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LOS ANGELES -- Shelly Sterling was reviewing bids from five groups interested in buying the Los Angeles Clippers, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The individual, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly about the deal, said if an agreement to sell is reached before next Tuesday, the leagues owners wouldnt meet in New York to vote on terminating Donald Sterlings ownership. The individual wouldnt specify the interested buyers, but described them as major players with considerable financial means. The person told the AP the sale price "appears to be increasing to an unbelievable number," and that it could soar past US$1.5 to $2 billion, and possibly more. Another person familiar with the negotiations said Shelly Sterlings lawyers, bankers and others involved in the process were in a locked room reviewing the bids, which were due by 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday. The individual wasnt authorized to publicly discuss the sensitive and competitive negotiations. Donald Sterlings lawyer, Bobby Samini, said there would be no sale of the team without Donald Sterlings involvement, though he declined to say whether Sterling was involved in reviewing bids or in touch with Shelly Sterling. "Mr. Sterling is an owner of the team, and there will be no sale of the team without his involvement," Samini said. But a May 22 letter obtained by The Associated Press and written by another one of Sterlings lawyers says that "Donald T. Sterling authorizes Rochelle Sterling to negotiate with the National Basketball Association regarding all issues in connection with a sale of the Los Angeles Clippers team." It includes the line "read and approved" and Donald Sterlings signature. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the leagues advisory/finance committee met Wednesday by phone to discuss the separate responses from Donald and Shelly Sterling to the NBA on its efforts to terminate the Sterlings ownership of the Clippers. The first individual told the AP that the leagues owners know a sale couldnt be completed by next Tuesday. But if an agreement was in place, the NBA would give the Sterlings extra time before holding any meetings. The individual said the league hopes a voluntary sale would remove the potential of legal action being taken by the Sterlings. The person told the AP that at this point, with Donald Sterling saying he plans to fight the matter in court, the NBA intends to go forward with the meeting in New York on June 3. A forced sale would require approval by three-fourths of the leagues 30 owners. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said he is confident he would get the necessary votes. On Tuesday, Donald Sterling issued a fiery response to the leagues attempt to oust him. The league charged that he had damaged it and its merchandising partners with his racist comments about blacks in a recording released last month. He argued that there is no basis for stripping him of his team because his statements were illegally recorded "during an inflamed lovers quarrel in which he was clearly distraught." According to the response, a copy of which was obtained by the AP, Sterling says girlfriend V. Stiviano recorded him without his knowledge, which is illegal under California law. He also said he could not have "wilfully" damaged the league because he did not know it would be made public. "We do not believe a court in the United States of America will enforce the draconian penalties imposed on Mr. Sterling in these circumstances, and indeed, we believe that preservation of Mr. Sterlings constitutional rights requires that these sham proceedings be terminated in Mr. Sterlings favour," the response said. Donald Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million by Silver after the recording was made public. It is possible Shelly Sterling could complete an expedited sale of the team despite her husbands legal wranglings, according to Daniel Lazaroff, director of the Sports Law Institute at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. "She would have to be willing to go through with a sale that gave her absolutely no retained ownership interest in order to satisfy the league," said Lazaroff, a law professor at the school. "If she did that, I dont think the league would stand in her way. If she wants to retain any portion of ownership it wouldnt work." Even if Shelly Sterling accepts an offer, the league has the right to approve potential owners, a lengthy process that would almost certainly not be completed by next Tuesday. "The best case scenario is she finds a suitable buyer," Lazaroff said. "That would work for the league and from a financial standpoint that would work for the Sterlings. If the sale price is satisfactory, the smart thing might be to just get out. Hes a businessman who understands buy low and sell high." Donald Sterling purchased the Clippers for $12 million in 1981, making him the leagues longest-tenured owner. He argued in his response to the leagues charges that he cant get a fair hearing next week because the other owners have already made up their minds to oust him. Lazaroff noted that Sterling signed the NBAs constitution when he joined the league, and its bylaws spell out specific procedures for terminating ownership. He said as long as the league follows its own rules it should be on solid legal ground. "I could see a happy ending to this," Lazaroff said, "but it will depend on both of the Sterlings being out of the picture." Basketball Shoes From China . The Goldeyes (10-7) lost 4-1 to the Saltdogs (8-9) Sunday afternoon before 5,834 sizzling fans at Shaw Park. The loss drops Winnipegs record to 3-4 during this past weeks seven-game homestand. Basketball Shoes 2020 . Jonathan Crompton led the team to a 40-9 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Crompton threw three touchdown passes - two to Duron Carter and one to Brandon London - and Sean Whyte connected on four field goals to power the Alouettes to the win. https://www.cheapbasketballshoesstore.com/ . