Despite a deal on the table to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in the books, Donald Sterling still plans to sue the NBA. The racist who got himself banned from the NBA released a statement saying he must “fight for his rights” and never intended to sell the team.
On Monday (June 9), Sterling’s attorney said he is pursuing a $1 billion federal lawsuit.
Reports the NBA:
“We have been instructed to prosecute the lawsuit,” said attorney Maxwell Blecher. He said co-owner Donald Sterling would not be signing off on the deal to sell.
Donald Sterling issued a one-page statement dated Monday titled “The Team is not for Sale” and said that “from the onset, I did not want to sell the Los Angeles Clippers.”
The $2 billion sale was negotiated by his wife Shelly Sterling after Donald Sterling’s racist remarks to a girlfriend were publicized and the NBA moved to oust him as owner.
The lawsuit alleges the league violated his constitutional rights by relying on information from an “illegal” recording that publicized racist remarks he made to a girlfriend. It also said the league committed a breach of contract by fining Sterling $2.5 million and that it violated antitrust laws by trying to force a sale.
“I have decided that I must fight to protect my rights,” Donald Sterling said. “While my position may not be popular, I believe that my rights to privacy and the preservation of my rights to due process should not be trampled. I love the team and have dedicated 33 years of my life to the organization. I intend to fight to keep the team.”
We’re will to bet that if Sterling manages to keep the team, none of the players will suit up for him.
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Photo: WENN.com
