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LOS ANGELES, Calif. - A judge ruled against Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling on Monday in his attempt to block the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. In the tentative ruling, Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas sided with Sterlings estranged wife Shelly Sterling, who burst into tears when the ruling was announced. "I cant believe its over. I feel good," she said. Shelly Sterling negotiated the sale of the team after the 80-year-old billionaire was banned by the NBA for making offensive remarks about blacks. She sought approval from a probate judge for the deal she struck after removing her husband from the trust that owned the team when doctors found he had signs of Alzheimers disease and couldnt manage his affairs. Donald Sterling claimed his wife deceived him about the medical exams. He later revoked the trust after she negotiated the record-setting sales price and his lawyers argued that the move killed the deal. They said the case didnt belong in probate court because the trust had been dissolved. The ruling in Los Angeles County Superior Court is unlikely to put an end to the bizarre saga that began in April when a recording surfaced of Sterling scolding his young girlfriend for bringing black men to Clippers games. The NBA moved quickly to ban Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million. Sterling was apologetic after the audio recording went viral, but his mea culpa backfired when he criticized Lakers great Magic Johnson, who had been photographed with Sterlings girlfriend, as a bad role model for kids because he had HIV. Sterling was roundly criticized from locker rooms to the Oval Office, where President Barack Obama called Sterlings remarks "incredibly offensive racist statements." With the NBA threatening to seize the team and auction it, Sterling initially gave his wife of 58 years permission to negotiate a sale but then refused to sign it. He said he would sue the league instead and then revoked the trust. The nonjury trial held over several weeks focused mainly on whether Shelly Sterling properly removed her husband as a trustee and whether her actions carried any weight after he revoked the trust. Donald Sterlings lawyers contended that his wife and her lawyers conspired to trick him and that the mental exams by two doctors were faulty. They said Sterling didnt know his competency as a trustee was being evaluated and that he showed no signs of incompetence on the witness stand. In combative testimony, Sterling said he would "never, ever sell" the team he bought in 1981 for about $12 million. He vowed to fight the NBA in court until the day he dies. Before taking the stand, he kissed his wife and then testified that he loved her. But the following day when she approached him in court he yelled, "get away from me, you pig!" Sterling, a lawyer who made a fortune as a landlord, has filed an antitrust lawsuit in federal court against the NBA and he sued his wife, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the league in state court. Lawyers for Shelly Sterling and Ballmer had urged the judge to let the sale go through because it was in the best interest of the family trust. They said an auction was less likely to bring such a high price and that coach Doc Rivers, key players and sponsors were likely to walk if Donald Sterlings ownership was prolonged. "The trust has a golden bird in the hand," Shelly Sterlings lawyers wrote in court papers. "A sale of the Clippers for $2 billion is indisputably a bonanza for the Sterling family. Donalds strident opposition is motivated by only selfish considerations." Donald Sterling said he could get more for the team by also selling TV rights and through his $9 billion suit against the league. ___ AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this story. 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Those with short memories could begin wondering where that winning touch went?Then again, a win at University of Phoenix Stadium will tie Tom Brady with the likes of two more Hall of Famers, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw, for Super victories. It would lift Bill Belichick onto the same level as Chuck Noll, the only coaches with four Super Bowl rings.But the other side of the ledger cant be ignored: Despite their amazing run of success in their division — the admittedly mediocre AFC East — the Patriots have gone a full decade between titles.I would say the excitement is high, but its also more focused, says receiver Julian Edelman, who was on the squad that lost to the Giants three years ago.You have guys that have been to this game, guys that havent been to this game. You have guys that won the game; you have guys that havent won the game when theyve been there. Everyone is kind of just focused and trying to get ready to prepare for this team. Were playing the champs.They used to be the champs, but since beating Philadelphia in Jacksonville for the 2004 NFL crown, the Patriots have seen the Giants grab the Lombardi Trophy twice against them; seen Pittsburgh also win it two times; seen Baltimore, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Seattle conclude their seasons with a championship. New England also lost twice in the Super Bowl before Belichick and Brady took over.What has happened for New England, other than dozens of wins except for one in the big game?Many factors have contributed to the streak the Patriots can end next weekend:—Slippage on defence.Yes, Belichick earned his stripes as a defensive mastermind, but ever since Brady matured into a dominant passer, New England has been an offensive team. Thats been important to remain a contender as the NFL has evolved into a high-scoring league. But in the biggest matchups, often against other potent attacks, the Patriots defence has been lacking. They havent had a trrue stud pass rusher or a star defensive back (until signing Darrelle Revis this season), and theyve also had some unfortunate injuries, particularly to linebacker Jerod Mayo.dddddddddddd.—Unbalanced offence.Belichick has been willing to make do with inconsistent running backs or retreads, and he also has soured on some of them, especially if they cant hold onto the football. That disorder in the backfield has put more pressure on Brady and the passing game. Fortunately for New England, Brady is an all-time great.But the changing cast behind him can be disruptive.Of course, since that most recent Super Bowl win, hes had the likes of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Edelman to throw to. Any QB would like that group.Yet opponents have found in the playoffs that they rarely will be beaten by the Patriots run game, so they have loaded up on the pass rush, on coverage, and on making Brady uncomfortable.—No fear.The opposition, especially when the Patriots were winning their past two titles, often reacted to what New England was doing instead of emphasizing their own strengths. That changed altogether in the 2008 Super Bowl, when the Giants unleashed monstrous pressure on Brady, didnt make mistakes on either side of the ball, and shattered the Patriots chase of perfection.Pretty much the same thing has occurred in every post-season since, including after the 2011 schedule when the Giants beat them again for the prize. Think of how Baltimore and the Jets strutted their stuff in post-season matchups at Gillette Stadium.—Coaching.Say what? Belichick holds the record for postseason victories with 21, surpassing Tom Landry last week. But twice he was outmanoeuvred in Super Bowls by Tom Coughlin and his defensive co-ordinators. And two other times, John Harbaugh made many more correct moves in a playoff matchup.It would be foolish to think that Belichick no longer can handle the sharpest spotlight — which he ignores anyway. So it will be one of the most intriguing story lines of this Super Bowl to see how the chess match goes against Pete Carroll, perhaps the finest coach Belichick will have faced at this juncture.It would also be ill-advised to play up the recent post-season shortcomings and ignore the earlier successes. Still, should they lose, lots of people could wind up judging the Patriots more on what has happened in the past decade than what occurred in those glorious early seasons of Brady/Belichick.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '