Sterling Is Many Things, But He’s Not Stupid

Mark Heisler’s March 9 article on the Clippers and Donald Sterling, like countless ones before it, bemoaned the sad history of the Clippers and their intelligence-challenged owner. In fact, Sterling may be the NBA’s smartest owner.

The endless criticism of the Clippers is based on the faulty assumption that Sterling, like the other NBA owners, wants to win. To the contrary, Sterling doesn’t care how the Clippers perform. Everyone seems to lose sight that Sterling’s primary business is real estate, not sports.

Sterling long ago learned that one should buy the cheapest house in an exclusive and desirable neighborhood. Then by undertaking only minimal maintenance while others on the block make substantial improvements, one can gain the maximum return on one’s investment.

The NBA is about as exclusive a neighborhood as there is. There are only 29 “houses” and lots of billionaires that want one.

Yeah, Sterling is an idiot, like the proverbial fox.

Mark Wallis

Thousand Oaks

Mark Heisler’s diatribe against Donald Sterling is an airball. Michael Olowokandi at 12 points and nine rebounds a game is not worth $9 million a year, as Heisler suggests. Mr. Sterling would do better to give the $9 million to one of his many charities. Whatever Olowokandi’s potential might be, his attitude on and off the court has hardly endeared him to the fans or his teammates. Since when is it acceptable for a player who thinks he’s worth more money to let it affect his game or his morale?

Mr. Olowokandi is making $6 million a year and I understand he turned down a $50-million offer from the Clippers last summer.

Elton Brand was offered a $60-million deal but declined it. I think this puts to rest the notion that Sterling is unwilling to pay players top money.

Who are the former Clippers that Sterling didn’t pay who went on to glorious careers elsewhere? Danny Manning? Maurice Taylor? Brian Skinner? Ken Norman? Charles Smith? Derek Anderson?

Pro basketball is not only a game, it’s a multimillion-dollar business. There are teams with losing records, like the Clippers, who have much higher payrolls and lose money. Does Heisler admire those owners? No team pays bigger salaries than the Knicks.

William Friedkin

Hollywood

As a dedicated reader of The Times, I am incensed that you refused to send a reporter, and instead went with a wire report in your coverage of the Clippers’ March 10 game against Atlanta. Why has it taken you so many games to implement this fine strategy?

Paul Grammatico

Torrance

Donald T. Sterling is not the worst thing to happen to the NBA.

But then, ABC could always dump its “Free Flight” camera.

Evert Jones

Los Angeles