Donald Sterling just won’t quit.
Sterling and his lawyers hired four private investigators Friday to dig up dirt on current NBA commissioner Adam Silver, former NBA commissioner David Stern and the league’s owners, The Associated Press reported, citing a source.
Sterling is giving each firm $50,000 and 30 days to look into alleged discriminatory conduct, including whether or not any owners “made any off-color jokes, or racist or sexist remarks,” according to the source.
“The gloves are off, as they say,” the source said. “Have them dig up all the dirt they can find.”
Sterling’s estranged wife, Shelly, recently reached an agreement to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion.
After initial signs of willingness to make the deal, Sterling has since changed his mind, claiming he won’t sell the team or pay the $2.5 million fine the NBA has slapped on him.
Sterling released a statement Tuesday, calling the NBA “incompetent, inexperienced and angry” and “a band of hypocrites and bullies.”
The four separate firms will be engaged in competition to see who finds the most useful information, while the possibility of all four staying with Sterling after the 30-day period remains.
