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LOS ANGELES -- The NBA has called off a hearing to oust embattled Los Angeles Clippers co-owner Donald Sterling in advance of a vote on a potentially record-breaking deal negotiated by his wife Shelly Sterling to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. Shelly Sterling negotiated the deal despite objections expressed through her estranged husband Donald Sterlings attorneys. She said in a statement late Thursday that she agreed to sell the team to Ballmer "under her authority as the sole trustee of The Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers." The NBA said in a statement Friday that the league, Shelly Sterling and The Sterling Family Trust had "resolved their dispute over the ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers." "Under the agreement, the Clippers will be sold to Steve Ballmer, pending approval by the NBA Board of Governors, and the NBA will withdraw its pending charge to terminate the Sterlings ownership of the team," it said. But Donald Sterling is still fighting, filing suit in federal court against the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver and asking for damages in excess of $1 billion. The suit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. It alleges that the league violated Sterlings constitutional rights by relying on information from an "illegal" recording that publicized racist remarks he made to a girlfriend. It also says the league committed a breach of contract by fining Sterling $2.5 million and violated antitrust laws by forcing a sale. "Mr. Sterlings lawsuit is predictable, but entirely baseless," NBA general counsel Rick Buchanan said. "Among other infirmities, there was no "forced sale" of his team by the NBA - which means his antitrust and conversion claims are completely invalid. Since it was his wife Shelly Sterling, and not the NBA, that has entered into an agreement to sell the Clippers, Mr. Sterling is complaining about a set of facts that doesnt even exist." The NBA had been prepared for a lawsuit, saying in its statement that "Mrs. Sterling and the Trust also agreed not to sue the NBA and to indemnify the NBA against lawsuits from others, including from Donald Sterling." The ownership hearing had been scheduled for next Tuesday after the NBA charged Sterling with damaging the league with his racist comments that were recorded and released. A three-quarters vote of owners to support the charge would have terminated the Sterlings ownership, and the league would have sold the team. Shelly Sterling reached an agreement to sell the team on Thursday night. Donald Sterling was stripped of his ability to act as a trustee of the familys fortunes, including the Clippers, after two neurologists determined he was suffering from dementia earlier this month, according to a person close to the Sterling family. The individual, who is familiar with the trust and the medical evaluations but wasnt authorized to speak publicly, said Sterling was deemed "mentally incapacitated" according to the trusts conditions because he showed "an inability to conduct business affairs in a reasonable and normal manner." Donald Sterling made voluntary visits to two prominent neurologists who conducted extensive tests, including brain scans, earlier this month, the person said. Though Donald Sterling is no longer a co-trustee of The Sterling Family Trust, he still retains his 50 per cent ownership and still receives proceeds from the sale, the individual said. "There is specific language and there are protocols about what to do, and steps in order to get a sole trustee position and thats what took place in the last couple of days," the individual said. Sterling can try to reinstate his trusteeship by appealing to the California Probate Court. Donald Sterlings attorneys contend, however, that as a co-owner he must also give his consent for the deal to go through. They say he wont be giving it. His attorney, Bobby Samini, said "the assertion that Donald Sterling lacks mental capacity is absurd" and that hell fight to not sell given the NBAs conduct. But the league said the sale agreement is binding and is going ahead with the approval process for Ballmer. Ballmer said in a statement that he is honoured to have his name submitted to the NBA for approval and thanked the league for working collaboratively with him throughout the process. Shelly Sterling negotiated the sale after Donald Sterlings remarks came to light. Silver banned Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million, and said he would urge owners to force a sale, unless the Sterlings chose to sell first. And the price Ballmer paid was stunning. "Obviously, I saw $2 billion. That gave me a reaction," said Miami Heat star LeBron James, who had been vocal in calling for both Sterlings to be out of the league. "That was a reaction for sure. But as far as everything else, I havent quite dived into it. ... Any time a B goes after a number, man, you already know that youre talking about some real money." This is not Ballmers first foray into potential NBA ownership. Ballmer and investor Chris Hansen headed a group that agreed to a deal to buy the Kings from the Maloof family in January 2013 with the intention of moving the team to Seattle, where the SuperSonics played until 2008. But Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson lobbied the NBA for time to put together a bid to keep the team in California, and though the Ballmer-Hansen group later increased its offer, owners voted to deny the bid for relocation and the Kings were sold to Ranadive. Johnson, who has been advising the NBA Players Association in the wake of Sterlings comments, praised Ballmer in a series of tweets