LOS ANGELES: The estranged wife of Los Angeles Clippers co-owner Donald Sterling can proceed with the record $2bn sale of the NBA team despite her husband’s objections, a judge ruled yesterday, in a likely coda to a case of lingering racism in American sports.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas said the deal struck by Shelly Sterling with former Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer was permissible and could be consummated even if Sterling, who has been banned for life from the National Basketball Association for racist remarks, chose to appeal.
“She had every good reason to believe that Donald agreed to the sale of the team,” said Levanas, who added that he found Donald Sterling’s combative testimony at the emotionally charged nine-day trial “often evasive and inconsistent.”
The ruling was a major victory for an embarrassed NBA and Shelly Sterling, who had asked the probate judge to confirm her as the trustee of the family trust that owns the Clippers. She acted in May to have her 80-year-old real estate billionaire husband removed when neurologists deemed him to have early Alzheimer’s disease and unable to handle business affairs.
Shelly Sterling, 79, cried after the ruling and told reporters outside the courtroom:
“Either way we’d win. I am just doing what I had to do.”
Donald Sterling’s attorneys said they would file an appeal of the decision.
In an unprecedented move, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling and fined him $2.5m three months ago after his taped private comments imploring a girlfriend not to associate with black people, including NBA Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson, were published.
Meanwhile, the NBA, looking to close a chapter that brought shame to the popular basketball league and outraged fans, said it was “pleased” with the court’s decision.
“We look forward to the transaction closing as soon as possible,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement while reacting to the ruling.
REUTERS
