Clippers credo is hardcore times six, with ‘commitment to be the best’

As you might expect from a document crafted by Steve Ballmer, the words “hardcore” appear in the new Clippers credo.

Six times.

“The Clippers will inspire Clipper Nation with our hardcore commitment to be the best and constantly improve,” reads the first line, intended to be the guiding principle of a statement that was written by the excitable new team owner in tandem with Coach Doc Rivers.

The credo lists values of “100% and more” commitment to winning and doing things the right way, “the highest degree of integrity” and uniting with the community. The values are expected to be achieved through winning, leadership, toughness, fan dedication, teamwork, community involvement and communication.

There is one line that might prompt snickers about a franchise that has won 38.2% of its games, never reaching the conference finals since its first game in 1970.

“We have been remarkably successful but are absolutely dedicated to improving our game,” the credo states.

The Clippers did raise two Pacific Division title banners in their practice facility this summer after the best back-to-back seasons in franchise history.

“Well, we have no history, so you might as well start creating some,” Rivers said Tuesday. “I don’t love them. I hope some day we can remove them all and just put the real [championship] banners up, but right now we have to start from somewhere and I think anything that associates yourself with winning anything in this organization is important.”

Digging in Heels

If there were sham classes athletes at the University of North Carolina were directed to take, it qualified as news to Reggie Bullock.

“I didn’t know there were any of those classes there,” said Bullock, the Clippers’ second-year forward who spent three seasons playing for Tar Heels Coach Roy Williams.

An ongoing investigation at the school contends that, since 1993, more than 3,000 students — about half of whom were athletes — took Afro-American studies courses that assured them of high grades regardless of whether they attended class, turned in papers or took tests.

Bullock said he was a communications major who “definitely represented the school in the right way and I’m pretty sure the other players did too. … I’m pretty confident that it’s not what they’re saying it is. It’s a great university, it’s always been represented in the right way.”

Etc.

Reserve forward Glen Davis remains sidelined with a strained right groin and is not expected to play in the Clippers’ opener Thursday against Oklahoma City.

Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch

Times staff writer James Rainey contributed to this report.