intermission and took the lead for good with their second possess

NEW YORK -- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered the swiftest, strongest penalty he could, then called on NBA owners to force Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell the team for making racist comments that hurt the league. Almost unanimously, owners supported the commissioner Tuesday, as he handed down one of the harshest penalties in the history of U.S. sports. "We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterlings views. They simply have no place in the NBA," Silver said at a news conference. Sterling, 80, is banned for life from any association with the league or the Clippers, and was fined $2.5 million -- the maximum allowable under the NBA constitution. If three-fourths of the other 29 owners agree to Silvers recommendation, Sterling will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981. A message left seeking comment at Sterlings business office hadnt been returned Tuesday afternoon. Team spokesman Seth Burton said in an email that the Clippers had no plans to issue a statement from Sterling on Tuesday. Players and others cheered Silvers quick action, with union officials saying that if the leagues punishment hadnt included a mandate for Sterling to sell the team, players were considering boycotting playoff games, including Tuesdays Golden State Warriors-Clippers matchup, the teams first home game since the scandal erupted. "We wanted to be a part of this decision, and we wanted Adam Silver to know where we stood. And we were very clear that anything other than Sterling selling his team was not going to be enough for us," said Roger Mason Jr., the first vice-president of the players union. Chris Paul, the Clippers All-Star point guard and the president of the players union, issued a brief statement before leading Los Angeles against the Warriors in Game 5 of their tied playoff series. "In response to todays ruling by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver, my teammates and I are in agreement with his decision," Paul said. "We appreciate the strong leadership from Commissioner Silver and he has our full support." Sterlings comments -- which were recorded by his girlfriend and released by TMZ on Saturday -- harmed the league, Silver said. Sponsors were threatening to abandon the NBA, and criticism was coming from fans on social media and even the White House. Sterling criticized V. Stiviano -- purportedly the female voice on the recording -- for posting pictures of herself with black athletes Magic Johnson and Matt Kemp. "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that youre associating with black people. Do you have to?" Sterling asks the woman on the recording. "Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league," Silver said. The NBAs longest-tenured owner keeps his team for now -- and Silver said he didnt know if Sterling would fight to do so permanently. But he cant attend games or practices, cant be involved in any personnel decisions or participate in board of governors meetings. Just three days after the scandal broke, and hours before the Clippers hosted their biggest game of the season, Silver apologized to some of the leagues black pioneers while meting out a punishment he believed would satisfy outraged players and fans. Sterlings Clippers have been one of the most incompetent franchises in pro sports, and nearly all of their previous seasons would have been finished by now. But after the most successful two-year stretch in Clippers history, the current team is a title contender led by Doc Rivers, a black coach whom Sterling brought in from Boston and paid $7 million a year. "(Silver) made the decision that really was the right one that had to be made," Rivers said before the Clippers game. "I dont think this is something that we rejoice in or anything like that. I told the players about the decision, and I think they were just happy there was a resolution and that its over, at least the start of it. I think were all in a better place because of this." Silver said the ban applied only to Sterling, and there had been no discussions about whether he could sell to a family member. Many owners supported Silver, and none of them publicly defended Sterling. "We applaud the firm punishment handed out today by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and appreciate the swiftness with which the NBA conducted its investigation," Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said in a statement. The fine will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts, Silver said. Sterling, with an estimated net worth of about $2 billion, did not comment, though Silver said he did not apologize for his remarks. Silver said Sterling confirmed that he was the person on the recording. Silver hasnt even been on the job three months and already had to face a crisis that threatened the league not only financially -- with several companies ending or suspending their sponsorships of the Clippers -- but more importantly, socially. The NBA survived the Indiana Pacers brawl with Detroit Pistons fans, and referee Tim Donaghy betting on games he officiated. But this brought a different level of outrage, particularly because the league could have done something sooner about Sterling, who has faced federal charges of civil rights violations and racial discrimination in his business dealings. "This has all happened in three days, and so I am hopeful there will be no long-term damage to the league and to the Clippers organization," Silver said. "But as I said earlier, Im outraged so I certainly understand other peoples outrage." After the announcement, the Clippers website had a simple message: "We are one." "We wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver today. Now the healing process begins," the Clippers added in a statement. