Donald Sterling may the most hated man in the entire U.S. according to ESPN, but he is not letting anyone tell him what to do with his life more so with his team, the Los Angeles Clippers.
The most controversial man, Donald Sterling, who is still on the hot seat for his racist comments in recorded conversation with his alleged girlfriend, is now heading to a royal rumble against all of the National Basketball Association.
The embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner has now opened up and responded to NBA's move to oust him over the racist remarks he had made during a heated conversation with alleged girlfriend, V. Stiviano.
In his official statement released Tuesday, Sterling argued that NBA's attempt to oust him for good from the association has no legal basis at all given that the claimed evidence was illegally recorded "during an inflamed lovers' quarrel in which he was clearly distraught."
Donald Sterling's lawyer, Max Blecher, has very well explained the intentions of his client in his statement adding that Sterling will fight for his ownership over the LA Clippers.
The 30 owners of the NBA are to vote on whether or not they will be stripping Sterling and his estranged wife, Shelly, of ownership over the team.
It can be noted that Shelly Sterling, who owns 50% of the team, has already decided to look for potential buyers of the team, but it's not yet clear if she could find one before any hearing takes place, The Guardian reported. Of course, Donald was cooperative to Shelly's proposition, but it seemed that he was not really willing to give up the team in his response.
"We do not believe a court in the United States of America will enforce the draconian penalties imposed on Mr Sterling in these circumstances, and indeed, we believe that preservation of Mr Sterling's constitutional rights requires that these sham proceedings be terminated in Mr Sterling's favor," the response said.
Sterling's response further claimed that given the elements on how the recording took place, it is clear that V. Stiviano did the recording without Donald's knowledge. That said, the recording is deemed illegal under California law.
Meanwhile, the NBA insisted that Donald Sterling's controversial racist comments were nothing short of harmful to the league and its business partners, including the LA Clippers players. But Donald maintained in his response that since his racist statements came in the privacy of his girlfriend's living room he cannot be considered "taking a position" in damaging the NBA's reputation, as defined by the league's constitution.
"A jealous rant to a lover never intended to be published cannot offend the NBA rules," Sterling said in a statement, according to USA Today.
Additionally, Sterling's lawyer has singled out that the NBA's way of handling the situation is also a legal ground for Sterling to fight back.
"The league on Tuesday has a guillotine over his head," Blecher told CNN's "The Situation Room." "They will confiscate his team illegally and if they don't want a lawsuit challenging that conduct, they need to let us know before Tuesday."
Moreover, Blecher explained that the NBA does not have any right to put the LA Clippers on sale without its primary owner's consent.
"Mr. Sterling is not going to consent unless the NBA does something about the illegal charges they have filed against him and so far we've heard nothing to indicate that will occur," Blecher said.
Donald Sterling has been the controlling owner of the LA Clippers since buying the team in 1981 for $12 million, according to Click2Houston.
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