Los Angeles Clippers

Donald Sterling has taken his "Black People Love Me" tour up a notch -- last night he dined out with a lovely African-American woman ... and left in an SUV with a license plate that read BLAKT07.

As DS rolled away from Monty's in Woodland Hills (The Valley) ... our camera guy asked a burning question on everyone's mind: What does Mr. Sterling prefer ... Aunt Jemima or Eggos???

As TMZ has previously reported, Sterling has been seen all over town with black people ... including earlier this week when he hit up celeb hot spot Mr. Chow with MULTIPLE attractive black women.

This time, Sterling was with just one woman ... and one ironically plated SUV (which appears to be a rental). Just classic.

Shelly Sterling's lawyer ran to court this morning ... pleading with the judge to validate her deal to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer, and warning of dire consequences if the deal falls apart.

In Shelly's legal docs -- obtained by TMZ Sports -- she says there's no way a better deal could be found. She points out the sale price for the Clippers is more than 3 times the price of the recently-sold Milwaukee Bucks.

But Shelly is worried, because Donald is now fighting her over the sale. She says if the deal isn't iron clad by Sept. 15 ... "substantial irreparable harm ... will result." She says if that happens the NBA will likely seize the team and conduct a public auction, which will then lower the sale price.

TMZ Sports broke the story -- Ballmer has an escape clause to get out of the deal if Shelly and Donald become embroiled in a legal dispute over her authority to sell.

Shelly's lawyer, Pierce O'Donnell, wants the judge to simply validate the terms of a private agreement between Shelly and Donald -- an agreement that says if 2 neurologists determine either one of them is "incapacitated," then that person would lose all power over the team. And as we reported, that's exactly what happened with Donald last month.

Donald Sterling has released a statement explaining why he is once again suing the NBA ... unleashing some harsh words for the league and its commissioner, Adam Silver.

Shelly Sterling looked confident as she left a Bev Hills restaurant swinging a Victoria's Secret bag Tuesday, but behind the scenes there's concern that Donald's latest flip-flop could blow up her $2 billion deal to sell the Los Angeles Clippers.

Call him Vlade Divac, 'cause Donald Sterling has flip-flopped once again ... now the disgraced Clippers owner says he WILL sue the NBA for one billion dollars because "I must fight to protect my rights."

Sterling's attorney released a statement saying Donald never wanted to sell the team ... though he never explained why he ever changed his mind in the first place.

"I have decided that I must fight to protect my rights," Sterling said in the statement

"While my position may not be popular, I believe that my rights to privacy and the preservation of my rights to due process should not be trampled. I love the team and have dedicated 33 years of my life to the organization. I intend to fight to keep the team."

Donald Sterling's decided to go quietly after all -- he's reportedly in the process of dropping that $1 BILLION lawsuit against the NBA for forcing him to sell the L.A. Clippers.

Sterling had claimed in the lawsuit -- filed last week -- the NBA booted him based on an illegal recording that painted him as a racist. He was also fighting the $2.5 million fine the league levied against him.

But today his attorney told The Hollywood Reporter ... Sterling is letting it all go, and the suit would be dropped within a couple days.

The always charming Donald Sterling ran a clinic on "How to Win Friends and Influence People" yesterday ... when a photog asked the disgraced Clippers owner how he was doing.

Sterling's response -- well, he basically told our guy to go F himself.

It's not like Donald's got a lot to be happy about these days -- his estranged wife sold his team, he's been banned for life from the NBA and he's being sued by an alleged former employee who claims D.S. subjected her to a bunch of offensive comments.

A former employee of Donald Sterling claims the Clippers owner fired her after she rejected "a stream of racist and sexist taunts." -- this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ Sports.

New L.A. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer isn't wasting any time bonding with his team's biggest star -- hanging out with Chris Paul at the L.A. Kings playoff game Friday night and TMZ Sports has the pics.

Less than 24 hours after purchasing the team from Shelly Sterling for $2 billion ... IN CASH ... the former Microsoft CEO hung out at his team's home court -- Staples Center -- to take in the hockey game.

