Ballmer's Flirtation With Clippers Could Damage Seattle's NBA Prospects

Not long ago, the Seattle Super Sonic's return seemed close enough to touch, now, with word that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has met with the Sterling family in hopes of purchasing the LA Clippers, it seems more distant than ever.   The Sterlings have been ordered to sell the team after Donald Sterling received a lifetime ban from the NBA after racial comments he made were secretly recorded and broadcast.  Ballmer, one of the world's wealthiest people has long desired ownership in the NBA and in fact was a major partner in Chris Hansen's attempt to get the Sacramento Kings to move to Seattle a year ago.  If Steve Ballmer turns out to be a major player in the LA Clippers sale, it would obviously send a message to the sports world that NBA basketball is not in the cards for the Puget Sound region in the foreseeable future.