A Tip of the Hat to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

Adam Silver acted decisively and swiftly. He acted justly and righteously. He made a statement and he made it loud and clear. There is no place for the racism, ignorance and bigotry that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling demonstrated.

Speaking at a press conference in New York, the commissioner announced that Sterling would receive a lifetime ban and a fine of $2.5 million from the NBA after a league investigation confirmed that it was in fact Sterling speaking on a recording released earlier in the week in which the owner made racist remarks in a conversation with girlfriend V. Stiviano.

Silver went on to say he was confident that he would have the support of the 29 owners when it came to removing Sterling as the Clippers' owner. The owners would have to vote three-fourths in favor of the decision.

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I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners I need to remove him (Sterling)... We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views. They simply have no place in the NBA.

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Immediately following the announcement, the Clippers' official website echoed Silver's sentiment.  

Prominent members of the NBA community voiced their support as well.

In a matter of only three days, Silver was able handle a crisis that besmirched the NBA at a time of the year when the game's spotlight is at its brightest. Silver understood the ramifications of what Sterling did and in turn promptly responded with well-deserved consequences. 

To many, Sterling's punishment may seem like a no-brainer. Yet, Sterling, a repeat offender of racist and unethical actions, has somehow been able to skate by over the years.

Whether it be his discriminatory rule as a landlord, his prejudiced conversations and lawsuit with Elgin Baylor or the fact that he appears to have the mindset of a slave owner, former commissioner David Stern ignored it all over the years. Part of that was because even though the reputation was obvious, the evidence was scarce.

Well, Silver got his evidence and he jumped on it, handing out the harshest possible punishment to someone who should have received it a long time ago. With only three months on the job, Silver was given an impossible situation. Thankfully, he acted with extreme leadership and authority, coming to a resolution that had in mind the best interest of the NBA, owners, players and fans.

Most importantly, he made it known: The NBA will not tolerate this type of ideology.

There is simply no place for it, not in basketball and not in society.  

What is your take on Adam Silver's decision? 

Question or comments? Feel free to follow me on Twitter @GPhillips2727 to talk NBA Basketball.