BILL BATTISON

Managing Partner

Angeles Capital Group

If murderers and rapists are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a jury of their peers, then racists should be as well. I may not agree with what he says, but I will defend the right to say it.

BILL TOWNSEND

President

Inco Commercial

Yes. I totally agree with the new NBA commissioner. He did his research, sought wise counsel and made his decision. The chosen punishment was perfect. Go Clippers!

JOSHUA J. ROTH

Associate

Glaser Weil

The National Basketball Association’s rules are clear. Where a team owner makes a statement that is prejudicial to the interests of basketball, the commissioner can indefinitely suspend and fine an owner to the extent done so by Adam Silver. Swift, decisive and definitive action such as has been applied here was not only perfectly legal but appropriate.

RICK LICHT

Chief Executive

Hero Ventures

Being the owner of an NBA team is not a right – it is a privilege. Sterling’s vile actions hurt the NBA’s players, fans and brand at a time when we should have been focused on an incredibly exciting playoff season. I fully support the league’s punishment to remove him as an owner and not be associated with him or his views.

CARL KOZLOWSKI

Co-founder

RadioTitans.com

While I hope that this situation doesn’t become a slippery slope in which people have to constantly fear retribution for their private thoughts and conversations, I think that in this specific case it was fair to punish Sterling severely because as an owner, he is a public representative of the NBA.