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Column: NBA commissioner’s handling of Sterling situation masterful

By Rob Woodfork

WASHINGTON — Over the weekend, we listened in disbelief to the the mind-numbingly racist comments attributed to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

On Tuesday, we were treated to Adam Silver’s masterful handling of his first big challenge as NBA commissioner, just three months into his term.

Silver appeared to have done all of his homework before taking the podium to announce a landmark decision in the NBA: Sterling would be fined $2.5 million — the highest sum allowed under the league’s constitution — and banned for life from the Clippers and the NBA. Silver also vowed to do everything in his power to get the NBA’s board of directors to force a sale of the team.

This is what we needed to see. Anything less would have resulted in major unrest for not only the Clippers, but the entire league. Some of the weekend’s loudest voices of outrage (Magic Johnson, Mark Cuban, and Kevin Johnson) applauded the league for its decision. Even the Clippers organization released a statement to convey support for the sanctions.

I personally refrained from weighing in on Sterling’s comments in this space until now because 1) the audio hadn’t been authenticated as Sterling yet and 2) I needed to see what NBA commissioner Adam Silver would do about this once his investigation was complete.

Now that due process has taken place, we can all say without reservation that Silver’s stance is equal parts encouraging and imperative. Clippers sponsors were running from the team in droves. The public outcry is still palpable. Sterling had to go, or else the league would have been viewed as going soft on a man that’s brazenly made life hard on minorities.

The truth of the matter is, the league should’ve taken his past acts into account rather than just applying these sanctions to the shocking audio. His track record is long and repugnant as it pertains to the treatment of minorities, and the NBA should’ve done something about this man a long time ago.

That’s why — if I may use a strong basketball analogy — The Commish took Sterling to the rack and dunked it on his head. Silver needed to make sure his message would be heard loud and clear, not just by Sterling, but by all associated with the sports league most densely populated by black players, coaches, and patrons.

That message? Our product is about inclusion, and an owner with a slave master mentality will no longer be tolerated. He will not represent us, because he will no longer be a part of us.

However, the process to extricate Sterling has only just begun. He’s known to be litigious, and there’s the ever-sticky matter of his estranged wife still owning a significant piece of the franchise. But this is a decisive first step in a much- needed direction.

Perhaps the happiest of all are the folks in L.A. According to reports, the Clippers players are ecstatic over the ruling. The team’s coach, Doc Rivers, has sounded like a man unsure if he would remain in that role next year if Sterling was still owner. Nobody can sigh a breath of relief more deservedly than those guys, because now they can shift focus from boycotts to basketball.

Perhaps now, Clippers fans (and casual hoops fans as a whole) can root for this team with no qualms. These players didn’t ask to be in the position they’re in, and Tuesday night’s game could be the start of a revolution of sorts. The Clips have a long history of mediocrity, and perhaps history will look back on Game 5 of this first round series with the Warriors as the first legitimate chance at leaving that behind.

I know professional athletes tend to turn off the radio and TV to block out distractions, but I sincerely hope they somehow heard the words of ESPN’s Herm Edwards.

On one of the dozens of editions of SportsCenter Tuesday, Herm’s message was this: Don’t let Sterling steal your joy. The opportunities to win a championship are often few and far between, and you should use this trial as fuel to get you there.

Edwards cited the story (or myth, depending who you ask) of the great Muhammad Ali, who won gold in the 1960 Olympics and threw the medal in the Ohio River after seeing the strife and racial unrest in the country he won it for. Edwards advised the Clippers to do the same: Win the title and throw the O’Brien trophy in the Pacific Ocean if the league didn’t do the right thing.

No such symbolism will be necessary. The league has laid the proper groundwork for the team to move Sterling’s name from Staples Center to a place where it belongs.

Disgrace.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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