the fine to $6 million, Donald paid his parking ticket and was free to set up shop in LA.
Basically dude has been doing it his way like he was at Burger Kang for years! I feel like he has a sense of entitilement. He isn't the only one, I am sure he has many friends who share his views because feathers of the yard birds flock togeather! I think he just happens to be the one who has to hold the blame ball for a moment. Who remembers Paula Deen and the dude from Seinfield who suddelny became prejudice? No longer an issue when the next situation arises.
I look at it like this. Everyday, the common minority has to deal with racism with no day light of resolution unless someone well known is affected. How many times have we realized a co-worker getting upset or snapping off and others are like "Why is he getting so upset over that", not realizing the behind the scenes harrasssment!!! Honestly, if we want to get rid of racism, we can only get that thru God. The next attempt would be something similar to out lawing racism with punishments by death for any hint of it. But who wants to do all that. Some people are commited to hating others due to skin color or social economic class!
The root of the issue is greed and lack of love of man kind. The true identitfirer of a christian is LOVE. I don't see it too often but I dang sure hear it daily. Oh well, until the next N-word is dropped I am gonna stay black and wait to the end of the wicked system so peace can return....
I am Ward........
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