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It has been announced that the Los Angeles Clippers have been sold to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. Don Sterling purchased the San Diego Clippers in 1981 for $12 million before moving them to Los Angeles in 1984 (without the permission of the league, by the way). The team had a number of suitors, including Oprah Winfrey, David Geffen, Larry Ellison, Magic Johnson (known to many for his show The Magic Hour), Grant Hill, Sean Combs, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Matt Damon (but no Ben). While a deal has been announced, the sale of the team is not finalized. The key issue that will need to be addressed before the team can be sold is the likelihood of Don Sterling objecting to the sale of the team by way of a court action. Contrary to what you may have heard, the Clippers are not owned by Sterling personally. The team is actually owned by the Sterling family trust, which would include his wife Shelley. Assuming that Don Sterling has control over the trust, he would be the one with the sole authority to sign off on the sale. However, ESPNs Ramona Shelburne has reported that Don Sterling has been declared by "medical experts" as "mentally incapacitated." As a result, his wife Shelly has obtained sole power over the trust. A court, though, will generally hold a competency hearing and make that ruling. Given the speed at which this sale has been handled, it would be a surprise to learn that such a hearing was held. Rather, it seems he may have undergone a psychological assessment. As a result, should Sterling not agree to sell the team, he could turn around and sue the league. If he is indeed not mentally incapacitated, he would argue that his wife Shelley did not have the authority to unilaterally sign off on the sale of the team. Sterling could also argue proportionality: the punishment doesnt fit the crime. While his comments were disturbing, he would argue that they were made in private, illegally recorded and nothing unlawful was said. As a result, compelling the disposition of the team is too severe a penalty. As far as the NBA, it has reasonable arguments to make to strip the Sterling family trust of its ownership stake in the Clippers. Bottom line is that the NBA Constitution provides that an owner cannot do anything that "adversely" affects the league. With sponsors, players and fans all reacting negatively to Sterlings comments, the NBA is arguing that his comments adversely impacted the leagues economics and reputation. Remember the focus is not on what Sterling said, but on the impact his comments had on the league. A fine distinction but a distinction nonetheless (and one that allows me to pay my mortgage). Ive also been asked whether Sterling could argue that he shouldnt be forced to sell the team because he was mentally incapacitated at the time he made the comments. This defence was not raised in his written submissions related to his June 3 hearing where the league will look to strip him of his ownership stake. However, that does not preclude the introduction of this defence at a later date. That being said, such a defence would be difficult to make out. The NBA Constitution doesnt care if you intended to do something, but only that is was done. The NBA Constitution provides that an owner cannot do anything that will "affect" the league "adversely". The introduction of the term "affect" and the absence of language requiring intent or a certain mental state of mind make a mental incapacity defence challenging. So even if Sterling did not have the intention of making those comments on account of cognitive impairment, the leagues rules focus on the impact or result of those comments. On the other hand, if Sterling does not oppose the sale of the team, the NBA will want him to sign a release waiving all claims against the league arising from this case. Basically, the league will want his guarantee he wont sue. Since a lawsuit could be worth billions, this release is pretty important. There has been some talk that Shelley may want to stay on as a part-owner. The NBA wants the Sterling name permanently disassociated from the team so that wont fly. The league will therefore want an assurance from Shelley that she is out. The hearing to strip the Sterling family of its ownership of the team (or as the league calls it, its NBA "membership") is scheduled for Tuesday June 3. At the hearing, the league will need 22 of 29 owners to vote to remove Sterling. Assuming the league has the votes (a pretty safe assumption), Sterling would be removed as owner immediately following the vote and Commissioner Adam Silver would take over control of the team. Its that quick. In light of the potential sale of the team to Ballmer, the league is likely to postpone the June 3 hearing if it has assurances from Sterling that he will not oppose the imminent sale the team. If, however, the indication is that Sterling is prepared to fight, then expect the hearing to proceed on June 3. Vans Old Skool España . Paul, MN (SportsNetwork. Vans Old Skool Tienda Online .com) - NFL owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Buffalo Bills. http://www.vansoldskoolbaratas.es/ .C. -- Only two Syracuse teams have won their first 20 games, and C. Venta De Zapatillas Vans Old Skool . Sijsling, ranked 74th in the world, was leading 6-0, 4-1 when his Italian opponent called it quits after just 39 minutes on court. In a match pitting together two qualifiers, Michal Przysiezny of Poland defeated local favourite Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) for only his second Tour win of the season. Vans Old Skool Baratas España . