C****er Darrell: Just when you thought YOU had a dysfunctional organization

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Disgusting. I got a chance to meet him before a game, he is one of the nicest guys around and a true fan.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sport...n-asked-to-drop-name-20120229,0,2391911.story

Along with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan's dizzying dunks, Clipper Darrell has become part of the Lob City show at Staples Center.

Clipper Darrell, the team's super fan, wears a red and blue outfit and screams his head off during games. His booming voice has been known to start arena-wide cheers.

He even dances during breaks and his corky moves are often shown on the video board interspersed between the Clipper Girls routine. (Believe it or not, he draws a louder applause than the women in miniskirts.)

But according to FISHBOWLLA, the Clippers front office has asked Darrell to drop the Clippers name.

"They said I was trying to make money off sponsorships,” Darrell Bailey told the website. “If people are going to pay me to do some things, why not do it? I don’t see any harm in it as long as I’m not hurting the brand itself. I’m going to high schools, charity events, I do it all. They told me at the end of the conversation that 'We would like you not to be Clipper Darrell anymore and would like you to go back to Darrell Bailey.' "

On Clipper Darrell's website, he wrote: "I am devastated!!!!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Donald Sterling is something else.

 

[KingSpeed]

It really sucks. I've met the guy too. But I get it. He doesn't work for the Clippers and people might assume he does. I think the solution is to hire him, but if they don't want to, well that sucks.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Did they hire Larry Miller to write their press release?

http://clippers.ocregister.com/2012/02/29/clippers-statement-regarding-clipper-darrell/

“The Clippers have done absolutely nothing wrong or inappropriate as it concerns Darrell Bailey. His claims are absurd and unfounded. He has never been an employee or representative of the Clippers organization, and therefore cannot be terminated. The Clippers have never engaged Mr. Bailey’s services. When he has been in need, the organization has regularly provided him a seat for games. No good deed goes unpunished.
We have had multiple conversations with him concerning his inappropriate use of the Clippers’ team name and trademark for his own unmonitored commercial gain. We have spoken to him repeatedly about his desire to make public appearances in ways which improperly suggest that he is officially affiliated with our organization. In all cases and over a long period of time, he has consistently rejected our efforts to operate in consultation.
In a conversation with an authoritative and tenured Clippers’ executive last week, he was asked again to either consult with the team on all public appearances and/or commercial ventures, or stop undertaking those opportunities representing himself inappropriately. His response was an offer to stop representing himself commercially in that way and his offer was accepted in principle.
The next thing we heard was the baseless claims he has made today and the ensuing media rush to judgment.

We hold all of our fans in the highest esteem and we have been patient and generous with Mr. Bailey. He has not returned our support in an honorable way. He is not actually a fan of the Clippers, but a fan of what he can make off of the Clippers. We are no longer interested in that kind of association with him, and that is why we accepted his offer to remove our team name from his stage name.”

That is just disgusting. They're going to lose Blake Griffin over this eventually. Watch.

Way to burn a fucking bridge with your most consistent fan.

 

[KingSpeed]

Oh, so they have offered to work with him. There you go.

 

[Nikolokolus]

It really sucks. I've met the guy too. But I get it. He doesn't work for the Clippers and people might assume he does. I think the solution is to hire him, but if they don't want to, well that sucks.

It's a completely ham-fisted, semi-retarded way to handle PR ... in other words, "vintage Clippers."

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

do you really trust what Sterling has to say?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

BlazerWookiee better watch out, he's going to have the Blazers and Lucas Films on his ass.

 

[PapaG]

I think it's kind of shady for the guy to pass himself off as "Clipper Darrell", as it does seem to insinuate an official connection to the team.

The smart move is to distance yourself from the guy, in case something goes haywire at one of his appearances.

Protect your brand. Hard for me to get upset about this one. He should just change his name to "LA Darrell", or something like that, and go on making appearances.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

He was offered quite a bit of money to become a Mavs fan by Mark Cuban.

Bailey's dedication to the Clippers has even caught the attention of opposing teams. Bailey says he's had the likes of Kobe Bryant and Denzel Washington greet him by name. But his most memorable interaction with the opposition came when Mavericks owner Mark Cuban offered him a job last year, a courting process that led to Cuban flying Bailey out to Dallas, giving him a tour of the facility before deciding that Clipper Darrell becoming Maverick Darrell would be as wrong as seeing Cuban root for the Clippers.
"Just to have a billionaire acknowledge me and offer me a job was an honor," said Bailey. "They're first-class, but Clipper Nation made me who I am and I could never work for someone and be a fan. I already worked for someone who controlled my life and I never want that again."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/arash_markazi/04/28/clipper-darrell/index.html
http://logan-logsblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/clipper-darrell.html
What's next, let's sue blazers edge.com?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I think it's kind of shady for the guy to pass himself off as "Clipper Darrell", as it does seem to insinuate an official connection to the team.

