Clipped
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Late in the finale ofClipped, Shelly Sterling examines a newspaper headline.
So sad, she says, shaking her head.
The headline: Ferguson Proves Transformative.
And thats the last we see of Mr. Sterling in the series.
Theres some degree of ambiguity in Shelly saying so sad.
A generous person might read her as concerned over the deep racial injustices that still haunt the country.
(Though that same person would probably not want to hear her get into further detail.)
Of wait versus now.
Of a turned cheek versus self-defense.
Suddenly, this was becoming the latest chapter in Black Americas what next?
Thats the Doc Rivers dilemma.
And the Elgin Baylor dilemma.
Baylor chose nonviolence for years before fighting back against Sterling in the courts, albeit fruitlessly.
Thats not how people will remember the Clippers wearing black socks and turning their warm-up jerseys inside out.
(Rivers didnt cover himself in retrospective gloryafter the game, either.
I knew about it.
I didnt voice my opinion, he said about the protest.
I wasnt thrilled about it, to be honest.
But if thats what they want to do, thats what they want to do.)
Everyone knew who Donald Sterling was.
Thats the one sacred space theyve carved out for themselves.
(What an idiot to keep that [money] in cash, sneers Sterling.
Hes not the guy.)
Clippeddoesnt let her get away with it.
(You two were made for each other.
You both think you own everybody.)
So, the punishment for her own complicity in Sterlings racism is nonexistent.
The final scene pays homage to Baylor, who suffered Sterlings abuses the longest and the hardest.
I need to shoot til it sounds right is the shows last line.
Guys like Doc and Baylor surely feel like they werent perfect in responding to a boss like Sterling.
But the pursuit of that right-sounding swish is meaningful.
Complaining about the Obama tax in a 16,000 percent return on investment sounds like classic billionaire behavior.