Friday night. "When the Clips play next season, players will be proud to wear the logo on their chest & fans will be proud to cheer for their hometown team," Johnson wrote. Amani Oruwariye Jersey . Noah finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes. He was headed for his fourth triple-double of the season, but sat down with about three minutes left because of the lopsided score. Kirk Hinrich scored 19 points for Chicago, going 5 for 6 on 3-pointers, Carlos Boozer added 18 points, D. Jamal Agnew Jersey . The weekend at Oriole Park has been less kind, with three players suffering varying degrees of injury. The worst ailment of the three, at least optically, is the deep bone bruise suffered by Adam Lind when he fouled a pitch off the top of his right foot in the sixth inning of Saturdays game. http://www.wholesalelionsjerseys.com/?ta...er-jersey."; Argos general manager Jim Barker uttered those words during an interview with TSN 1050 radio just prior to the CFLs annual free agent frenzy. John Atkins Jersey . -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. Oday Aboushi Jersey . Charlottetown scored four times in the third period en route to a 5-2 win over the defending champion Halifax Mooseheads on Friday.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Thanks in part to pinch-hitter Jerry Sands, the Tampa Bay Rays are feeling a little better about themselves. The reserve utility man came off the bench to provide the game-winning hit for the second straight game, delivering a two-run homer that helped the Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Monday night. Sands first homer since Sept. 20, 2011, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, came off Brian Matusz and snapped a 3-3 tie. Yunel Escobar hit a solo homer in the first and Ryan Hanigan added a two-run drive in the fourth for a 3-0 lead against Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen. "Its big," Sands after the Rays won for the fourth time in five games following a stretch in which they dropped 14 of 15 and fell to last place in the AL East with the worst record in the majors. "Obviously this team has been struggling to get some wins lately, so its fun to be the guy that does it for the team." Adam Jones homered for the second straight day for Baltimore, hitting a two-run shot in the sixth off rookie Jake Odorizzi, who allowed two runs and three hits over 5 1-3 innings. Delmon Young had a pinch-hit homer in the ninth off Juan Carlos Oviedo, who got the last three outs for his first save. Sands, who broke three bats while singling in the eighth inning to drive home the winning run in a victory at Houston on Sunday, went deep on a 2-0 pitch after Matusz replaced Darren ODay (2-1), who departed with a runner on and two outs. The 26-year-old, who has five career homers, was 1 for 9 as a pinch-hitter with Tampa Bay before the past two at-bats. "This guys done a nice job off the bench," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I know hes going to be aggressive ... and I know hes not going to be intimidated by the situation." The Orioles had just tied it in the top of the eighth with a run charged to Grant Balfour, loading the bases with two singles and a walk before Nelson Cruz delivered an RBI infield single. Baltimore nearly took the lead when pinch-hitter Steve Pearce lined a pitch down the left field line, but the ball landed foul. Two pitches later, he grounded into a force play, letting Jake McGee (3-0) off the hook. "Its such a fine line. Stevies ball barely misses the chalk line there," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.dddddddddddd "Of course McGee is one the better relief pitchers in the league. Our guys have been doing a good job out the pen, too. Its frustrating." The Orioles announced before the game that two-time All-Star catcher Matt Wieters, who hasnt played since May 10, will have season-ending surgery on his right elbow. Showalter said the team is hopeful Wieters, who was examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews, will be ready for opening day next year. The Rays nearly wasted the second straight solid start for Odorizzi, who held St. Louis hitless until two outs of the fifth inning of a 1-0 loss last Tuesday. Matt Holliday homered for the only run of the game, Tampa Bays third consecutive shutout loss during a stretch in which they went 31 straight innings without scoring. Since ending the streak, the Rays have scored 24 runs in five games. "We won a really tough game (Sunday), we won a really tough game here tonight," Madden said. "When you start believing youre going to win games late, thats a good feeling to get. Thats when you start getting good again, and we did." Odorizzi allowed Hardys single and a walk with two outs in the second, escaping the jam by fanning Ryan Flaherty. The 24-year-old right-hander retired eight straight after walking Nick Markakis in the third, with the Orioles right fielder interrupting the string with a double leading off the sixth. Jones hit his 12th homer one out later, ending Odorizzis night and trimming Baltimores deficit to 3-2. NOTES: A moment of silence was observed before the game in honour of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who died Monday. ... The Orioles plan to activate RHP Miguel Gonzalez (strained right oblique) from the 15-day DL to start Tuesday nights game against Tampa Bay LHP Erik Bedard. Both are 3-4 this season. ... Showalter agrees with Maddon that a team shouldnt lose a replay challenge when the contested call stands instead of being confirmed. "A great idea," Showalter said. "Hes right. A lot of times they just say theres nothing conclusive. You may be right, but we cant overturn it. So, why should you be penalized fo