July 29, 2014
In the probate trial held in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Michael Levanas rejected virtually all of Donald Sterling’s arguments against selling the team. The embattled owner was banned for life by the NBA after making racist comments to his girlfriend in a secret taped recording. Sterling originally agreed to the historic sale, but inexplicably changed his mind in the 11th hour. Judge Levanas ruled that Shelly Sterling acted properly when 2 doctors declared her husband mentally incapacitated in May under terms of the Sterling Family Trust before she proceeded to agree to sell the Clippers to Ballmer.
SHELLY STERLING
The ruling also included the extraordinary granting of Shelly Sterling’s request for an order under section 1310(b) of California’s probate code that allows the sale to be completed regardless of an appellate court’s intervention.
“I haven’t slept for like about two months,” a relieved Shelly Sterling said after the ruling was announced. “I’m going to go to sleep now. I’m just glad it’s over.”
Top News Today
One of the main factors influencing the judge’s decision reportedly came from interim Clippers CEO Richard Parsons, who said earlier in the trial that the franchise would enter a “death spiral” if Donald Sterling retained ownership. Parsons testified that coach Doc Rivers told him he would quit if Sterling remained owner of the team.
DOC RIVERS
”Doc is troubled by this maybe moreso than anybody else,” Parsons said on the witness stand about Rivers, who is African-American. ”If Mr. Sterling continues as owner, he does not want to continue as coach.”
“If Doc were to leave, that would be a disaster,” Parsons continued. ”Doc is the father figure, the one who leads. He’s the coach. He’s the grownup. He is able to connect with people and earn their trust. The team believes in him and loves him. If he were to leave, that is only going to accelerate the death spiral. If your coach leaves, if your players don’t want to play with you, what do you have?”
Parsons also said he feared there would be an exodus of key players (most of whom are African-American), including team captain Chris Paul, who was deeply affected by Sterling’s racist rant. However, with the judge’s ruling and the imminent sale of the team expected within days, all is well again in “Clipper-land.”
Top News Today
The NBA praised the ruling in a statement released shortly after the decision.
“We are pleased that the court has affirmed Shelly Sterling’s right to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer. We look forward to the transaction closing as soon as possible.”
They've been going back and forth on this for a while. I'll believe it when Steve Ballmer is introduced on the news as the new owner.