Sterling slams NBA’s charges, vows to fight

Donald Sterling plans to fight the charges levied against him by the NBA, claiming the league’s attempt to terminate his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers is based on information that was obtained illegally, according to his 32-page response to the NBA.

He said that the league’s efforts to force the sale of the franchise are based on a recording of a private conversation, which breaks California law.

Sterling called the NBA’s penalties “draconian” and the proceedings a “sham” and called for a dismissal of the charges.

That suggests he will balk at selling the team. However, CNN reported Tuesday that his estranged wife, Shelly Sterling, the team’s co-owner, is “moving quickly” to sell the franchise. A source told CNN that she and her representatives would like to make a deal this week.

“This looks like the Sterlings are throwing in the towel on any sort of legal fight,” CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said. “They are recognizing that their choice is to sell now or sell later.”

Both Shelly Sterling and Donald Sterling met the Tuesday deadline to respond to the NBA’s proposal to terminate his ownership in the team. On June 3, the NBA’s Board of Governors is scheduled to vote on whether to force the Sterlings to sell.

Donald Sterling said in his response, according to the USA Today report, that he received offers of more than $2.5 billion for the team. However, he also said a forced sale would cause his family to take an “egregious” tax hit.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is attempting to force Sterling to sell the team after an audio recording was leaked in which Sterling made racist remarks about African-Americans in a private conversation with his companion, V. Stiviano. Silver banned Donald Sterling from the league for life and fined him $2.5 million.

“A jealous rant to a lover never intended to be published cannot offend the NBA rules,” Sterling’s attorneys wrote.

Sterling’s attorneys also said the NBA’s morals clauses cited by the league “is not meant to oversee morals and ethics in the home; it is meant to govern morals and ethics in conducting the sport of professional basketball.”

Sterling argues that the league could fine him no more than $1 million and that he is being treated differently from past violators.

Shelly Sterling is claiming she is an innocent bystander, according to USA Today. She is hoping to retain at least some stake in the team after her husband authorized her to sell controlling interest on his behalf.

On Sunday, she visited with former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who made an offer to purchase the team, according to CNN.

The NBA released a statement Tuesday: “This evening, the NBA received responses from Donald and Shelly Sterling to the charge to terminate the current ownership interests in the Los Angeles Clippers. The NBA Board of Governors will meet on June 3 at 1 p.m. in New York City to hear and vote upon this matter. Should the Board vote to sustain the charge, the Sterlings’ interests in the Clippers will be terminated and the team will be sold.”