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. Tom Waddle Youth Jersey .The Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive back always has the required receipt. But he also walks around with a tangle of metal screws, rods and plates after breaking his neck in 2006 playing high school football in Louisiana. Mitchell Trubisky Jersey . The Broncos quarterback earned the offensive award Wednesday after passing for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 win over the Raiders Monday night. Manning completed 32-of-37 passes and had a passer rating of 135. http://www.bearsfootballpro.com/Authenti...s_Bears_Jersey/. It is unclear how long Kallstrom, who was brought in to alleviate the teams midfield problems, will be sidelined. 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But on Thursday the Senators came undone with a poor third period and a late collapse that ended in a 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers. Tom Gilbert and Tomas Kopecky each scored in the final three minutes as the Panthers won their fifth straight game and seventh in their past eight. "I thought we had a good response from (Wednesday) nights game," MacLean said. "I liked the start of the game. We played (Wednesday) and they were sitting here waiting for us so we expected they would carry it a little bit until we got our legs. The second period I thought we wasted some of our energy and that fatigue didnt help us in the third." Gilbert beat Senators netminder Craig Anderson with a one-timer on a pass from Tomas Fleischmann at 17:28 of the third period with only two seconds remaining on a high-sticking penalty to Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau. One minute later, with the Senators on a power play, Erik Karlsson fell in the Panthers zone allowing Kopecky to break out 2-on-1. He elected to shoot and beat Anderson at 18:19 with the insurance goal. Jimmy Hayes, in the first period, and Aleksander Barkov, in the second, also scored for the Panthers (14-17-50), who got a 32-save performance from Scott Clemmensen. "It was a good effort by everyone and a good road game for us," Clemmensen said. "We had a game plan and we stuck with it. This team is playing with a lot of confidence right now. We went down in the first but we stuck to it and believed in the game plan and thats probably the biggest difference between now and the beginning of the year." At the beginning of the year the Panthers won just three of their first 16 games and it cost head coach Kevin Dineen his job. Peter Horachek took over and his first game at the helm was a 3-2 loss in Ottawa on Nov. 9. Coincidentally that was the last time Ottawa had won consecutive games. "At that point I was just opening the doors," Horachek said of that first game. "I was just telling them how I feel the team should play and I think they wanted to play hard with a new coach. The structure and the confidence wwasnt there and now the guys know they are capable of winning in whatever building they are in.dddddddddddd We have to play our game and not bend around and see how other teams are going to play." Chris Neil and Jason Spezza scored for the Senators (14-17-6), who have now lost two straight and three of their past four. "We just didnt do enough to win. We got too passive and found a way to lose," Spezza said. "Its clear were feeling pressure now and were feeling the heat. Were trying to win hockey games and the effort is there but we dont execute and we dont play loose enough with the puck and were making mistakes at the end. Thats the position weve got ourselves in and we have to find a way to get out because no one is going to give us any help." Both teams took turns taking and giving away the lead through the first two periods, starting with the Panthers. Hayes opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the season as he beat Anderson from the right hash mark at 5:39 of the first period. After a review to see if the puck was kicked in, Neil was credited with the tying goal at 9:17 of the period. Clarke MacArthur took the original shot but after Clemmensen made the save the puck bounced in of Neils skate for his fifth goal of the season. The Senators took the lead in the final minute of the period when Spezza made a sensational play, first getting the puck around Panthers defenceman Dylan Olsen at the face-off circle then beating Clemmensen high and on the short side with very little space. It was Spezzas 11th goal of the season and first in his past 13 games. Barkov tied the game for the Panthers at 17:11 of the second period with his sixth of the season when he redirected Gilberts shot past Anderson. The Senators were also forced to play the final two periods without forward Mika Zibanejad who left after only five shifts and 2:38 of ice time with an upper-body injury. Notes- Defencemen Patrick Wiercioch and Eric Cryba, along with forward Cory Conacher were scratches for the Senators. Defenceman Mike Mottau and forward Scott Gomez sat for the Panthers ... The Ottawa Senators have allowed 42 first-period goals this season, the most in the NHL. Going into Thursday, the Senators had the most penalty minutes in the league with 164 and were only 24th with a 78.9 per cent efficiency on the penalty kill. ' ' '