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Raptors, issued a statement Tuesday afternoon. "As a proud member of the National Basketball Association, we stand strongly in our belief that the comments attributed to Mr. Sterling have no place in our society or sport. Our organization will always work to contribute to a culture of diversity and acceptance in this league and fully support the actions taken today. We thank commissioner Adam Silver, and all of the NBA players, for their leadership on this important issue." Rivers cancelled practice Monday and declined a meeting request from Sterling. He wouldnt address whether he would return next season if Sterling were still in control, a stance reaffirmed by the coach before Game 5 of the Clippers playoff series with Golden State. That might not be an issue if the owners vote to oust the owner. Sterling is estranged from his wife and had been dating Stiviano, 31. In court documents, Stiviano describes him as a man "with a big toothy grin brandishing his sexual prowess in the faces of the Paparazzi and caring less what anyone else thought, the least of which, his own wife." Silver said when he first heard the audio, he hoped it had been altered or was fake, but thought it was Sterling. And it doesnt matter if Sterling didnt realize he was being recorded, Silver said. "Whether or not these remarks were initially shared in private, theyre now public, and they represent his views." Denis Potvin Jersey . None of them are Finlands Pekka Rinne, who stands as Canadas biggest challenge in Thursdays quarter-final round. Even while a young Finnish team has struggled with penalties, turnovers and a lack of offensive depth, Rinne has been a rock with a 1. Billy Smith Jersey . Mohamed Diame put West Ham ahead in the 47th minute before goals by substitutes Carlton Cole and Joe Cole condemned Fulham to a fifth straight defeat, keeping the visitors in the bottom three. http://www.islanderssale.com/ . -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined for at least two weeks because of a strained calf muscle, and pitcher C. John Tavares Jersey .com) - Robert Martin and Josh Hicks combined for more than 300 yards rushing and three touchdowns, as Rutgers rolled past North Carolina, 40-21, in the Quick Lane Bowl. Mike Bossy Jersey . Its other five picks were all six foot or better, with three at 6-1 or above. Third-round pick Brett Lernout stands six foot four and weighs 206 pounds.Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Joe Flacco threw for 221 yards with a touchdown and the Baltimore defense kept Jacksonville out of the end zone, as the Ravens strengthened their playoff hopes with a 20-12 victory over the Jaguars on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens (9-5) also scored on a blocked punt and picked up their second straight win to remain in contention for the AFC North title. Baltimore trails first-place Cincinnati by one-half game after the Bengals blanked the Browns on Sunday to reach 9-4-1. Pittsburgh also kept pace in the tight race and improved to 9-5 with a win over Atlanta on Sunday. We didnt play smart all the time. We had too many mistakes, too many errors that kept us off the field or put our defense back on the field, those kind of things, said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. But Jacksonville did a good job. Thats a good young football team, especially on defense. That defense is salty and they get after you. Josh Scobee kicked four field goals to account for the entire offensive output for Jacksonville (2-12), which has lost two in a row. Blake Bortles threw for 210 yards with an interception for the Jaguars. He was also sacked eight times by a swarming Baltimore defense that limited Jacksonville to 248 total yards. The Ravens trailed 12-10 at the intermission and took the lead for good with their second possession of the second half, marching 80 yards on six plays. Flacco completed each of his five passes during the quick set, finishing it with a 3-yard strike to a wide open Owen Daniels in the back of the end zone. Jacksonville resorted to some trickery on its next possession, as a fake punt was successful and set up a first down just across midfield, but the Ravens stiffened and this time forced the Jaguars to punt it away. Justin Tucker hit the left upright a 54-yard field goal try with 8 1/2 minutes left in the fourth and the Jaguars were unable to mount a threat with their next two possessions. After punting the ball away with 6 1/2 minutes to play, the Jaguars got the ball back at midfield a little more than a minute later following a Baltimore punt. The Jaguars picked up 12 yards on the first play, but could not go much farther as Bortles 4th-and-9 pass was caught by Cecil Shorts out of bounds. A 10-yard run by Flacco on 3rd-and-5 allowed the Ravens to keep possession and drain more time off thhe clock.dddddddddddd A 28-yard burst by Bernard Pierce on the next play helped set up a 33-yard Tucker field goal to make it 20-12 with 1:11 remaining. Bortles was intercepted by Jeromy Miles on a fourth-down heave with 16 seconds remaining to seal the contest. Coming into this environment, (against) a playoff team, a team that plays as physical as they do, I thought our defense played extremely well, said Jaguars coach Gus Bradley. To come in their house and play like they did, hats off to our defense. The Ravens took 7-0 lead with a special teams touchdown, as Darian Stewart burst through the middle of the line and blocked Bryan Angers punt after Jacksonvilles first series. Kamar Aiken picked up the ball at the 11-yard line and trotted into the end zone. Jacksonville came right back and answered with a 53-yard Scobee field goal, then marched inside the Baltimore 10 with its next series. However, a pair of sacks pushed the Jaguars back to the 27 and forced a 45-yard Scobee kick to make it 7-6 late in the first quarter. The Ravens turned it over early in the second when Kyle Juszczyk fumbled after a short reception. Jacksonville took over at the Baltimore 33, but went backward from there and had to settle for another 53-yard Scobee field goal to grab a 9-7 lead. A surprise onside kick was recovered by the Jaguars, who managed to pick up one first down before Scobee missed from 42 yards to keep it a two-point game. Baltimore then regained the lead on the next offensive series when Tucker kicked a 22-yard field goal with 3:45 left in the first half. Tucker was short with a 54-yard kick with 40 seconds remaining and Bortles completed a pair of passes to move the Jaguars into position for a 45-yard boot from Scobee to take a 12-10 lead into the break. Game Notes The Ravens blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown for the first time since Ed Reed accomplished the feat in 2003 ... Baltimores Steve Smith Sr. finished with five catches and recorded his 900th career reception early in the second half ... Baltimores Elvis Dumervil notched one sack and tied his career high with 17 in a season ... Baltimore safety Terrence Brooks left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and cornerback Asa Jackson was helped off the field in the third quarter with a knee injury. 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