Los Angeles Clippers

UCLA is saying thanks but no thanks to Donald Sterling's $3 million pledge ... saying essentially its dirty money and they don't want it.

Sterling gifted $3 mil to the school, with an initial check for $425,000. The money was earmarked for kidney research.

And get this. The ad (above) that was placed in Sunday's L.A. Times is a "thank you" from UCLA to Donald and Shelly Sterling. UCLA claims the ad was placed by Donald Sterling, NOT the university.

A defiant Donald Sterling just said he would NOT sell the Los Angeles Clippers.

Sterling told Fox News' Jim Gray the team was NOT for sale. Gray said on Fox News he spoke with Sterling just before NBA Commish Adam Silver banned Sterling for life.

Silver said in his news conference ... if 3/4 of the NBA owners get on board they can force Sterling to sell the team. If that happens it looks like Sterling may well go to legal war.

It sounds like it may come to that.

Once again, there's a place you can go ... if you wanna hear the "Y.M.C.A." ... because the singer from the Village People is UNBANNING the Clippers from playing his song, now that Donald Sterling is out.

Victor Willis -- aka "The Cop" -- previously told TMZ Sports he would NOT allow the team to play his song at home games as long as Sterling was in charge of the squad.

But now that Donald is persona non grata with the NBA, Willis says he's rescinding the ban ... effective immediately.

He tweeted, "YMCA ban lifted! I'll get my people right on it. Feel like leading a celebratory 'YMCA dance' tonight @LAClippers game. Go Adam!"

NBA Commish Adam Silver made the announcement Tuesday ... saying the NBA will also fine Sterling $2.5 million ... and insists, "I will do everything in my power" to "force" Sterling to sell the Clippers.

Silver says he does not know if Sterling will fight the lifetime ban -- but says he has the full support of the NBA owners.

"I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him," Silver said.

Silver says he spoke to several players, coaches and owners before deciding on the lifetime ban.

As for the ban, Sterling will not be allowed to attend any NBA games or practices ever again ... and will not be permitted inside any team facilities.

The $2.5 million fine will be donated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts.

Silver says the ban will only pertain to Donald -- and not to his family members.

During the news conference, Silver said he was "personally outraged" by Sterling's comments.

Silver says ... during the investigation, Sterling confirmed he made the racist comments.

Silver noted, "The hateful opinions are those of Mr. Sterling. The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Sterling told V. Stiviano he did not want her to bring black people to Clippers games, including Magic Johnson.

Magic has tweeted that he is "very happy and satisfied" with Silver's decision.

State Farm -- one of the Clippers' biggest sponsors -- tells TMZ Sports they're happy Donald Sterling has been banned for life ... but they're not ready to get back into business with the Clips ... yet.

We broke the story ... State Farm decided to "take a pause" in its relationship with the Clippers in the wake of the Sterling audio.

So, we reached out to the insurance titan today to see if SF would rekindle things with the team now that Sterling is gone for good -- and they told us, they need more time before running back to the blue and red.

"At this time, we are continuing the pause of our sponsorship of the Clippers organization as we evaluate this ongoing situation," a rep tells us.

State Farm notes they "applaud and support" Adam Silver's decision -- say they're especially proud of the way State Farm spokesperson Chris Paul has handled himself over the past few days.

The L.A. Clippers organization made a huge statement on its official website in the wake of the announcement that Donald Sterling is banned for life from the NBA ... saying simply, "We Are One."

Unclear who made the decision to post the message on the team website, since Sterling is no longer calling the shots.

It's not just the sponsors, now a famous L.A. clothing store says it's done with the Clippers too -- pulling all team merchandise off the shelves as long as Donald Sterling owns the team.

TMZ Sports has learned ... Kitson LA has decided to stop selling Clips items, effective immediately -- telling us, "We love our LA teams – the fans, the players, and the franchise -- but we cannot support the sale of an item that leads to Donald Sterling profiting in any way."

Donald Sterling's wife got REALLY close with her husband's alleged mistress back in 2011 ... before Shelly suspected anything ... and TMZ Sports has the photo to prove it.

Oprah Winfrey just came out firing at Donald Sterling -- telling TMZ Sports, "We're off the plantation! The plantation days are over!"

The Big O just broke her silence on the Sterling situation while leaving CBS in NYC -- and told us the ideal resolution would be for Magic Johnson to take over the Clips ... "That would be really cool."

