Donald Sterling reneges on $2 Billion LA Clippers sale to Steve Ballmer

Just when we thought the US $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer was a done deal, we are now hearing that Donald Sterling, who we thought gave his wife the power to sell the team, has decided to block the deal. What's more, Sterling is going after the NBA with a $1 billion lawsuit. How do you like that? Sterling's reason, "I love the team and have dedicated 33 years of my life to the organization. I intend to fight to keep the team." It's awkward and disappointing for Steve Ballmer who thought he had sealed the deal and had an NBA team to own. Is Sterling really going to war against the association or is he angling for a bigger paycheck?

Steve Ballmer to buy LA Clippers for $2 billion

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is reportedly buying the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise for a staggering $2 billion. This is record money for an NBA franchise, the Clippers have been in the news lately, not because of their playoff heroics but because their (former) owner Donald Sterling hit headlines for making racist comments in a surreptitiously recorded conversation.

The NBA banned Sterling from attending any NBA game and pushed for the sale of the LA Clippers. Steve Ballmer took over from Bill Gates as CEO of Microsoft and led the company through a difficult transition period. He left Microsoft early this year and was replaced by Satya Nadella, who has already put his imprint on a number of major moves within Microsoft.

"I will be honored to have my name submitted to the NBA Board of Governors for approval as the next owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.  I love basketball," Ballmer said in a statement. "And I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that the Clippers continue to win – and win big – in Los Angeles."

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