At Harvard, Plimpton was a classmate and close personal friend of Robert F. Kennedy. Plimpton, along with former decathlete Rafer Johnson and American football star Rosey Grier, was credited with helping wrestle Sirhan Sirhan to the floor when Kennedy was assassinated following his victory in the 1968 California Democratic primary at the former Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Kennedy died the next day at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Plimpton was a demolitions expert in the post-World War II Army. After returning to New York from Paris, he routinely fired off fireworks at his evening parties.[28

Plimpton also appeared in a number of feature films as an extra and in cameo appearances.

The prank was so successful that many readers believed the story, and the ensuing popularity of the joke resulted in Plimpton writing an entire book on Finch.

In 1963, Plimpton attended preseason training with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League as a backup quarterback, and he ran a few plays in an intrasquad scrimmage.

I haveheardnumerousreligiousleadersoftheSouth callupontheirworshipperstocomplywitha desegregationdecisionbecauseit isthelaw, but I havelongedtohearwhiteministersdeclare: “Follow thisdecreebecauseintegrationismorallyrightandtheNegroisyourbrother.”

5TheNegrohasmanypent-up resentmentsandlatentfrustrations.Hehastoget themout. Solethim marchsometime;lethimhavehisprayerpilgrimagestothecityhall;understandwhyhemusthave sit-insand freedomrides.

I hopeyouareable toacethedistinctionI amtryingtopointout. InnosensedoI advocateevading ordefyingthelaw,aswouldtherabidsegregationist.Thatwouldleadtoanarchy.One whobreaks an unjustlaw mustdosoopenly, lovingly, andwith a willingnesstoacceptthepenalty.

Theanswerliesinthefactthattherefire twotypesoflaws:justandunjust.

Perhapsitiseasyforthosewhohaveneverfeltthestingingdartsofsegregationto saywait. But whenyouhaveseenviciousmobslynchyourmothersand fathersat will and drownyoursistersand brothersat whim;whenyouhaveseenhate-filledpolicemencurse,kick, brutalize,and evenkill yourblackbrothersandsisterswith impunity;

You may well ask,“Whydirectaction?Why sit-ins,marches,etc.?Isn’t negotiationabetterpath?” You areexactlyrightinyourcall fornegotiation.Indeed,thisisthepurposeofdirectaction. Nonviolentdirectactionseekstocreatesucha crisisand establishsuchcreativetensionthata communitythathasconstantlyrefusedto negotiateisforcedto confronttheissue....Justas Socratesfeltthatitwas necessarytocreateatensioninthemindsothatindividualscould risefrom thebondageofmyths andhalf-truthstotheunfetteredrealm ofcreativeanalysisand objective appraisal,

But morebasically,I aminBirminghambecauseinjusticeishere.Justastheprophetsoftheeighth centuryB.C.lefttheirvillages andcarried their“thussaith the Lord”farbeyondtheboundaries oftheirhometowns,andjustastheApostlePaullefthisvillageofTarsusand carriedthegospelof JesusChristtothefarcornersoftheGreco-Romanworld,soamI.compelledtocarrythegospelof freedombeyondmyownhometown.

On April 29, the NBA issued Sterling a lifetime ban from the organization after a league investigation into the recording confirmed that he was the one conversing with Stiviano. The league also issued a $2.5 million fine against Sterling (the highest allowable by the NBA) and barred him from attending games or practices involving any NBA team; being present in any Clippers office or facility; and from participating in any team business, player personnel decisions or league activity.

On April 25, 2014, entertainment news website TMZ released a taped conversation in which team owner Donald Sterling—who had a history of accusations of racist behavior against African Americans and Latinos dating back to the 1990s—reprimanded V. Stiviano (of African American and Mexican heritage, who had reportedly been dating Sterling while he was estranged from wife) for posting an Instagram photo featuring her, former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson, and another woman.

In December 2011, the Clippers signed Caron Butler to a $24 million deal and claimed veteran point guard Chauncey Billups three days later.

Griffin immediately impressed in training camp and preseason. On October 23, he broke his kneecap during the Clippers' final exhibition game against the New Orleans Hornets, following a dunk. Initially, the Clippers' stated that he only had a sore left knee, which would make him questionable for the season opener the following night, before they revealed the break. The injury sidelined Griffin for the entire season.[43]

With the first overall pick, the team selected Blake Griffin. To clear a spot in the lineup for him, they traded Zach Randolph to Memphis for Quentin Richardson. Richardson was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, and Mark Madsen.[42]

They are the oldest franchise to not appear in the NBA Finals.

The Clippers' reputation improved during the 2010s, which saw them transform into consistent postseason contenders. Aided by the "Lob City" lineup of Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Paul, the team made five consecutive playoff appearances from 2011 to 2017 and won two consecutive division titles in 2013 and 2014, both firsts for the franchise.

Over the course of 27 seasons, the Clippers qualified for the postseason only four times and won a single playoff round.

In 1984, the franchise was controversially relocated to Los Angeles by owner Donald Sterling without NBA approval.

The franchise was founded as the Buffalo Braves in 1970 as an expansion team.