On Monday, Donald Sterling's (probable) end as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers was brought about with a defeat so resounding that it was reminiscent of the way his basketball team used to get beat on a nightly basis.
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Several media outlets reported Monday that a judge ruled that Sterling's wife Shelly did not defraud her husband when she completed a deal to sell the Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Judge Michael Levanas said Shelly Sterling was within her rights to seek a mental evaluation for Donald that allowed the $2 billion sale of the team to move forward, nbcnews.com reported. What made the victory for Shelly Sterling so decisive was Levanas' order that the sale be allowed to proceed to its conclusion regardless of whether Donald Sterling tries to appeal.
The Los Angeles Times cited section 1310(b) of California's probate code that allowed for the ruling.
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"I just tried to do the best thing for our family and for everybody else," an elated Shelly Sterling told NBC News outside the courthouse. "It's been very tough...and [Donald] and I do have love for each other and I hope it will all work out between us and everything will be good."
Shelly Sterling even said she thought Donald "will be happy" with the ruling.
But Sterling's lawyer, Max Blechen, hinted that Monday's ruling still might not be the end.
"We're comfortable [that] if we get right to appeal this decision, it will not stand," Blechen told NBC News.
When asked whether he thought Donald Sterling "will be happy" with Monday's ruling, Blechen said, "I'm gonna go there and find out. If he's going to be happy with the outcome, then it will all be over, and you guys will have to find something else to do."
Donald initially gave Shelly permission in writing to sell the team but changed his mind after the NBA banned him and fined him $2.5 million for offensive remarks he said to V. Stiviano in a private conversation that was leaked to TMZ Sports, his lawyers argued.
Blecher told the court Shelly resorted to a "Plan B" by tricking him into taking mental exams that showed he had early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Levanas called Shelly Sterling's testimony "far and away more credible" than her husband's and believed that genuine concern for his well-being motivated her arranging the mental exams in May, the Times reported.
"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," the NBA said in a statement released shortly after the decision.
Do you think Donald Sterling will be able to delay the sale of the Clippers any longer? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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