During ABC's NBA pregame show for the Clippers/Warriors game, Jeff Van Gundy offered up an interesting solution to the Donald Sterling situation. Van Gundy on what the league could/should do:

"I would like to see him suspended,... Donald Sterling suspended indefinitely until he transfers power of the team to someone else or sells the team. And if not, if he is kept in charge and he is allowed to keep owning the team then I think Doc Rivers and every player should have the right to go the commissioner and be declared a free agent..."

WOW. Is this even possible according to the NBA bylaws and player contracts? The Steeze Report tried to look into the possibility of this happening but was unable to find any verifiable information on this. Time will tell if this is possible or not. Sterling has a reputation for never selling anything he buys.  He still owns real estate properties from 1981.  Despite the fact that Sterling is married, he clearly has relationships with other women who are still in their teens(just like Dr. Buss did); one of them exposing him on the audio tape the world has heard repeatedly.  I cannot help but think that Sterling is still married simply to avoid having to split all his assets up with wife, assuming there is no prenuptial agreement.  A man that determined to hang on to his possessions will not sell a professional basketball team because of some controversy.  Unless there is a way to force him to sell, which seems impossible(and should be impossible) in a capitalistic society, I do not think Sterling sells the Los Angeles Clippers.

All in all though, wouldn't it be something if the league offers every Clippers player instant free agency as punishment to Donald Sterling, and then they all moved across the hall and played for the Lakers? Now that would be an enormous turn of events. With the recent news that the L.A. Lakers are going to stick with D'Antoni for next season, they may want to reconsider that if the entire Clipper team and coach Doc Rivers are looking for a new team next season. If you're a Clipper and you have a home and a family situated in Los Angeles already, why leave? Just a thought.

"It's whatever..."

You Probably Never Seen This Man's Face Before

Meet Paul Allen. According to Forbes, Paul Allen is the 26th wealthiest person in America with an estimated net worth of $15.8 BILLION. As people on television and radio always say, that's BILLION with a "b." Allen's fortune was earned through his founding of Microsoft. I know what your thinking; "I thought Bill Gates founded Microsoft?" He did. Allen was the far less famous co-founder. There always seems to be a far less famous co-founder(see Wozniak and Apple Inc.,etc.)

"Take a seat Paul. I'll take all the spotlight."

So with such a vast fortune, what does one do with it? Venture capitalism? Check. Start other companies? Check. Buy professional sports teams? Definitely.  Allen also owns two professional sports teams, the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL),  and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).  He is also part-owner of the Seattle Sounders FC, which joined Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2009.  Allen bought the Portland Trailblazers for $70 million in 1988.  Allen's acquisition of the Seattle Seahawks came a few years later in 1997.  Allen bought the Seattle Seahawks for about $200 million, plus $130 million toward a new, $430 million stadium to replace the Kingdome.  Chump change to a billionaire.  Forbes now has the Seattle Seahawks valued at $1.08 Billion and the Portland Trailblazers at $356 Million.(Even the most expensive NBA teams do not compare to the cost of the cheapest NFL teams)

With the Seattle Seahawks winning the Superbowl this year, Allen only needs for the Portland Trailblazers to win the NBA finals this year to complete his dominance of America's most popular sports. With Aldridge and Lillard playing at a high level, I wouldn't bet against them.(The best inside-outside duo since Shaq and Kobe?)  The Portland Trailblazers are currently leading in their series 3 games to 1.  Anything Allen owns seems to win.

The Real Billionaire Boys Club

As mentioned previously on the Steeze Report, TNT's coverage of the National Basketball Association is superior to ESPN's coverage.  It is not even close. TNT delivers on both basketball analysis and entertainment value.  As our very own AJ has stated in a previous post, "TNT is by far my favorite network that covers the NBA. Not only is the Inside The NBA Crew the best, but their in game commentators such as Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, Mike Fratello, and Chris Webber are also great. Listening to Steve Kerr tonight after listening to that clown Jeff Van Gundy on ESPN only makes me appreciate TNT more." There's never a dull moment.  However, there is hope for ESPN.  I have a solution for them.  Here is what I propose:

Starting next NBA season, ESPN should introduce a NBA post game show that should IMMEDIATELY follow all of their games, much in the same way TNT does with "Inside the NBA."  In doing so, ESPN will retain its viewers who were just watching the game.  Currently, ESPN "kicks it" to sportscenter after every game.  The problem with immediately going to sportscenter is in the lack of in-depth coverage and analysis. A game will end and jump right into sportscenter, which will talk about the game that just aired for 10 to 20 minutes at most and then move on to one of the million baseball highlights. Simply move sportscenter to ESPN2 and allow your new post game show to build a following.  Name it whatever you like.

Now what should be for the format of this new show and who should star in it?  Currently, during the rare times ESPN has post game shows, they have a sportscenter anchor, Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose, and Coach Collins.  Magic Johnson and Michael Wilbon were removed before the start of the season.  I think they need to keep Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons, and dump the sportscenter anchor( usually Sage Steele) and Coach Collins.  From here, ESPN should get a new "hipper" host or just have it be Simmons and Rose.  Essentially, what I am trying to do here is to get ESPN to deliver as much entertainment and AUTHENTIC/NON-CHEESY banter between the analyst, while at the same time delivering valuable basketball analysis.

The best time to be taught something about the game is immediately after you've viewed it.  Most of the plays are still fresh in your mind.  I would not mind if they even added Scott van Pelt and Ryen Russillo.  I enjoy watching the "SVP & Russillo" show on ESPN. If you have not watched them, I suggest you check them out.  Further still, I enjoyed listening to Russillo's audio-only NBA podcast when I used to take public transportation to my University a few years back.

The ebb and flow of the show needs to be as organic as possible.  ESPN needs to drop the scripted shows.  Just let your talent fill in the blanks.  ESPN is too stiff right now.  To achieve this, Simmons and Rose should simply move their Grantland YouTube channel to ESPN and have that be the post game show for them.  And yes, Rose should keep the bat he holds in every video.  If you have not seen their YouTube shows yet, check it out on bottom of this post.  There is some talent at ESPN; they're just not being used correctly and in the right spots.  Follow my plan, and ESPN's basketball coverage will no longer be a joke.  Just a suggestion.

Additional suggestions ESPN should implement that are easier to pull off:

1. Stay away from hyperbolic statements.  Not every great performance by LeBron or any other NBA star makes them the best ever.
2. I've grown to like Mike Breen but ESPN should still acquire Marv Albert from TNT to cover the NBA Finals.  This is ABC and Walt Disney we're talking about here.  Surely, they have enough money to sign the voice of the NBA.(Add Doug Collins along with him)
3. Have the post game hosts and analysts also do the pregame and halftime coverage.(Scott Van Pelt, Russillo, Rose, & Simmons)
4. Invite Stephen Jackson on the post game show frequently for entertainment.  If he works out, maybe bring him on permanently.(Jackson could be ESPN's Charles Barkley.)