The smart move is to distance yourself from the guy, in case something goes haywire at one of his appearances.

Protect your brand. Hard for me to get upset about this one. He should just change his name to "LA Darrell", or something like that, and go on making appearances.

I agree. The team gives him free tickets and he seemingly plays himself off as a member of the franchise at various events and also seemingly makes money from it all. If true, that's whack. I can see why the team is unhappy.

 

[e_blazer]

Hmmm. Maybe it's time to think about a new name for myself.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Do they even own the rights to Clipper? They're the Clippers.

 

[PapaG]

Do they even own the rights to Clipper? They're the Clippers.

If his fame and appearances weren't from his antics at Clipper games, I'd agree with you. It would be hard for him to argue that his nickname (and appearances) are not derived from the NBA franchise.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

What did happen to the Blazer Hippie?

 

[magnifier661]

http://clipperdarrell.com/2012/02/29/i-am-devastated/

It is with great sadness that I must report to all those in NBA NATION that I have been told by Clipper management they no longer want me to be Clipper Darrell, a name that was given to me by the media because of my unwavering support and team spirit. I am devastated!!!!
I have been a season ticket holder for over a decade and a FAN for over 15 years and have dedicated a major part of my life to support the Clipper organization and it’s players no matter what the season’s outcome. Over the years (400 home games) I have gone to great lengths to show my appreciation and loyalty in my attire, the car I drive and in my very own home. I’ve taken seriously the mantra of being “Clipper Darrell” in performing community service, mentoring young children and my participation in outreach programs. I’ve appreciated the struggles of the team to overcome obstacles as I’ve done in my life. I felt vindicated for all the years we as Clipper fans have gone through trials and tribulations and NOW we have a team that can win it all. Yesterday was the hardest day of my life, I felt powerless as a fan, as I was stripped of my identity however, no one can take away my heart and the love I have for my team!

Wow that sucks... Leave it to Sterling to fuck things up.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

He should turn into "Greased-up Darrell".

 

[magnifier661]

He should turn into "Greased-up Darrell".

He should change his last name to Clipper. LOL that would be insane and nothing the Clips could do about it. All he has to say is "Hey that is my legal name fuckheads"

 

[Eastoff]

He should change his last name to Clipper. LOL that would be insane and nothing the Clips could do about it. All he has to say is "Hey that is my legal name fuckheads"

Or his first name.

 

[Minstrel]

Or his first name.

Or his first name to "Clipper" and his last name to "Darrell."

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

http://www.nba.com/clippers/mvp/spotlight_061213.html

Off the Clipper website. Think the team was not making money off of him too?

Blazer in game entertainment is horrible and should consider Blazer Darrell being given season tickets.

 

[Ed O]

I think it's kind of shady for the guy to pass himself off as "Clipper Darrell", as it does seem to insinuate an official connection to the team.

The smart move is to distance yourself from the guy, in case something goes haywire at one of his appearances.

Protect your brand. Hard for me to get upset about this one. He should just change his name to "LA Darrell", or something like that, and go on making appearances.

I think you're spot-on, PapaG.

In addition to the solid, common-sense statements you make, I want to add that with intellectual property, it's up to the rights-holder to protect/police how it's used, or it can be lost. If the Clippers let this guy do it, they'd have a tougher time stopping another guy from doing it. Or from making Clippers bumper stickers. Or whatever.

It sucks for the guy, but the Chicken did OK without the Padres

Ed O.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

He should give them the middle finger and start going to Laker games... Laker Darrell.

 

[Natebishop3]

I didn't realize the Clippers owned the rights to the word "clipper". Seriously, I'd tell them to go fuck themselves. Are they going to tell the DiMaggio estate that he can no longer be known as the "Yankee Clipper"?

1. They didn't invent the word.

2. He's not going as "Los Angeles Clippers Darrell"

This isn't even the same grounds as the Blazers going after Rip City Pizza, because to my knowledge the term "Rip City" had never been used prior to Schonely and the phrase became synonymous with the team. Clipper ships have been around for hundreds of years. The term clipper has been in use for just as long. Fuck off Donald Sterling.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

seems like they offered him a job, in order to make sure he wouldnt start doing stupid shit (porn, drunken ramblings, whatever) in the clippers name, and he turned them down.

basically, let us help market you and our brand in a responsible way, and he said no.

so its well within their rights to ask him to stop associating himself with the team, whether he will or not remains to be seen i guess.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

so, the team has fallen apart since this whole incident.

The Curse of Clipper Darrell?

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

so, the team has fallen apart since this whole incident.

The Curse of Clipper Darrell?

They patched things up. Billups going down has far more significance.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

nope. the curse! locker room falling apart.