What, exactly, do you think her lawyers are gonna say? That she illegally taped the conversation, baited him into saying the stuff to then use it for blackmail?
As discussed already, there is testimony that not only did he know the conversation was being recorded, but that it was being recorded because he ordered it to be so as part of the common practice in his environment.
Which assertion, it should be noted, he has not used any breath to refute.
Many actions were proposed but few were actually taken.
The Clippers' sponsors bailed within 24 hours; the likely reason the other actions were not taken is that the NBA took action before the stated deadlines. Would they have followed through? God only knows.
But given the apparent solidarity of opposition to his continued ownership of the Clippers by the entirety of the players in the league, is it any wonder that none of the NBA owners or the operators wanted to call that bluff?
Speech and thought are the same as neither is an action.
First of all, the law disagrees with you as to speech- it is definitely considered an "action" for which you can be held liable in civil and criminal court.
Second, as stated, this is not- so far- any kind of legal action. This is a case of speech being reacted to with socio-economic pressure in the form of:
1) boycotts/work stoppages
2) withdrawal of association by business partners (corporate sponsors)
3) a fine and withdrawal of association by a private organization to which he belongs (the NBA)
All of which are perfectly valid responses to speech one disagrees with, regardless of setting.
So did this backlash cost you any money? Did it extend beyond this site? Cuz with Sterling what he said in one venue cost him dearly in another, unrelated one.
Of course not, since this sites is, essentially, anonymous. (In a trivial sense of the word.)
However, were I running for President or otherwise trying to increase my government security clearance, etc., it is a very real possibility that that statement could return to haunt me as I went through the vetting process.
Regardless of my own personal story, that something you do in one aspect of your life may spill over into others is simply the way things are. You can, for instance, be refused employment because your credit rating is below a certain point. Being a stripper in college may cost you a teaching job in your 40's.
Someone who participated in the demonstrations by the Westboro Church in Kansas might well be refused entry into a private organization in New York.
