Sports

NOT FOR SALE: Donald Sterling Withdraws Support To Sell Los Angeles Clippers

Kaitlan Collins Contributor
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Disgraced Donald Sterling has changed his mind once again, taking advice from his attorney Max Blecher to pursue a lawsuit and no longer move forward with the sale of the team with wife Shelly Sterling, according to a report from ESPN.com.

This decision comes after Sterling came to an agreement last week to sell the team for $2 billion to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

In a letter publicized Monday, Sterling apologized again for his racist statements, but said since the scandal’s beginning he “did not want to sell the Los Angeles Clippers.” Sterling then notes he never expected his private words to be made public.

Sterling then targets NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. He said Silver acted “in haste” and illegally forced him to sell the team. The suit’s charges include a violation of Sterling’s constitutional rights, a violation of anti-trust laws and a breach of fiduciary duty, which pertains to Sterling’s lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine.

Silver addressed the reversal during a press conference before Game 2 of the NBA Finals, according to ESPN’s Royce Young. Silver said the sale of the Clippers to Ballmer cannot be completed until the lawsuit is resolved. However, the commissioner said he had “absolute confidence” the lawsuit will be resolved because of a binding contract Shelly Sterling signed in May, which indemnifies the league against lawsuits from others, including Donald Sterling.

Silver said that, in essence, Sterling is suing himself.

“And he knows that.”

ESPN reports no action had been taken as of Monday night.