Ballmer and Paul appeared to be getting along well -- sources at the game tell us the two chatted for a few minutes and hugged it out before Ballmer went back to his super special rich guy owner section.

We're guessing paul is pretty pumped about the new guy in charge ... seems like a huge step up from the last racist ahole he worked for.

Donald Sterling has filed a lawsuit against the NBA for more than $1 BILLION, claiming he was unconstitutionally bullied out of the league.

Sterling filed a federal lawsuit Friday afternoon ... claiming the NBA booted him from the league based on what he called an illegal recording that was widely publicized ... painting him as a racist.

As you know ... TMZ obtained the recording and posted it on the website.

Sterling also claims the $2.5 million fine was baseless and a violation of antitrust laws.

Shelly Sterling sold the team late Thursday to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. The deal will almost certainly be ratified by the NBA.

File Under: "You Know You're Rich When" ... YOU CAN MAKE A $2 BILLION CASH OFFER TO BUY AN NBA TEAM ... like Steve Ballmer just did with the Clippers.

Donald Sterling has Alzheimer's and that's why doctors declared he is incompetent to have a voice in the sale of the L.A. Clippers ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources connected with the Sterling family tell TMZ ... the trust agreement that governs the family's ownership of the team provides if 2 qualified doctors determine either Donald or Shelly shows "an inability to conduct business affairs in a reasonable and normal manner" ... they will then be stripped of control over the team.

We're told earlier this month Donald agreed to an examination by 2 prominent neurologists. He underwent extensive tests, including a CT and PET scan. We're told both doctors diagnosed Donald with Alzheimer's and concluded he may have had the disease for as long as 5 years. The doctors both concluded he did not have the ability to conduct the business of the team.

Under the trust agreement ... the doctors' conclusions were enough to strip Donald of control.

Our sources say Donald can appeal the doctors' conclusions to the California Probate Court.

One interesting thing ... TMZ Sports broke the story ... on May 22 Donald signed a letter written to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver relinquishing control of the team to his wife Shelly. It's unclear if Donald's lawyer will now argue the letter is invalid because of Donald's mental incapacity.

Shelly Sterling has sold the L.A. Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for a whopping $2 billion.

As TMZ Sports reported ... the deal was signed just before midnight Thursday. The NBA must approve the sale, but our sources say NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been well aware of Shelly's negotiations with Ballmer and other potential buyers and will support it.

Donald Sterling has made rumblings he may challenge the sale, but he will almost certainly fail.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Donald gave Shelly sole control over the team -- allowing her to sell it -- and even sent a letter to Silver affirming that Shelly had the reins.

As for Ballmer ... he vowed Thursday night to keep the team in Los Angeles. Ballmer is entrenched in Seattle -- which currently has no NBA team -- and even made a bid to buy the Sacramento Kings and move the team to the Emerald City.

Shelly Sterling will sign a deal Thursday night to sell the L.A. Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer ... for $2 billion ... sources familiar with the negotiations tell TMZ Sports.

Contrary to various reports ... the deal has not be signed, but in the last 2 hours Ballmer and Shelly have made "an agreement in principle."

We're told lawyers for both sides are currently hammering out details, and they expect the parties will sign on the dotted line before midnight Pacific Time

A new report by the L.A. Times that the L.A. Clippers have been sold to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion is not true ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources familiar with the negotiations tell us ... Shelly Sterling is in a meeting now -- at the time of this post -- negotiating with Ballmer and several other prospective buyers who have made offers.

We're told Shelly is currently reviewing documents, but no agreement has been struck with anyone.

Our sources say, however, a deal will be finalized by end of business Friday ... and Ballmer is definitely in the running.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver tells us ... making the decision to ban Donald Sterling from the league for life was "very difficult" ... but it's business -- and it had to be done.

Silver was out in NYC yesterday when he began talking to TMZ Sports -- which he says has consistently shocked him.