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value.NEW YORK -- James Blake rested his white baseball hat on the table at the front of the U.S. Opens main interview room, smiled, and began speaking Monday about his impending retirement from tennis. The former top-five player was relaxed, composed and matter-of-fact. "No real surprise here. This is my last tournament," the 33-year-old American said on Day 1 of the years last Grand Slam. "I have had 14 pretty darn good years on tour, loved every minute of it, and I definitely couldnt have asked for a better career." As Blake continued with his opening statement, discussing why he decided to leave the tour after the U.S. Open, he explained: "There are so many athletes that say they can never replace that feeling of having that adrenaline rush, but I get more of an adrenaline rush now seeing my daughter wake up in the morning. Thats something that Im truly looking forward to -- being able to spend more time with my wife and daughter." And with that, his voice got caught on the words and his eyes reddened. Blake reached with his left hand to wipe away tears, until someone in the audience tossed him a white towel to dab at his eyes. "Despite the tears, Im actually really happy about this," Blake said. "I can do it on my own terms. Always wanted to do that. I thought about it a ton this year." Blake, who attended Harvard before turning pro in 1999, reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in 2006. He is currently 100th and has a 9-13 record this season heading into his first-round match in the U.S. Open against Ivo Karlovic. "I dont kid myself. I know I have had a great career in my eyes, but its not one thats going to go down in the history books," Blake said. "Its not one thats going to end in Newport" -- the home of the International Tennis Hall of Fame -- "but its one that Im proud of." Blake joined Andy Roddick and twins Bob and Mike Bryan to help the United States beat Russia in the 2007 Davis Cup final in Portland, Ore., giving the Americans their first title in that international competition in 12 years, their countrys longest gap between victories. "My proudest moment was Portland, without a doubt," Blake said. He won 10 singles titles, most recently in 2007. At Grand Slam tournaments, he reached the quarterfinals three times, including twice at the U.S. Open, losing at that stage in New York to Andre Agassi in 2005, and to Roger Federer the following year. That five-set losss to Agassi, Blake said, was his "biggest highlight and lowlight, at the same time.dddddddddddd" This tournament always seemed to bring out the best in Blake, who was born in Yonkers and went to high school in Connecticut. He closed his news conference Monday by describing how he used to sneak under a fence as a kid to get into the U.S. Open without paying. Long a fan favourite at Flushing Meadows, his matches often were accompanied by raucous cheering and chanting from a sizable group of supporters known as the "J-Block." "Obviously, the U.S. Open was a special place for him. I understand how he would want to end here. You know, I think he still has a lot of great tennis in him, but hes decided that now is the time for him," said Venus Williams, the 2000-01 U.S. Open champion. "He has a family now, so those are important priorities, from what I hear. Hes ready, so all we can do is support him." Blakes announcement came a year after Roddick, his friend and former Davis Cup teammate, decided to make the U.S. Open the final tournament of his career. "I know Andys decision last year was a little different. ... We got along great, but he was a little more impetuous at times, and Im definitely a little more thought-out and it takes me a little longer," Blake said. "It took me a while to come to this decision, so Im really happy with it and comfortable with it." He talked about having come close to being forced to end his playing days nearly a decade ago because of two health scares. In May 2004, during a practice session for a tournament in Rome, Blake slipped on the clay court and slammed into a net post, breaking vertebrae in his neck. In August of that year, he got an illness that affected his sight and temporarily paralyzed part of his face. In between, his father died from stomach cancer; Blake wound up raising millions of dollars for cancer research. Asked what his plans are for now, Blake said he wants to work on his golf game -- and change his 1-year-olds diapers. Looking "way down the road," as he put it, he would like to be the U.S. Davis Cup captain, and perhaps work as a television commentator. At this very moment, though, he would like to win a match or two at his final tournament. "I dont want to be dragged out of this game. I dont want someone telling me I need to leave," Blake said. "I want to leave on my own terms. Im happy doing that right now." ' ' '