July 11, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Donald Sterling Trial: Shelly Sterling Tells Her Side of the Story

 

Donald Sterling's wife told her side of the story in court yesterday.
Donald Sterling’s wife testified in court yesterday.

Testifying yesterday in a trial to determine whether she has authority to sell the Clippers, Shelly Sterling said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told her several weeks ago that he would consider reducing the lifetime ban against her husband if he agreed to sell the team.

“Maybe we can do a one-year ban and two years probation,” she quoted Silver as saying.

Shelly Sterling, 79, said Silver would not make any commitments, however, unless her husband Donald was resolute in his intention to give up the team.

“Adam was afraid he would look like a fool,” she said.

But she said her husband of nearly 60 years instead held fast to his decision to keep the team and said he would hire investigators to find “dirt” against the other NBA owners.

During often tense exchanges with her spouse’s attorney, Maxwell Blecher, Sterling repeatedly said her husband promised to let her sell the Clippers to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, then changed his mind later.

“You were there, you heard it, you even agreed to it,” Sterling said, referring to Blecher. “I really believed he was going to sell. I really believed he was going to go through with it.”

Donald Sterling testified Tuesday that he did not want to sell the Clippers without his wife maintaining an interest in the team that he bought 33 years ago for $12.5 million.

But she testified today that the NBA insisted she could not have any part of the Clippers except for a charitable foundation. She said Ballmer, however, promised she would have as many or more perks as she had as an owner with her husband.

Shelly Sterling also denied she was part of any effort with her attorneys to have her husband removed as a trustee by hiring two doctors who would find him incompetent, thereby giving her the authority to remove him as a trustee with the family trust.

She said she sought the physicians’ advice after seeing her husband’s rambling responses and demeanor during an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

“I had in mind my husband’s welfare,” she said, saying she was concerned about his frequent “mood swings, yelling, screaming and cussing.”

In the end, she said, she didn’t have to have her husband removed from the trust to sell the team because he gave her permission and was enthusiastic about it before changing his mind.

She said she received four bids to buy the Clippers, ranging from $1.2 billion to Ballmer’s eventual winning number.

“I thought it was fabulous,” she said of Ballmer’s offer. “It was an amount more than any team had ever sold for and I was really proud of it.”

Donald Sterling became embroiled in controversy earlier this year following the public release of recorded conversations between him and frequent courtside companion V. Stiviano. Sterling is heard on the tape disparaging Stiviano for having her picture taken with black people and telling her not to bring them to Clippers games.

After the racist remarks came to light, the league announced plans to take action against Sterling to force him to sell the team and banned him from the league for life. But he has since filed suit against the NBA, alleging violations of his civil rights. He contends that he was recorded illegally while making emotional remarks during a “lovers’ quarrel” with Stiviano.

Related Posts

L.A. Louver Marks David Hockney’s 88th with Exhibit

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Hockney, a British artist born in 1937, gained fame with the British Pop Art movement and later became known for...

Suspect Arrested in Shoe Retail Theft Spree Across LA County

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

During the search, police recovered two firearms and a significant quantity of merchandise The Los Angeles Police Department’s Organized Retail...

California Seizes $476 Million in Illegal Cannabis

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The operation, described as UCETF’s largest to date, involved support from multiple state agencies The state confiscated $476 million worth...

The Reservoir Play Opens at Geffen Playhouse

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The play follows Josh, whose life is unraveling, as he receives unconventional support from his grandparents. Their unsolicited advice, judgments,...

Angelini Grill Opens Limited Run at Peninsula Beverly Hills

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

The menu includes tableside Dover Sole, lobster salad, and a signature pasta tasting A new culinary collaboration, Angelini Grill, launched...

Father-Daughter Authors to Host Book Signing to Aid Fire-Affected Women

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Ten percent of proceeds from book and art sales will benefit the Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Fund, a nonprofit initiative created...

Metro Reports Crime Drop, Higher Rider Satisfaction, and Progress on Major Projects

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The Authority said the drop in violent incidents—down to the lowest level since May 2019—coincided with more uniformed personnel and...

The Bar at Century Plaza to Celebrate National Caviar Day with Exclusive Tastings

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The seven-hour event will feature exclusive caviar tastings and champagne pairings The Bar at Fairmont Century Plaza will host a...

Westwood Village Cooking Class to Showcase Spanish Paella

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The class will guide participants through crafting both seafood and vegetarian versions of the iconic Spanish dish Food enthusiasts will...

Unmasking ICE: Senators Push for Visible IDs After Secretive LA Immigration Raids

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bill Requires Federal Agents to Display Visible Identification During Raids U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on...

Bacio di Latte’s Beverly Hills Gelateria Debut Blends Italian Tradition with California Cool

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Gelateria Features In-House Gelato, Espresso Drinks, and Decadent Signature Flavors Bacio di Latte has officially opened its latest U.S. flagship...

Housing for Health Chief Appointed to Lead Unified Homeless Services Department

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Veteran Housing Advocate to Oversee Streamlined LA County Services The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday confirmed the...

Brentwood Feels Impact as Feds Slash Office Leases Across Los Angeles

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

New Tracker Reveals Over 70,000 Square Feet Cut in 2025 Alone Los Angeles County’s office market is experiencing a fresh...

Lost Bunny on the Beat: Beverly Hills Police Seek Owner of Wayward Rabbit

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Fluffy Wanderer Found Near City Hall, BHPD Caring for Missing Pet The Beverly Hills police are caring for a domestic...

Interview: The Dinah Creator Mariah Hanson on Legacy, Change, and the Future of Queer Celebration

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

After 34 Groundbreaking Years, Hanson Reflects on Joy, Power, and Her Final Dinah  We spoke with Mariah Hanson, the creator...