Exiled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was already facing an uphill battle in his legal attempt to block his wife, Shelly Sterling, from selling the franchise to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
With Judge Michael Levanas denying motions by Donald Sterling's representation to both move the Sterling vs. Sterling probate trial and strike his original mental health evaluations from the record, it was only a matter of time before Shelly's attorneys used Sterling's purported decline in mental health against him.
Per ESPN's Arash Markazi, neurologist Meril Platzer just provided a bombshell during cross-examination by Donald Sterling's lawyer which could very well spell the end for Donald Sterling's time in the NBA:
Donald Sterling could not spell "world" backwards or subtract 7 from 100 in the mental exam.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 8, 2014
Sterling was extremely paranoid during Platzer's exam, asking her if the exam was being taped secretly:
First question Donald Sterling had for the doctor was, "Are you wired?"
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 8, 2014
Donald Sterling wasn't present for this cross-examination, sauntering into the court over a half-hour late with a smile on his face:
Donald, who showed up 40 minutes late, is looking around and smiling. Who knows if he even knows where he is.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 8, 2014
If Platzer's testimony holds up, Donald Sterling might not have a leg to stand on in this trial - perhaps giving the go-ahead to Shelly to finalize the team's sale to Ballmer.
Chat Sports will have more on the Sterling/Sterling trial as additional information is made available.
