Disgraced former L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s attempt to have his team’s forced sale to former Microsoft exec Steve Ballmer stayed was roundly rejected by an appellate court judge on Friday.
“Presently there is nothing for this court to review,” the Second District Court of Appeals ruled rendering its decision stemming from the $2 billion deal Sterling’s estranged wife Shelly agreed to with Ballmer shortly after the 80-year-old real estate magnate was banned for life by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after a video of him admonishing girlfriend V. Stiviano “not to bring blacks to my games” was made public.
Attorneys for Donald Sterling had argued Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas’ initial ruling allowing Ballmer’s record-setting purchase to stand “was unreasonable, arbitrary, a prejudicial abuse of discretion, and manifestly against the law.” They added Levanas’ decision to allow the sale to move forward allows Sterling’s legal team no time to potentially file an appeal.
League officials plan to meet later next week to approve the sale and officially sever all ties with Sterling, who first purchased the Clippers more than three decades ago.
Already this offseason Coach Doc Rivers has gone on record in asserting he doubted if he could continue coaching the team if Sterling was allowed to retain ownership and All-Star guard Chris Paul hinted he and several other teammates might elect to boycott games if Sterling remained in power.
The incident hardly marks the first time Sterling has been accused of misdeeds fueled by his racist views. Former longtime GM and NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor once sued him for racial discrimination and over the years he has faced a litany of federal charges and civil rights violations over various business dealings.
“Justice has been served,” Baylor recently told reporters of Sterling’s newfound plight. “Look at it that way. They know what Donald is like. The things I said before about Donald are absolutely true. Of course he is a racist.”
