30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated present The Sterling Affairs, a multipart podcast series examining Clippers owner Donald Sterling and his rags to riches rise: his ruthless real estate empire, his unlikely role as owner of the NBA’s least successful franchise, and his ultimate downfall — when his racist comments, secretly taped by his mistress V Stiviano, were made public and he was forced by the NBA to sell his team.
This is also the story about a how a domestic drama finally boiled over to put the NBA in crisis. For years, Shelly Sterling had abided by Donald’s infidelity, and been by his side for his most shameful business dealings. And for years, the NBA had ignored his personal behavior, his housing discrimination, and more. But it was Shelly’s lawsuit against V that finally lit the match and exposed Donald Sterling for all to see.
The Sterling Affairs paints a picture of a city and a league in transition: the Showtime Lakers vs. the sad-sack Clip-show that came to define his tenure; how the Clippers turned into winners; and the moment when NBA players and a new league commissioner found their voice and ushered in a new era.
Reported and hosted by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, produced by 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated, in collaboration with Western Sound.
Key Characters
*original in-depth interviews
- Shelly Sterling*
- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver*
- Donald Sterling, Jerry Buss, David Stern (archival)
- NBA players Andre Iguodala and Blake Griffin*
- NBA reporter Roy Firestone*
- Dozens of Sterling’s former business and basketball associates*
Key Revelations and Themes
- Shelly Sterling opens up about her life and her relationship with Donald. For instance, she reveals that she still listens to the tapes of him, to this day, trying to figure out where it all went wrong.
- Donald and Shelly Sterling were originally Donald and Shelly Tokowitz. This series explores their deep roots, name change, and how they tried to escape their past.
- The world heard 9 minutes of Donald Sterling’s rants, but V. Stiviano recorded hours and hours. ESPN has access to many tapes the world has not yet heard.
- Most people, even NBA insiders, don’t know that it was actually Donald Sterling who loaned Jerry Buss the money he needed to buy the Lakers and revolutionize the NBA.
- In recreating the tick-tock of how the tape was released, we reveal how it was the domestic dispute between V and Sterling that led to the tape’s release. We also report on how the Clippers had the tape for several weeks before TMZ ultimately made them public.
Episode 1: Holy Sh** That Tape
The explosive tape of Donald Sterling breaks the internet. Ramona Shelburne explains how a fight between V. Stiviano and Shelly Sterling lit the match.
Episode 2: It’s Showtime
Nothing explains where Donald Sterling fits into the LA scene better than his relationship to the Lakers, Jerry Buss, and Showtime. Everything came easy for Buss; everything Sterling did reeked of desperation.
Episode 3: Donald Gets His Way
Donald and Shelley grew up in the poor neighborhood of Boyle Heights, and as they built their real estate empire and bought the Clippers, they worked hard to reinvent themselves. As part of that reinvention, however, Donald Sterling also engaged in womanizing and housing discrimination — and was rarely held accountable.
Episode 4: Power Shifts
When the tape broke in 2014, it threw the NBA into crisis. And for once, it was players, not owners, who seemed to be calling the shots. In the end, new commissioner Adam Silver bans Sterling for life.
Episode 5: Not Fit
Sterling’s ban was a bold statement, but the devil was in the details. Ultimately, this drama was going to be resolved where it started — in court, with Donald and Shelly. And in a Shakespearean move, Shelly had her husband of 60 years declared mentally unfit in order to seize control of the team and sell the franchise.
You can listen to all the episodes here.
Flip the pages for his mistress V. Stiano.