Why is Donald Sterling SHOUTING ON THE INTERNET?
In his latest open letter to the NBA, Donald Sterling goes beyond feeding the internet trolls. Donald Sterling has become the internet troll, although that is probably the least of his sins. Sterling's letter, which accuses the NBA of being "a band of hypocrites and bullies" and "despicable monsters", would stand out as unhinged in the comments to a TMZ article. Here, in all of its glory, is Sterling's opening salvo:
Why I Am Fighting the NBA?
THE NBA WANTS TO TAKE AWAY OUR PRIVACY RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
In the balance of the letter, Sterling launches the following bombs:
"the leadership of the NBA is incompetent, inexperienced and angry."
The NBA leadership punished Sterling "to settle the personal grievances they have harbored against me for years."
Sterling accuses the NBA of a "history of discriminatory practices."
"Adam Silver is content with focusing his energy on violating my rights, attempting to take my property, and signing autographs for TMZ. Maybe once the dust settles, he will have some time to focus on the NBA's own transgressions."
"I have no doubt that they will continue to find new ways to violate my rights and the rights of any other person in order to draw attention away from their own discriminatory and repulsive conduct."
Sterling closes by claiming that he is standing up to the NBA on behalf of ordinary Americans:
We have to fight for the rights of all Americans. We have to fight these despicable monsters. THIS IS THE REASON I WILL NOT SELL MY TEAM.
Donald T. Sterling
With this letter, Donald Sterling has given up any pretense of attempting to persuade his fellow NBA owners that he should not be stripped of his franchise. Sterling has given vent to his spleen. His letter reads like the ravings of a madman. Whatever reluctance any NBA owner had to confront Sterling will now be history.
Sterling's letter is so unhinged that I expect that it will be used by Shelly Sterling's attorneys when they go into California Probate Court tomorrow. Shelly Sterling will seek an emergency ruling confirming that Donald Sterling was properly stripped of his co-trusteeship of the Sterling Family Trust on account of his "mental incapacity." Donald Sterling was examined by neurologists at Cedar Sinai Hospital at the request of Shelly shortly after Donald's disastrous interview by Anderson Cooper. Under the terms of the Sterling Family Trust, a finding of "mental incapacity" automatically divested Donald Sterling of his position as co-trustee.
There is tremendous irony in the statement of Donald Sterling's attorney that this lawsuit was brought because Sterling "wanted to fight for his dignity." Having litigated high-stakes competency cases, I feel safe in predicting that this hearing will strip Donald Sterling of what little dignity he has left. Every intimate detail of his life will be put into the public record. He will have to endure the public disclosure of every aspect of his neurological testing, along with the revelation of his personal eating, sleeping, and other bodily functions. Anything that demonstrates that Donald Sterling has lost control of his faculties will be fair game.
Donald Sterling will end this fight without his team, without his reputation and without any shred of dignity.