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NBA roundup: Shelly Sterling reportedly to run charity
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Los Angeles Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling will continue to be close to the organization as part of the terms of the team’s sale to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, according to the Associated Press.
Two sources told the AP that the $2 billion deal allows for up to 10 percent of the team — or $200 million — to be funneled into a charity run by Sterling.
Sterling and Ballmer would co-chair the foundation, which would target underprivileged families, battered women, minorities and inner city youths.
“To benefit those on the receiving end of Donald’s rather abhorrent remarks,” one of the sources said.
The NBA forced Donald Sterling to sell the Clippers after making racist remarks. He was also banned for life and fined $2.5 million. His wife, Shelly, was given authorization to sell the team to Ballmer. The Sterlings were ordered to sell 100 percent interest in the team.
Neither the Sterlings nor their attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, responded to requests by the AP to comment.
However, regarding the idea of Shelly Sterling’s involvement in the charity, one of the sources said: “The NBA was all over it in terms of support. It gave her a meaningful role and stake in the team, and gave the NBA 100 percent sale of the team.”
NBA spokesman Mike Bass did make it clear that Sterling would not have any involvement with the team.
“It is not accurate that Mrs. Sterling will have a role with the Clippers or stake in the team,” he said.
—Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Sunday’s shootaround that forward LeBron James is improving.
James left Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs due to cramps after the air conditioning went out inside the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
Spoelstra did not say if James still has any lingering effects. James does not speak to the media after shootarounds on game days.
“He feels better, we’ll find out tonight,” Spoelstra said. “We’ll try to manage (any issues that come up) and go from there.”
—Minnesota Timberwolves president and head coach Flip Saunders told Minneapolis-St. Paul radio station KFAN that All-Star forward Kevin Love does not have a right to be frustrated.
Love, who has never been in the playoffs during his six years in the NBA — all with the Timberwolves — is reportedly not interested in a contract extension and plans to become a free agent at the end of next season. The assumption is that Love wants out of Minnesota and to play for a winning team.
Saunders said former Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett expressed frustration because the team was not winning enough. He was later traded to the Boston Celtics and won an NBA title in 2008.
“Just like I told Garnett, he didn’t have a right to be frustrated,” Saunders said. “Why does any player have a right to be frustrated? You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution. Should the team be frustrated? Yeah, the team can be frustrated. But I don’t think any one individual should be frustrated.”
