Twistity Sports Exclusive: STERLING STEWING

 
What’s one more defeat for Donald Sterling? As owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, he watched his team absorb many as the NBA’s answer to the Washington Generals (the Harlem Globetrotters’ long-time foil).

Now he’s transferred his losing streak to the courtroom.

Sterling is under an NBA lifetime ban for racially-insensitive comments and the league wants the team sold or it threatens to auction it out from under The (Other) Donald. Sterling’s wife Shelly had him examined by doctors who ruled he was mentally incapacitated and so she took over the trust that owns the team and set up a sale. The (Other) Donald promptly sued (he is also a lawyer, and a litigious one).

A court ruled Monday in favor of Shelly Sterling on every disputed point. With any luck (from her viewpoint, the NBA’s and potential owner Steve Ballmer’s), the court papers can be wrapped up in time to meet the Aug. 15 purchase deadline.

But wait. There’s more. The (Other) Donald can appeal. There’s also another suit pending about Shelly Sterling’s right to assume control of the trust.

Meanwhile, Clippers coach Doc Rivers has threatened to quit if The (Other) Donald doesn’t sell this time.

It is unfortunate that league rules don’t allow for removal of clownish owners while they are destroying their franchises. The Clippers, finally a success, now face a future in which their coach doesn’t want to coach and free agents could refuse to play for the team.

NBA TV, meets Court TV. We’ll be watching.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .