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Clippers' Donald, Rochelle Sterling Sit For Separate Interviews, Will Fight To Keep Team

Banned Clippers Owner Donald Sterling yesterday "broke his silence, apologizing for racist comments that prompted" the NBA to fine him and ban him for life. Sterling, in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper set to air tonight, said, "I'm a good member who made a mistake and I'm apologizing and I'm asking for forgiveness. Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years? I mean, I love my league, I love my partners. Am I entitled to one mistake? It's a terrible mistake, and I'll never do it again." He added, "I'm not a racist. I made a terrible mistake." Sterling also said he was "baited" to make the comments on the recording (THE DAILY). In L.A., Finnegan & Zahniser note Sterling also "alluded to the possibility of a protracted battle with the league." Sterling: "If they fight with me, and they spend millions, and I spend millions, let's say I win or they win -- I just don't know if that's important" (L.A. TIMES, 5/12).

SHELLY SPEAKS: Clippers co-Owner Rochelle Sterling sat with ABC News' Barbara Walters yesterday in an exclusive inteview and said of her estranged husband, "In my opinion, I think he -- it's the onset of dementia." She also said she would "absolutely" fight to keep her stake in the team. Rochelle Sterling: "To be honest with you, I'm wondering if a wife of one of the owners, and there's 30 owners, did something like that, said those racial slurs, would they oust the husband? Or would they leave the husband in?" She added that the stalling of her divorce from her husband stems from "financial arrangements." She added, "I don't love him. I pity him and I feel sorry for him" (ABC News). Rochelle Sterling: "I was shocked by what he said. But I don't know why I should be punished for what his actions were" (LATIMES.com, 5/11). NBA Exec VP/Communications Mike Bass responded to Rochelle Sterling's interview in a statement, saying that what happens if the owners "vote for a forced sale is already spelled out in the NBA Constitution." Bass: "Under the NBA Constitution, if a controlling owner's interest is terminated by a 3/4 vote, all other team owners' interests are automatically terminated as well. It doesn't matter whether the owners are related as is the case here. These are the rules to which all NBA owners agreed to as a condition of owning their team" (THE DAILY). Rochelle Sterling's attorney Pierce O'Donnell countered with a statement of his own, saying, "We do not agree with the league’s self-serving interpretation of its constitution, its application to Shelly Sterling or its validity under these unique circumstances. We live in a nation of laws. California law and the United States Constitution trump any such interpretation" (THE DAILY). ESPN's Mike Greenberg: "Shelly Sterling is so full of it, it’s pathetic. The fact that anyone is treating her seriously is ridiculous. … The notion that she’s trying to paint herself as a sympathetic figure in this is bordering on pathetic" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 5/12).

GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION? In L.A., Robert Morales notes Bass' statement represents the "first time" that the NBA is "officially tying" Rochelle Sterling’s claim on the Clippers to that of her estranged husband (INSIDESOCAL.com, 5/11). Also in L.A., Carlos Lozano noted the team is "held in a family trust." He cites sources as believing that Rochelle Sterling has "equal ownership with her husband and each takes control if the other dies" (LATIMES.com, 5/11). In California, Dan Woike writes Rochelle Sterling is "digging in her heels for an eventual legal battle" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 5/12). ESPN's Bill Simmons said of the saga's impact on the Clippers players, "I think this is a real problem and it’s starting to weigh on this team and you’re starting to see it" ("NBA Countdown," ABC, 5/11).

