NBA Suit of the Night: Spencer Hawes and the Short Christmas Tree Suit

((ht: nba.com))

Oh my....

NBA players have been known on occasion to dress...um, well, a little differently at times. And keeping in the spirit of Thursday's holiday a few of them took advantage of it.

With several games being played Christmas day, there were few highlights and lots of chatter about LeBron in Miami. Which we don't care about.

What we do care about...

This.

Check out Spencer Hawes of the Los Angeles Clippers making his pre game entrance ahead of Thursday nights game vs. The Golden State Warriors. Yes, he's wearing a Christmas Tree suit.

The 7 foot plus Hawes is on the injured list, he didn't play. But he sat on the bench. In the suit, which appears a bit too short. And yeah, he got a bit of attention.

Morning Wrap: Chris Paul Has Rough Finish in Clippers Loss

((ht: cbssports.com))

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul picked a bad night to have a bad night.

Paul did have 12 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists during the game, nearly getting the coveted "Triple Double"...but it's what happened at the end of Monday nights game vs. San Antonio that killed the mood.

The Spurs were up by 2, but the Clippers had the ball. Paul made his move from the top of the key, driving to the basket and missed the layup with 2 defenders in his face.

Somehow, Clippers forward Blake Griffin ended up with the ball after diving for it on the ground. Paul called timeout with 1.4 seconds left in the game.

Problem was, he had no timeouts and calling one when you have none means a technical foul.

But...San Antonio's Tony Parker missed the technical.

Still, the Spurs got to inbound the ball to Kawhi Leonard who drained two free throws, giving San Antonio the 89-85 win.

Your highlights from NBA.com:

UPDATE: Steve Ballmer Owns The L.A Clippers

It's done....

Ok, at least the sale, in the minds of the NBA, Shelley Sterling and Steve Ballmer is done. The league announced that Shelley Sterling and the Sterling trust has closed the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft magnate Steve Ballmer.

Ballmer already had the O.K of the league to purchase the team, but the sale was contingent on a written order by a California court confirming Shelley had the power to complete the sale.

That happened right about noon eastern time.

Oh, did we mention that Ballmer is paying $2 billion for the team?

Yes, $2 billion.....

We should also note that now former owner and crazy guy Donald Sterling is expected to appeal the judges ruling and the sale, but nobody expects that to derail the proceedings at this point.

Meanwhile, the NBA, according to the Los Angeles Times has filed a countersuit vs. Mr. Sterling claiming he owes them for "devastating and incalculable" harm to the league". We aren't sure what that means, but Donald Sterling already has filed suit against them, so we're guessing this is the part where lawyers make a lot of money.

For the Clippers, it means a chance to move forward and an opportunity to put the mess in the rear view mirror. Coach Doc Rivers and several players had mumbled privately they were considering not playing or boycotting should the sale not go through.

Instead, they are celebrating their good fortune. They get a rich owner, they get...at least eventually some stability. And they get a chance to get ready for yet another NBA season right on the horizon....

KCBS gives us the early TV story:

What's Next For Donald Sterling...???

((HT: SI Now))

SI's Maggie Gray asks Michael McCann and SI NBA producer Matt Dollinger what the next steps are in his (now) two out-standing (not "outstanding") lawsuits against Shelly Sterling and the NBA

The HQ has long thought that if Donald Sterling wants to take everyone down, he'll do without conscience and without care. He'll dig up the Rich deVos tape from Michigan and anything else that qualifies as Mark Cuban's "slippery slope."

We're not done by any stretch...

DEVELOPING: Judge Says Shelly Sterling Acted "Appropriately"

((HT: MyFoxLA))

Judge Michael Levanas has come down with the opinion/ruling that Shelly Sterling acted appropriately in the decision to challenge her estranged husband's mental state in the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Closing arguments the first of three pending Donald Sterling lawsuits were earlier in the day and Levanas ruled Shelly Sterling, tentatively, has the authority to act for the Sterling Family Trust.

Here's the preview before the decision from the judge
Los Angeles News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

The next deadline for the proposed sale to Steve Ballmer is August 15th- the date of the next NBA owner's meetings. But the sale is still tentative pending all other litigation (which sends us back to the other two Donald Sterling lawsuits).

"We are pleased that the court has affirmed Shelly Sterling’s right to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer," said NBA spokesman Mike Bass in a statement. "We look forward to the transaction closing as soon as possible."

