Clippers sale to Ballmer goes ahead

New billionaire owner promises success both on and off the court in Los Angeles

Steve Ballmer officially became the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

The team said the record $2 billion sale closed after a California court confirmed the authority of Shelly Sterling, on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust, to sell the franchise to the former Microsoft CEO. Her estranged husband, Donald Sterling, had unsuccessfully fought the sale of the team he owned since 1981 in court.