Donald Sterling Surrenders (with his part of $2 billion)
Finally acknowledging that he was completely boxed in, Donald Sterling has announced that he will not fight the sale of the Clippers to Steve Ballmer. Bobby Samini, Sterling's attorney, issued a statement:
"Donald Sterling officially announces today, the NBA and Donald Sterling and Shelly Sterling have agreed to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion and various additional benefits. All disputes and outstanding issues have been resolved."
Sterling's lawsuit against the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver will be dismissed later this week.
It took six weeks for Sterling to go through all five stages of grief:
Denial - From April 24 (when the tape went public) through April 26 (when Sterling was interviewed by the NBA), Sterling simply denied that he could have made the statements on the tape. It was hard to remain in denial when confronted with the tape.
Anger - Angry Donald Sterling showed up for his interview by Anderson Cooper. Lashing out at Magic Johnson, the man to whom he was ostensibly offering an apology, was not a wise move.
Bargaining - Donald Sterling's form of bargaining was to simultaneously fight his ouster from the NBA and authorize his wife to shop the team.
Depression - On second thought, Donald Sterling seems incapable of the introspection necessary for depression.
Acceptance. At long last, Sterling gave up.
For me, the Donald Sterling saga has been like a Twilight Zone episode where Sterling wished that he could get $2 billion for his team and then saw it come to pass in the most humiliating manner possible.
He literally became the most hated man in America.
He was exposed as a racist.
He lost his NAACP lifetime achievement award.
He was booted from the league just as the Clippers were entering their most anticipated playoff run ever.
He was ousted from control of the Sterling Family Trust by his long-estranged wife.
He was publicly labeled as "mentally incapacitated"
The team was sold over his objections.
Somebody cue Rod Serling.