With Racist Remarks, Donald Sterling Clipped the Clippers Wings
The story of the 2014 NBA crisis involving Donald Sterling is now being told on Hulu's "Clipped," albeit with some artistic license. While episode five, "The Best Words," delves deeply into the in-depth interviews that followed Sterling's racist remarks, the show centers on Doc Rivers as he navigates the volatile period. Shelly Sterling, who co-owned the Clippers with Donald, had a national broadcast conversation with Barbara Walters. She justified her husband's behavior, saying he suffered from dementia and didn't recall saying the hurtful things.
The NBA swiftly took action against Donald after Shelly's allegations stoked the firestorm. He tried to fight back with legal proceedings, but he was fined $2.5 million and banned for life. However, the Clippers were eventually sold, therefore his attempts to take back ownership of the team were failed. The episode also shows how Doc Rivers led the Clippers to victory in the midst of the mayhem. Rivers showed outstanding leadership even in the face of adversity as he guided the club to a first-round victory over the Golden State Warriors in the real-life 2014 NBA Playoffs.
The Clippers and Warriors Locker Room Battle
The Clippers' victorious Game 7 match against the Warriors was intense, and the rivalry between the two groups persisted in the background. Chris Paul and Matt Barnes of the Clippers and Marreese Speights, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Curry, and Steve Blake of the Warriors were allegedly involved in the brawl, despite Draymond Green not being present. The scene is reenacted in "Clipped," with Paul and Green serving as the primary antagonists. But in reality, it was not Paul who incited the altercation but rather an assistant coach for the Clippers. It was his presence more than any particular action that caused the tension to rise between the two squads.
Although Paul and Green have a well-known public dispute, the altercation actually involved a larger group of people and a more nuanced relationship than what is seen in the show. The show's portrayal of the incident is slightly off as the Clippers assistant coach's comments to the Warriors locker room were a major factor in the altercation. But "Clipped" does a good job of capturing the unfiltered feelings and hostility surrounding this playoff series.
Barbara Walters Interview with V. Stiviano
V. Stiviano, the person who taped Sterling's racial remarks, also had a well-publicized interview with Barbara Walters. Although Stiviano's iconic remarks about the "silly rabbit" and "right hand arm man" are captured in "Clipped," the film only includes a fragment of the extensive chat. The fifteen-minute real-life interview covered every aspect of Stiviano and Donald's relationship. She made an effort to defend him, saying that although he wasn't racist, he still needed to retract his remarks—despite the fact that she was the one who leaked the tape that revealed his Racism.
Stiviano had a difficult time explaining her complicated relationship with Donald during the interview. She was paid "off the books" and, contrary to expectations, appeared to be more protective and understanding of him. Her attempts to use the "heat of the moment" and his "different generation" as justifications for his remarks only served to compound the confusion around the controversy. "Clipped" shows the difficult and convoluted reality of the incident by capturing the salient points of Stiviano's interview with Walters, but omitting the more intricate and perplexing elements of the entire exchange.
