The record $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers was completed Tuesday, with new owner Steve Ballmer saying he will be “hardcore.”
The NBA announced the completion of the sale following disgraced former owner Donald Sterling’s failed attempt in a California court to block the the authority of his estranged wife Shelly Sterling to sell the team on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust.
Sterling still has legal recourse, and given his history will probably use it. However, he cannot reclaim the Clippers franchise, which he had owned since 1981. He can only sue for damages and in fact already has sued the NBA for a staggering $9 billion. The NBA has countersued.
Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million by NBA commissioner Adam Silver after making racist remarks to his girlfriend that were aired by celebrity gossip website TMZ in April. Silver also initiated the steps toward removing Sterling as owner of the Clippers, allowing for the sale of the franchise.
Balllmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, stepped forward with a purchase offer of $2 billion, nearly four times more than anyone had ever paid for an NBA franchise and obliterating the offers of groups that included such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey, David Geffen and Magic Johnson, one of the targets of Sterling’s vitriol.
Ballmer already had been approved by the NBA Board of Governors. He was waiting for Los Angeles Superior Court to rule in the probate trial, during which Donald Sterling called his wife a “pig.”
“I am humbled and honored to be the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers,” Ballmer said in a statement from the team. “Clipper fans are so amazing. They have remained fiercely loyal to our franchise through some extraordinary times.
“I will be hard core in giving the team, our great coach, staff and players the support they need to do their best work on the court. And we will do whatever necessary to provide our fans and their families with the best game-night experience in the NBA.”
Sterling’s racist comments were aired by TMZ during the first round of the playoffs and nearly prompted a boycott of postseason games by players from all teams. Silver’s swift and stern action prevented what could have been a leaguewide disaster.
Silver also appointed interim CEO Dick Parsons to run the Clippers while the ownership issues were sorted out. While serving as CEO, Parsons admitted that team sponsors, coach Doc Rivers and star players such as Chris Paul would strongly consider severing ties with the Clippers if Sterling remained owner.
Rivers, a voice of calm in the days after Sterling’s comments becsme public, had a different message Tuesday.
“This is an amazing new day in Clippers history,” he said. “I couldn’t be more excited to work together with Steve as we continue to build a first-class, championship organization. I am already inspired by Steve’s passion for the game, his love of competition and desire to win the right way and I know our players and fans are going to be inspired as well.”
Paul and other Clippers players chimed in as well.
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Now its time for the NBA/Silver to finally sit down and make peace with Sterling and for Donald to end all of his litigation.
Sterling took the wrong approach from the very beginning, although the path that was taken may have upped the pricetag that the Sterling’s will now receive. Celebrities (eg Oprah) wanted to buy the Clippers for social status, which forced Ballmer to bid higher.
Sterling should have taken the path of claiming to be a sick old man suffering from Alzheimer’s and battling Prostate cancer, and was jealous that Magic Johnson was getting close to his “girlfriend”. Due to his Alzheimer’s he can’t control what comes out of his mouth and that was evident on the Anderson Cooper interview. That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have Racist thoughts, but unlike everyone else, he can’t keep them to himself.
He would have received some sympathy from the public if he would have agreed to sell the team at that time. Its too late now, but at least the NBA/Silver can pretend and make peace.
This is an awesome day as a Clippers fan