FULL COURT PRESS: ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne cites sources as saying that the NBA "believes it has the legal grounds to oust" both Rochelle and Donald Sterling as owners, despite the fact that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's punishments were "specifically leveled only against Donald." The league's contention will be that Rochelle Sterling -- while entitled to a 50% interest in the franchise -- has "never been approved by the board of governors as the controlling owner." She and Clippers President Andy Roeser, who "went on an indefinite leave of absence this week, were only alternate governors." Rochelle Sterling would "have to be approved" by the BOG "in order to become the team's new controlling owner" (ESPN.com, 5/9). SI.com's Michael McCann cites sources as saying that the NBA is "not worried" about Rochelle Sterling's "long-term involvement with the team." Sources said that the league would "not approve" Rochelle Sterling as a controlling owner. McCann noted the league would have "compelling grounds to deny her attempt" to maintain ownership. Sources said that the league is "'gearing up' for Donald Sterling to file a lawsuit against the league and other owners." Sources added that the NBA "believes it is on strong legal grounds," as Sterling's own signature will "ultimately come back to haunt him" (SI.com, 5/9). The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan said, "I hope Mr. Silver and his lawyers really were certain they could accomplish what they need to before the 2014-15 season. ... [Sterling] has no reputation to save, no good name to clear, so there's nothing in it for him but a fight for fight's sake. Throw in the complications of an estranged wife who says she would still love to have the team, and oh boy. The thing is far from over" ("CBS This Morning: Saturday," CBS, 5/10).

HEATING UP: Heat F LeBron James said of the possibility of Rochelle Sterling retaining ownership of the Clippers, "As players, we want what's right and we don’t feel like no one in his family should be able to own the team" (SI.com, 5/11). Heat F and union rep James Jones said of Rochelle Sterling retaining ownership, "No, that's not something that's acceptable to us. That's our stance, and it hasn't changed, and it won't" (LATIMES.com, 5/10). Basketball HOFer Magic Johnson said, "The guys are not going to play for anybody [named] Sterling, that’s just how it is. It’s hard to separate [Donald and Shelly Sterling]. It’s going to be hard for them to sell that to the fans and definitely to the players." He said of his own interest in purchasing the Clippers, "The [NBA] Board of Governors first has to vote him out, and then Donald Sterling is going to fight it. Look, I’ve got other things to do before I just say my level of interest, but the team has to be up for sale, and I think that’s going to be eight months to a year. Once that time is official that it’s really up for sale, we’ll take a look at it. But right now I’ve got too many other things to be worried about" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/10). Johnson also said of the possibility of the Sterlings refusing to sell, "The players definitely wouldn't like it. They'll probably boycott. And the sponsors have already made themselves clear that they wouldn't be sponsoring this team if either Sterling stayed on as owner" (L.A. TIMES, 5/12).

BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL: Clippers interim CEO Dick Parsons said of Rochelle Sterling, "She is a beneficial owner of the team and has an ownership interest. But she doesn’t have a current role with the team and I don’t believe that will change" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/10). In Boston, Gary Washburn wrote the removal of Roeser from his post was "a necessary move if the NBA planned to move on from the Donald Sterling era." Although Roeser worked "behind the scenes," he was "Sterling’s top confidant." He was "considered too close to Sterling for the NBA to make a clean break" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/11). In L.A., Hsu & Chang noted nearly 20 brands "suspended or terminated their sponsorships of the Clippers after the release" of Donald Sterling's comments. Rochelle Sterling's effort to retain ownership is "a major snag" in the "prospects for their return." Her involvement "puts the NBA -- and advertisers -- in an awkward position." Navigate Research President A.J. Maestas said that the average NBA team "has 130 sponsors" and about $20M "in annual sponsorship revenue." USC Sports Business Institute Exec Dir David Carter said that Parsons could "help soothe sponsors' fears." Carter: "He would be an influencer to the extent that he can deliver a sense of stability and coherent strategy going forward -- the fact that he's a minority is a plus" (L.A. TIMES, 5/11).

LETTER OF THE LAW: In N.Y., Scott Cacciola wrote the NBA constitution and bylaws are "a 78-page document full of mind-numbing legalese, including a four-page glossary and countless references to entities, guarantors and provisions." The constitution "functions as a contract among the teams and their owners" and "lists a number of obligations for the league’s members while defining the roles of the people who hold positions at the league office." The NBA recently did away with "piecemeal disclosures" of its rules by "posting the entire thing for public consumption" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/11). Also in N.Y., John Branch wrote former Clippers Owner Irv Levin, who sold the team to Sterling, "quickly regretted" doing so (N.Y. TIMES, 5/11).

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