Donald Sterling's lead attorney, Bobby Samini, says he was told by his client that he was to keep proceeding in other legal activites and "keep fighting on other fronts."

Chris Paul Thinks Clips Boycott Is Still An Idea (Reax)

((HT: ESPN.com/Goodman))

It's still on the table if the Los Angeles Clippers have Donald Sterling as owner when the new season rolls around...

When asked in Las Vegas during an AAU competition if Chris Paul and his teammates would still think about not playing, the answer seemed pretty solid to Goodman:

"That's something me and Doc are both talking about," Paul said Thursday after coaching his AAU program, CP3. "Something has to happen, and something needs to happen soon -- sooner rather than later."

"We're all going to talk about it," Paul said. "We're all definitely going to talk about it. Doc, Blake [Griffin], DJ [DeAndre Jordan]. It's unacceptable."

Frankly, the HQ thinks they should but the notion probably won't fly long term.

Reaction was understandable:

Dana, Tiki, and Brandon
((HT: CBS Sports Radio/CBSSN))


First Take Skip
((HT: ESPN))


First Take SAS
((HT: ESPN))


Closing arguments in the first Sterling v. Sterling lawsuit start Monday.

Testimony In One Sterling Trial Wraps Up

((HT: KCBS-TV))

One down, and what is it...??? Two cases in play...???

The first-filed (that's probably the best way to phrase it...) case by Donald Sterling against Shelly Sterling determining who is in charge of the Los Angeles Clippers is finished with its testimony.

Closing arguments begin Monday...

Naturally, both sides, both lawyers, and both Sterlings are thinking that they're doing well in the case.
Here's the word from outside the courtroom...


The closing arguments will detail whether Shelly pulled an end-run in getting control over her estranged husband or if judge Michael Levanas will side with the physicians who have declared him mentally incompetent in running the Sterling Family Trust and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The other two cases Donald Sterling has against his estranged wife and the NBA are still in play at present and have no end of discussions- whether frivolous or optimistic.

Donald Sterling Sues Wife And NBA Again

((HT: ESPN))

Donald Sterling is a very busy man in the middle of his probate case going on in Los Angeles.

He filed another concurrent suit in Superior Court seeking damages from the NBA, commissioner Adam Silver, his wife Shelly Sterling, and the Clippers alleging they all violated corporate law in trying to sell the team.

Sterling argues he is the sole owner and shareholder of the parent organization: LAC Basketball Club- that manages and runs the team. His interest in LACBC was in the Family Trust, but he maintains that when he revoked the trust (the crux of the current arguments in probate court), everything went back to his own personal interest and management.

And, therefore, he's the guy in charge of everything- not his wife or anyone else.

Max Bretos checks in with Ramona Shelburne about the latest adventures


And then interim CEO Richard Parsons, as part of his testimony, revealed and reinforced that if Donald Sterling was to remain owner that coach and GM Doc Rivers was checking out.

Bretos and Shelburne again


Clippers fans who have followed the franchises ups and downs for a long time feel this is par for the course and should not be surprised that the final salvo Donald Sterling is interested in firing at any of his detractors is going to just have the franchise in a slow burn of failure- mandated by behavior in the courts of Los Angeles.

If Donald Sterling is going down, he is going to take it all with him...

To hell with all of you...

So Donald Sterling May Need A Sale To Cover A Huge Debt

((HT: MyFoxLA))

Darren Schield, the Chief Financial Officer of the Sterling Trust, took the stand in the court proceedings today in Los Angeles and admitted in open court that the Trust needs to sell the Clippers to cover half a billion dollars in outstanding loans for other Sterling properties.

Once Donald Sterling dissolved the Trust, the banks that are holding the notes could jump in and declare the Sterlings in default of the notes.

If the Clippers aren't sold, Schield admitted that Donald Sterling would have to dump that same amount of value in apartment buildings or other Sterling properties- a move that could flush the real estate market into the toilet.

Here's the coverage from the trial today that isn't all that optimistic


Ramona Shelburne said after the trial appearances today, Donald Sterling met with possible-new owner Steve Ballmer and his estranged wife, Shelly.

Sterling Trial Pushes Back Sale Deadlines

((HT: KABC-TV/LA Times, Panzer-Cook))

The end result of Shelly Sterling returning to the stand in the Donald Sterling competency hearing means that the sale completion of the Los Angeles Clippers is pushed back and won't meet the NBA deadlines.

What that means, really, is anyone's guess...

Does it affect the overall sale...? How patient will the league be over time if this drags on...? Will players be as patient as the league may or may not be if this drags out all the way to next season...?

