Donald Sterling ended up on the short end of the stick Wednesday in his final attempt to prevent the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The appeal issued by Sterling to block the $2 billion sale of the franchise to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was rejected by an appeals court in California, according to The Gazette.
"The evidence before this court indicates the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to Steven Ballmer has closed," the court wrote. "Thus, there is nothing for this court to stay."
The three judges added that even if the sale didn't close, Sterling was unable to show that he was harmed enough to receive a temporary stay. The decision received intense opposition from Max Blecher and Bobby Samini, Sterling's lawyers, who said that while Sterling is not a sympathetic figure, the appellate order was not the right result.
"We who represent Donald Sterling are deeply disappointed that he has been deprived from ownership of the Clippers after 33 years without being accorded appellate review of this harsh result," Blecher and Samini said in a statement Wednesday night, ESPN reported.
Adam Streisand, Ballmer's lawyer, expressed his gratitude Wednesday for the court's decision.
"While we have no doubt Donald Sterling will appeal to the Supreme Court, we are beyond thrilled and gratified and supremely confident that this is now over and done and Steve Ballmer is the undisputed owner of the Los Angeles Clippers," Streisand said.
The decision also received praise from the lawyer of Donald's wife Shelly, who approved of the basketball team's sale, ESPN reported.
"Shelly is thrilled that her decision to sell the Clippers to Steve Ballmar has been upheld by the Court of Appeal," attorney Pierce O'Donnell said. "It is time for Donald to accept that the game is over and he has run out of courts. For the Clippers, it is a new era under a new owner whose commitment to excellence and passion will take the team to an NBA championship."
Despite the loss, Sterling still has lawsuits pending against the NBA in state and federal court, The Gazette reported. His lawyers said he will be vindicated in a federal case, and Sterling has promised that he will keep fighting the league for the rest of his life.
