Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Won’t Go Down Without a Fight

Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team, is reportedly shopping around for a lawyer to fight back against the NBA’s decision to ban him for life. Sterling was banned by the new NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, after a 9.5 minute audio tape was released of the franchise owner admonishing his girlfriend for “associating” with African-Americans. Sterling is heard chiding V. Stiviano for bringing African-Americans to Clippers games and is heard saying things like: “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” 

As a result, Sterling was banned from the league for life and slapped with the maximum fine of $2.5 million.

However, it seems that Sterling is not going to go down without a fight.  Apparently, he has contacted a number of law firms to see about suing the NBA for their decision.

Some believe that Sterling could have a case: He is being stripped of his most prized possession over a conversation that took place in private, and which was obtained in means that may have not been legal to start with.  Nobody expects this man, with a litigious history, to give up so casually.

In the meantime, the Clippers announced on Tuesday that the team’s president, Andy Roeser has taken  “an indefinite leave of absence, effective immediately,” after it was revealed that a new CEO will be appointed to oversee the franchise.

“This will provide an opportunity for a new CEO to begin on a clean slate and for the team to stabilize under difficult circumstances,” said NBA executive vice president of communications Mike Bass yesterday.

A number of offers have already been made to purchase the Clippers, although Sterling has insisted that the team is not up for sale.