Shelly Sterling described her husband's emotions in and around the time of the sale of the team to Steve Ballmer. Pierce O'Donnell, Shelly's lawyer, trumpeted his client's cause after the hearing.

Naturally...

Here's the latest from outside the courtroom


Judge Michael Levanas said the trial is taking next week off to let Donald Sterling's lawyer, Max Blecher, go on a planned vacation. Closing arguments are scheduled for July 28.

Donald Sterling Ordered To Testify

((HT: MyFoxLA))

After not showing up for the first day of his competency hearing after the request to move Donald Sterling's trail to a federal court, testimony is underway in an LA district court.

Donald Sterling himself was ordered to testify Tuesday and answer the charges put forth that he is mentally incompetent to run the Sterling Trust and, therefore, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Sandra Endo is outside the courtroom setting up a busy day
Los Angeles News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

The lawyers, Samini and O'Donnell, are especially looking forward to the jousting in open court as is the HQ to see just how much jousting there will, in fact, be and how Donald Sterling perceives himself in the proceeding.

Sterling Trial Delayed: Donald Wants A Federal Court Date

((HT: KABC-TV))

It's called "procedural limbo..."

Donald Sterling's attorneys are looking to move the competency trial to a federal location instead of the Los Angeles District Court. Sterling wants the federal court to determine if his privacy was violated when his medical records were given to his wife, Shelly.

The judgment will determine whether or not Shelly Sterling has (or even had) the authority to negotiate a sale of the Clippers on behalf of the family trust or if the privacy violation wipes all of those activities out.

Donald Sterling maintains he was "tricked" into the examination and that the information has no bearing on his capacity to manage, own, or even execute day-to-day operations of the franchise.

Here's the early thoughts from Los Angeles...


The deadline for the sale is supposed to be by July 15th.

Donald Sterling Does Not Like Doctors Or Lawyers, Shelly Sterling Denied TRO

((HT: MyFoxLA/TMZ.com))

And decided to leave a message to express his displeasure over the guy's appraisal of Sterling's mental state
It was a piece of work...
Los Angeles News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

In an LA Times piece by James Rainey and Nathan Fenno, Donald Sterling apparently also threatened Shelly Sterling's attorney, Pierce O'Donnell. Shelly Sterling claims it got SO bad that she wanted a restraining order from her husband and his representatives.

The judge assigned to the case, Michael Levanas, just asked the two sides to "tone down their communication" between now and the court date. The HQ will hold it's breath on that one...

And O'Donnell was getting the same treatment from Donald Sterling that the doctors were- AT THE SAME TIME:
Donald Sterling seems to be a man of singular focus...

On that same day, records filed Thursday showed, Sterling called his wife's attorney, Pierce O'Donnell. In remarks laced with obscenities, Sterling pledged to divorce his wife and "sue everyone," O'Donnell said in an affidavit.

"He said he did not care about the money it cost or what the claim would be, but that he was going to spend whatever money he has to litigate just to make my life miserable," O'Donnell said. "Mr. Sterling then shouted even louder, and said in a menacing tone, 'I am going to take you out, O'Donnell!'"

Sterling's attorney, Max Blecher, is just shrugging off his client as having a short fuse...

Donald Sterling Hires 4 PI's To Chase After Other NBA Owners

Yeah, this is getting pretty ugly...

Not that the HQ is surprised...

Embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has apparently hired four private investigator firms for the next 30 days to dig up dirt on his currently-fellow owners. They have six-figure budgets to dig up as much stuff as they can find on the owners, David Stern, and current commissioner Adam Silver.

It's all part of the billion-dollar case Sterling has against the NBA since they didn't pull back on their $2.5-million fine and lifetime ban around NBA events.
Los Angeles Local News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

The next 30 days are a test for the four firms to see if any of them get to hang around after their first round of dirt-digging to keep digging dirt once Sterling gets to see what they got.

Sterling Versus Sterling Set For July

((HT: NBC Los Angeles))

It will be a four-day event in July- the probate court review of Donald Sterling disavowing his wife, Shelly's, idea of making the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer. The court denied Shelly Sterling's call for relief.

Bobby Samini, the representative attorney for Donald Sterling at the hearing, says that his side will bring their own experts testifying on his client's mental state. Samini, naturally, says his client is fine for his age.

But ESPNLA's Ramona Shelburne got to pour over court documents that included the appraisals of Donald Sterling's mental state.

