Doc Rivers says the Clippers’ situation is still “murky” following the hire of interim CEO Dick Parsons, and he wishes he could have a “do-over” on his initial conversation with Shelly Sterling, tweets Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Presumably, Rivers was as unaware of Sterling’s drive to maintain her entire stake in the team at the time. Here’s more from L.A.:
- Shelly Sterling’s lawyer made an appearance on CNN, vowing to fight any attempt to strip the team from her “to the death” (quote via Rachel Nichols of ESPN.com).
- Magic Johnson told reporters including Eric Prisbell of USA Today that Clippers players wouldn’t play for the team if Sterling retains her 50% share in the team, as she intends to do. “Those guys are not going to play for anybody [named] Sterling,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be hard for them to sell that to the fans and definitely to the players.”
- Johnson won’t say how interested he is in purchasing the team, telling Prisbell that he is hesitant to comment on what will likely be a long process leading up to a sale. “Donald Sterling is going to fight it. You know that. It is going to be a long time,” said Johnson. “I have other things to do before I just say my level of interest. The team has to be up for sale. And I think that is going to be eight months to a year. Once it’s official, that it’s really up for sale, we’ll take a look at it.”