Donald Sterling's Statement to Pursue NBA lawsuit

Donald Sterling issued a statement Tuesday, describing why he's committed to fight with the NBA.

Here is the statement in full:

WHY I AM FIGHTING THE NBA? THE NBA WANTS TO TAKE AWAY OUR PRIVACY RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH

I was brought up in America and educated to believe that every citizen has a right to privacy and right to freedom of speech. As a lawyer and citizen, I am shocked (but not surprised) that the NBA wants to take away those fundamental rights.

I feel that every American has to protect those rights and that the NBA should not be allowed to take away those rights. I have apologized for my mistakes. My apology is sincere. I want every American to know that I will not give up fighting for those rights.

I also feel that the leadership of the NBA is incompetent, inexperienced and angry. It is clear that they took this opportunity to settle the personal grievances they have harbored against me for years.

The NBA has a history of discriminatory practices which is supported by the numerous lawsuits filed by NBA employees claiming gender based discrimination. Adam Silver has worked for the NBA since 1992. He must know about the discriminatory practices of the NBA which are all matters of public record. The reason Adam Silver is focused on the sale, instead the larger social issue, is because doing so would require him to examine the NBA’s own discriminatory practices, including those that occurred under his many years in leadership. If the NBA is sincere about their approach, Adam Silver needs to publicly examine the NBA’s own conduct and the conduct of each and every Owner.

For now, it seems 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.

The NBA Continues to thrive and exact its reign of terror in large part from the money it receives from the Fans. The NBA is a band of hypocrites and bullies. They will not stop until someone stands up. They have taken the liberty to desecrate my privacy rights and my right to own property.

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.

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

Matt Barnes in the past 24 hours

(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images / November 13, 2013) c/o Los Angeles Times

The game-changer for the Clippers' 111-103 victory over the Thunder was this play just before the end of the first half.



Matt Barnes shoves Serge Ibaka, then Ibaka cocks his fist while pushing back. Both get ejected. Barnes would then send this tweet in the locker room (which was later deleted).

Earlier today, he released a statement in a series of tweets, which when assembled and edited, goes like this:

I'd like to take a second to apologize to the #LACorganization, my #Teammates & #CoachingStaff & the #ClipFans for my actions not only on the court, but (also) off (the court). I was completely wrong for pushing Ibaka, & then for what I tweeted following the altercation. I've been doing this for too long to let my emotions get the best of me. My poor choice of words & timing do not reflect who or what I am about. It was very selfish on my part to make this situation about me instead of my teammates that fought their hearts out & earned a big win against a tough OKC team. Now, I could have took the easy way out & said, "My twitter was hacked," but that's not what I'm about. I accept full responsibility for all my inappropriate actions last night & I am truly sorry!

Tweeting during games is not allowed, in the aftermath of the Charlie Villanueva halftime tweeting controversy in 2009.

The League has announced that he has been fined $25,000 the inappropriate language used on the tweet.

Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers end Houston's unbeaten run

c/o AP and Jae C. Hong via ESPN

The Houston Rockets came into their match against the Los Angeles Clippers looking good and on a high. They were one of four unbeaten teams at the start of the day. Their offense was humming.

Then Chris Paul brought them back to down to earth, scoring 23 points, dishing out 17 assists as they beat the Rockets, 137-118.

With no Patrick Beverley to harass him effectively, the superstar guard took advantage of whomever guarded him, particularly against Jeremy Lin. (h/t to Larry Brown Sports)

c/o SB Nation

Here is the matching audio:



Houston can seek revenge soon enough. They play again this weekend, but this time in the Toyota Center. Both teams play two games until then (Clippers go on the road for their Florida swing, while Rockets play against the Blazers before their date with the Lakers in Houston)

Chris Paul outduels Stephen Curry, Clippers beat Warriors

c/o Luis Sinco of the Los Angeles Times

After their surprising loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Opening Night, the Los Angeles Clippers wanted to make things right on their home opener.

Chris Paul scored 42 points, dished off 15 assists and nabbed 6 steals, as the Clippers outpaced the Golden State Warriors, 126-115. He became the first player to pull off a 40 pt - 15 asst -5 stl line in NBA history (steals were first documented as a stat officially in the 1973-74 season) and the third player with a 40 pt - 15 asst line in the last 20 years (LeBron James and Allen Iverson being the other two).

The point guard from Wake Forest dazzled throughout the game, especially in the second half, as he and Blake Griffin connected on three straight plays that debunked any notion that "Lob City is dead."



And elicited this reaction from Mark Jackson.

h/t to the people of SB Nation

Billed as a match-up between two sensational point guards, it did not disappoint. Stephen Curry and his red-hot shooting was on display as well, with the sweet-shooting guard from Davidson torching the Staples Center with 38 points, built on 9/14 from beyond the arc. Armed with different offensive styles, Paul and Curry combined to score 47 points in the second half.

The game also featured some heightened feistiness from both sides, reflecting the intensity that was festering since last season.



Griffin finished with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, as well as this exchange of words:



Their next meeting will be on Christmas Day at the Oracle Arena.