Just hours after the National Basketball Association initiated a charge to terminate his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, Donald Sterling reportedly asked for more time to prepare his response.
The NBA has given Sterling until May 27 to respond to the charges. Sterling will also be allowed to make a presentation at the special Board of Governors meeting scheduled for June 3.
But that’s not enough time, according to the disgraced owner’s lawyer.
Attorney Maxwell Blecher has demanded on behalf of Sterling that the NBA give the longtime owner a three-month extension to prepare his response, Sports Illustrated reported Monday night. The magazine, which like CNN is owned by Time Warner, said the NBA would reject the request.
A receptionist at Blecher’s office told CNN she had been advised to give a “no comment” to all media inquiries involving Donald Sterling.
If Sterling doesn’t respond within five business days or appear at the hearing, it will be deemed an admission of the “total validity” of the charge.
If the owner does appear, he may be represented by a lawyer, but the NBA constitution says: “Strict rules of evidence shall not apply, and all relevant and material evidence submitted prior to and at the hearing may be received and considered.”
In addition to racist recordings that were said to have “damaged” the league, Sterling’s failure to pay the $2.5 million fine imposed on him by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is among the reasons for the charge.
“Among other things, Mr. Sterling disparaged African-Americans and ‘minorities’; directed a female acquaintance not to associate publicly with African-Americans or to bring African-Americans to Clippers games; and criticized African-Americans for not supporting their communities,” the NBA statement said.
You can read the full release here:
We’ll keep you updated with the latest in Sterling’s case.
SOURCE: CNN, NBA | VIDEO SOURCE: News Inc.