But despite the impact of the Sterling story -- and the fact President Obama even weighed in -- Oprah says it's not the biggest story of her lifetime ... that distinction goes to ANOTHER big case involving a huge sports star.

Two NBA lawyers left the law firm representing V. Stiviano Monday ... and sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ Sports ... the lawyers are now convinced -- the racist audio of Donald Sterling is REAL.

NBA lawyer David Anders and another NBA lawyer went to the law office of Mac Nehoray Monday afternoon. Stiviano was also there for the purpose of authenticating the audio.

We're told there was NO doubt by anyone the recording is the real deal. The NBA lawyers heard the 15 minutes that have been made public, but not the remaining 45. And we're told ... based on conversations along with analysis ... they're satisfied about authenticity.

Neither Stiviano nor Anders had comments for our photog as they left the building.

TMZ Sports has also learned ... people who have heard the entire recording say there is "NO DOUBT" Donald Sterling KNEW he was being recorded.

L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling told his GF he does NOT want her bringing black people to his games ... including Magic Johnson ... and it's ALL on tape.

TMZ Sports has obtained audio of Sterling making the racist declaration during a heated argument on April 9th with V. Stiviano ... after she posted a photo on Instagram posing with Magic.

Sterling rails on Stiviano -- who ironically is black and Mexican -- for putting herself out in public with a black person (she has since taken the pic down). But it doesn't end there. You have to listen to the audio to fully grasp the magnitude of Sterling's racist worldview. Among the comments:

-- "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?" (3:30)

-- "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games." (5:15)

-- "I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people." (7:45)

-- "...Don't put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don't bring him to my games." (9:13)

Sterling has a documented history of allegedly racist behavior -- he's been sued twice by the federal government for allegedly refusing to rent apartments to Blacks and Latinos.

He was also sued by former Clippers exec Elgin Baylor for racial discrimination -- though a jury was ultimately not convinced and shot down Baylor's case.

Sterling has been separated from his wife Shelly for years. She remains a key player in running the team and sources tell us she's "mortified" by Sterling's comments.

We have made several calls to Sterling and his people ... so far, no word back.

Donald Sterling's son-in-law, Director of Basketball Administration for the Clippers who helps run the day-to-day operation of the team, tells TMZ Sports what his father-in-law did is ignorant and racist ... and if that costs him his job ... so be it.

Here are the words of his son-in-law Eric Miller:

"I find the statements and representations made by the Clippers' team owner to be deplorable and disgusting. There is no room in sports or society in general, for racism."

Miller goes on: "I pledge my full support for the wonderful players, coaches and staff members of the Clippers organization. I have complete faith that Commissioner Silver will deal with this matter swiftly and severely."

And then Miller says, "If these comments should happen to cost me my employment with the team, it is but a small price to pay to speak out against ignorance and racism."

Donald Sterling just can't catch a break ... now, the embattled Clippers owner is being sued by a woman who claims she was badly injured in a parking lot he owns.

Roselee Fagan filed a lawsuit in L.A. claiming she was walking through a parking structure in Hollywood back in February when she tripped on an uneven concrete service and fell down ... causing "severe and permanent physical and bodily injuries."

Fagan also claims the lighting in the structure sucked and created a hazard ... and blames Sterling for not posting a sign warning people to watch out for uneven surfaces.

The entire Miami Heat basketball team is warming up with their shirts inside out ... to show their support for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Everyone from Chris Bosh to Dwyane Wade and even LeBron James took part in the display of solidarity that took place in Charlotte before they took on the Bobcats.

The NBA owners can NOT band together to force Donald Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers ... multiple well-connected league sources tell TMZ Sports.

We're told ... the NBA has the power to fine and suspend Sterling for the racist comments he made during a conversation posted on TMZSports.com, but neither the owners nor the league can force a sale.

Billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso says he's ready and willing to buy the L.A. Clippers if Donald Sterling gets the boot -- telling TMZ Sports he already has a team of investors ready to pounce.

Caruso -- who made a run to purchase the L.A. Dodgers back in 2012 -- tells us ... "If [The Clippers] become available, I would absolutely be interested."

Rick notes, "We have a group still together from when we looked at the Dodgers ... and if it makes sense, I'll take a shot at it."

While Sterling has not expressed any plans to sell the Clips, Caruso believes it's something D.S. absolutely HAS to do ... for the sake of the players, the fans and the league.

Caruso says he knows there will be a lot of people looking to buy the squad, but believes he's in a strong position to make the deal ... if it becomes available.