Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
LA Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke takes the team's side in its snit with unofficial fan Clipper Darrell, which has been a small media boomlet this week.
Really? Do we seriously need to go here? I hesitate to give even more publicity to a guy who is insulting the enduring grace of truly longtime Clippers fans by trying to become their paid spokesman, but enough is enough. Anybody who has been around the Clippers for the last few years knows the true story here, and no amount of timeout dancing can hide it.First, the Clippers love having Darrell Bailey at their games. They love him so much, for the last couple of years they've given him a free ticket. Yes, while many others in the building are shelling out thousands for the hottest show in town, Bailey is given a prime lower-bowl spot for free.
The Clippers love that he performs at the games. They don't want him to stop his dancing. They don't want him to tone down his support. They appreciate that he has been a season-ticket holder for a dozen years, and they would be happy to have him show up at every home game and lead Clippers cheers forever....The problem is, Darrell Bailey also wants to represent the Clippers outside the arena. He wants to make paid public appearances on behalf of the Clippers and give interviews as a Clippers spokesman and essentially turn his rooting interest into a business interest.
