Donald Sterling

Silver said Sterling's sordid history was not taken into account when handing down the ban and suspension, that that it will be considered when owners decide whether to compel Sterling to sell the franchise

More here. I don't know. If this was part of a "sordid history," fine. But, the punishment seems rather extreme if it was (dare I say "merely"?) for one horrible conversation. I think it really wasn't, especially as a public relations matter involving the reactions. It was for more.