Wednesday 4 June 2014

Donald Sterling agrees to sell team





  • Attorney for Donald Sterling says his client's disputes have been resolved

  • But a lawsuit has yet to be withdrawn

  • Shelly Sterling, acting on behalf of the family trust, sold the team last week

  • Steve Ballmer tried to buy a franchise in 2013 but was turned down because he wanted to move team




(CNN) -- Donald Sterling has agreed to the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Sterling's attorneys told CNN on Wednesday.


Last week, Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly, agreed to sell the franchise to Ballmer for an NBA record $2 billion. The Sterlings are co-owners of the team through a family trust.


Donald Sterling initially indicated he would fight the sale and filed a lawsuit against the National Basketball Association.


The suit has yet to be withdrawn, attorneys Bobby Samini and Maxwell Blecher, said, but that likely will happen this week.


"Donald Sterling officially announces today, the NBA and Donald Sterling and Shelly Sterling have agreed to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion and various additional benefits. All disputes and outstanding issues have been resolved," Samini said in a written statement.


Blecher said he thought that Sterling worked out a resolution with the league or with Shelly Sterling.


The NBA was expected to issue a news release commenting on Wednesday's developments.









Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, appears set to buy the L.A. Clippers. Ballmer, seen here at a NBA playoff game on April 29, is not one to hide his emotions. Rather, he is known for his exuberant persona at tech events. Here's a look at some of his many mugs:Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, appears set to buy the L.A. Clippers. Ballmer, seen here at a NBA playoff game on April 29, is not one to hide his emotions. Rather, he is known for his exuberant persona at tech events. Here's a look at some of his many mugs:



Here Ballmer responds during an interview at a 2000 tech conference in Florida. If only we knew what the question was.Here Ballmer responds during an interview at a 2000 tech conference in Florida. If only we knew what the question was.



"Don't ask me again about Windows Vista.""Don't ask me again about Windows Vista."



Oh, this is a caption contest waiting to happen. Here Ballmer speaks at the Web. 2.0 Summit in 2011 in San Francisco. Oh, this is a caption contest waiting to happen. Here Ballmer speaks at the Web. 2.0 Summit in 2011 in San Francisco.



Here Ballmer (pick one: 1. grimaces 2. grins 3. remembers he left the stove on) while talking about Windows 7 during a 2009 appearance in Munich, Germany.Here Ballmer (pick one: 1. grimaces 2. grins 3. remembers he left the stove on) while talking about Windows 7 during a 2009 appearance in Munich, Germany.



"I'll shout louder so you guys in the back can hear me.""I'll shout louder so you guys in the back can hear me."



If this Microsoft thing hadn't worked out, Ballmer might have made a fearsome football coach.If this Microsoft thing hadn't worked out, Ballmer might have made a fearsome football coach.



"Well, Apple has had some success, sure. And Facebook is big. Don't get me started on Google. ... What was the question again?""Well, Apple has had some success, sure. And Facebook is big. Don't get me started on Google. ... What was the question again?"



Please don't make Steve Ballmer angry. Just don't.Please don't make Steve Ballmer angry. Just don't.



Ballmer speaks, or perhaps yells excitedly, during the 2013 opening of a Microsoft store in Troy, Michigan.Ballmer speaks, or perhaps yells excitedly, during the 2013 opening of a Microsoft store in Troy, Michigan.




The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer

The many faces of Steve Ballmer



The many faces of Steve BallmerThe many faces of Steve Ballmer



NBA owners still have to approve the sale to Ballmer, who has indicated he would keep the team in Los Angeles. Ballmer, according to Forbes magazine, is worth $20.3 billion.


Ballmer has tried to buy a NBA team before. Last year, he and investor Chris Hansen were set to purchase the Sacramento Kings, but the NBA nixed the deal because the duo would have moved the franchise to Seattle.


Who is Steve Ballmer?


Donald Sterling bought the team in 1981 for $12 million.


Sterling's recorded racist remarks to his companion, V. Stiviano, spawned outrage among NBA fans, players and executives. Chief among the latter was NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who banned Sterling from the league, fined him $2.5 million and pushed through a charge to terminate all of his ownership rights in the franchise. The recording was posted online by TMZ in late April.


In the recording, Sterling argues with Stiviano about how she posted a photo of herself with NBA legend Magic Johnson to Instagram.


"In your lousy f**ing Instagrams, you don't have to have yourself with -- walking with black people," Sterling says.


"If it's white people, it's OK?" the woman responds. "If it was Larry Bird, would it make a difference?"


Bird was a Hall of Fame player who played with the Boston Celtics and was a storied rival of Johnson, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.


He also tells her not to bring Johnson to Clippers games and not to post photos his friends could view.


"Admire him, bring him here, feed him, f**k him, but don't put (Magic) on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me," he said.


What to know about Steve Ballmer


CNN exclusive: Donald Sterling insists he's no racist, still slams Magic Johnson



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