Shelly: Owners Would Like to Defend Sterling

In an hourlong interview Monday in a penthouse suite at the Ritz-Carlton New York, (Shelly) Sterling, 79, and her lawyer, Pierce O’Donnell, vowed to fight the league if it tried to force her out.

(Question:) Have you spoken with any other N.B.A. owners since your husband’s suspension was announced?

(Sterling:) No, I haven’t. But I often wonder: If the wife of one of the owners had done this, and if the roles were reversed, would they take the team away from the man? Is it something sexist? Is it the man’s club? The owners are afraid of their own issues. Because I’m sure if anybody goes into all their records, they have skeletons in their closets. They would probably like to defend Donald, because he’s one of the oldest owners. But I think they’re all afraid because of their players. They’re afraid to get involved because if one sticks up for him, then maybe the players will go against them.

via Scott Cacciola of The New York Times