Donald Sterling is attempting to stand in the way of an agreement between Shelly Sterling and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer over the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers for a reported $2 billion.
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The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday night that Ballmer outbid the other four groups that submitted offers for the franchise.
The NBA imposed a June 2 deadline for banned owner Donald Sterling to sell the team; the NBA owners were to conduct a June 3 vote whether to take over the sale of the Clippers without the consent or input from the Sterlings.
Donald Sterling let Shelly, his estranged wife, negotiate a sale. During the process, however, Donald Sterling changed his mind and vowed to fight the NBA over the sale of the team.
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According to the Times, "Ballmer and Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling concluded a deal late Thursday afternoon. But Bobby Samini, an attorney for co-owner Donald Sterling, said as he left Sterling's home: 'There's been no sale. There can be no sale without Donald's signature.' "
Shelly Sterling copied an approach that former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Rupert Murdoch used when he sold the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.1 billion, which remains the record price tag for a professional franchise in the U.S.
The Guggenheim Group, which bought the Dodgers, was one of the bidders for the Clippers.
Earlier in the day, Forbes reported that Ballmer had offered $1.8 million for the Clippers. The Times was one of multiple outlets to report later that the offer was actually $2 billion.
The sale needs the approval of three-fourths of the owners, or 23 of the 30, for it to be valid. The Times reported that the sale should be cleared as long as Ballmer vows to keep the franchise in Los Angeles.
He joined a group with hedge fund manager Chris Hansen to buy the Sacramento Kings last summer with the intention of moving the franchise to Seattle, which lost the Sonics to Oklahoma City, when that franchise became the Thunder for the 2008-09 season.
The NBA banned Donald Sterling for life after an audio recording was released through the website TMZ in which Sterling insulted African-Americans.
Do you think Donald Sterling will be able to block the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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