A sample from the three physicians:

One doctor, James E. Spar, who is affiliated with the division of geriatric psychiatry at UCLA, said he believes "Mr. Sterling is at risk of making potentially serious errors of judgment, impulse control and recall in the management of his finances and his trust.''

"In my opinion he is substantially unable to manage his finances and resist fraud and undue influence, and is no longer competent to act as trustee of his trust,'' Spar concluded.

Here's the view from Shelly Sterling's lead attorney, Pierce O'Donnell, outside the courtroom

Now, It's Shelly Sterling Heading To Court

((HT: ESPN/KABC-TV))

Shelly, it's your turn...

She will go to probate court to seek an emergency order for a hearing so a judge can confirm that, as representing the Sterling Family Trust, she is the one who can sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer and that her estranged husband's behavior is still erratic and unrepresentative of the family on the whole.

Shelly Sterling will contend she is the sole trustee of The Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers. Donald Sterling was stripped as co-trustee after, in accordance to Family Trust by-laws, two neurologists determined Donald Sterling was suffering from Alzheimer's and/or dementia and could, therefore, be considered to be “mentally incapacitated.”

Shelly Sterling’s lawyers will ask to confirm the trust by-laws as they are written so the sale can go forward. Donald Sterling can present his side and can appeal any decision in the chain.

“We expect to oppose Shelly’s efforts to take over the trust and sell the team without (Donald Sterling’s) consent,” Maxwell Blecher said in an email to CBS News.

Of course, you do...

Here's the early ideas from when Donald Sterling decided to take his next step...

Chris Hansen Wants To Buy More Land In Downtown Seattle

((HT: KING5-TV))

Seattle Arena project and wannabe sports franchise owner Chris Hansen has moved on from his relationship with Steve Ballmer. Or are they still working in concert for their bigger plans...???

Hansen has introduced and signed an option for another five acres in south downtown adjacent to other land he has already purchased as part of his Seattle Arena plan.

Prospective Seattle NHL owner Victor Coleman has bought some land on the north side of the Stadium District and Hansen is managing his flanks.

Here's Chris Daniels
Deadspin is reporting that there is no real reason keeping Steve Ballmer, if his Clippers purchase is okayed, to move the franchise north.

Which lends itself in the thoughts that Ballmer may have a home if things completely fall apart.

Donald Sterling Lawsuit Is "Full Speed Ahead" (UPDATED With Sterling Statement)

((HT: Sportsnet/OCRegister-Woike))

Shocking no one...

Maxwell Blecher is telling anyone willing to listen that Donald Sterling is pulling his support for the sale to Steve Ballmer. Sterling wanted assurances that his lifetime ban would be wiped off the books and his $2.5-million fine would be gone as well- and they're not, so he's back to suing the NBA.

From Woike's article, and it seems Sterling's motivation is the new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver:

But that’s not the main reason Sterling reversed course, according to Blecher, who said NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s adamancy in a Sunday press news conference was the primary culprit for Sterling’s change of heart.

Blecher called Silver's handling of the situation, “just plain nasty.”

Silver was concerned about Sterling and said as much to Rachel Nichols in her "Unguarded with Rachel Nichols" program on CNN


Sterling has sent a statement to NBC News that reads in part:

The action taken by Adam Silver and the NBA constitutes a violation of my rights and fly in the face of the freedoms that are afforded to all Americans.

I have decided that I must fight to protect my rights. While my position may not be popular, I believe that my rights to privacy and the preservation of my rights to due process should not be trampled.

I love the team and have dedicated 33 years of my life to the organization. I intend to fight to keep the Team.

Of course, he does...

In addition, Sterling has given his attorneys the go-ahead to chase a billion-dollar federal lawsuit against the league.

Sterling Agrees To Sell, All Lawsuits Dropped...

((HT: KABC-TV))

And, for this moment in time, the Los Angeles Clippers and the NBA are in one accord...

And we're also waiting for some next move to come from some angle somewhere... which may be why he hadn't signed any documents with any great speed...

Donald Sterling has thrown it in for the moment and the NBA is looking to give the team to Steve Ballmer for two-billion dollars


ESPNLA's Ramona Shelburne, who has been on top of the story from the beginning discusses...
((HT: ESPN))

Donald Sterling Went To Church Sunday

((HT: KABC-TV))

And it was an interesting situation- it was in south Los Angeles...

And he got applauded by the pastor of the church...


Whaddya think about that move as a part of the Sterling pee-ahr machine...???