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. Basketball Shoes Sale . Although Olivetti, a qualifier, had 13 aces, he failed to force a single break-point chance on Gasquets serve and lost his own three times. Gasquet next plays third-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, who won had 18 aces in a 6-2, 6-4 win against seventh-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France. Discount Basketball Shoes . PETERSBURG, Fla. ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- Erik Haula made the best of his demotion. Haula, who was reassigned to Iowa by parent club Minnesota on Monday, scored twice and added an assist in Wilds 4-2 defeat of the Abbotsford Heat in American Hockey League action Thursday. The 22-year-old Finn now has seven goals on the season, including a goal in Wednesdays 6-2 loss to the Heat. "Hes been a great asset since the beginning," said teammate Kris Foucault, who had two goals of his own Thursday. "He wasnt putting pucks in as much before. But he came down from Minnesota and hes been unreal. Pucks seem to be going in for him right now and thats what we needed." Haula recorded two assists in six games during his first cup of coffee in the NHL and is hungry for more. "Im just trying to play confident and trust the process," said the 2009 seventh-round pick. "Im trying to do everything I can down here and work really hard. When you do the right things, things will go the right way." Johan Gustafsson made 28 saves for Iowa (9-13-1), who entered the game 25 points behind the AHL-leading Heat. "Its a confidence booster," said Foucault. "Were a team struggling with getting wins. We can look back on this game and say we took out the top team. So if were down one, going into the third period, we can remember this and use it to our advantage." Now the Wild will need to string some wins together if they want to climb in the standings. Theyve won more than two in a row just once this year and also had a six-game losing streak. "Theyre obviously a great team so it proves to us that we can play with any other team in the league," said Haula. "Now weve just got to stay consistent." Markus Granlund and Derek Smith scored for Abbotsford (20-7-2). Granlund now has an 11-game point streak, longest active run in the AHL. Joey MacDonald stopped 30 shots in the losing effort, just their third regulation loss in 20 games. "Our effort was there, but our execution on a lot of plays wasnt there," said the Heats Corban Knight. "We had some pretty good chances that we didnt capitalize on, and we made some pretty costly errors at bad times." The Wild took an early lead, just like Wednesday nights tilt, scoring in the opening two minutes. Haulas initial shot was stopped but Chad Raus rebound attempt was reddirected by Foucault past MacDonald for his third goal of the season at 1:29.dddddddddddd However, the Heat tied the game at 3:49 on a power play. Granlund had two cracks at a Knight rebound and finally chipped it over a sprawling Gustafsson for his 12th of the season. Smith gave the Heat the lead at 5:49. The veteran of 91 NHL games took a feed from Max Reinhart behind the net and one-timed it for his first AHL goal of the year. The Heat had a quality chance to build on their lead in the first with a lengthy two-man power play, but the Wild were able to keep most of the opportunities of the leagues second-ranked power play to the outside. "I didnt like our posture on the 5-on-3 at all," said Heat head coach Troy Ward. "Those guys werent special, and usually theyre pretty special. We didnt generate much there, and I thought that inevitably cost us. That was one of the first telling signs that we were starting to fall off the map a little bit." The Wild tied the game at 6:03 of the second period. Jon Landry chipped the puck over to Haula at the right side of the net. He had two whacks at the puck before finally burying it for his sixth of the season and second in consecutive games. Then the Wild regained the lead when Haula scored his second of the game in the final minute of the second. Zack Phillips stole the puck from Smith, wheeled to the slot and fired it on net, where Haula was there to pounce on the rebound. Foucault put the nail in the coffin when he picked up his second 16:58 of the third. He beat the defenceman wide right, got MacDonald to commit and then tucked the puck between the post and his glove, giving him his first multi-goal game in his three-year pro career. "I kind of blacked out," said Foucault when asked to describe the play. "It was a turnover and capitalized on it. Went in on a 2-on-1 and waited him out, and tucked in behind him." Earlier in the day the Heats parent club Calgary announced general manager Jay Feaster had been fired, but the club insists it didnt weigh on their minds during the game. "We were pretty focused on tonight," said Knight, who was acquired in a trade by Feaster in June. "The coaching staff did a good job of leaving that stuff out and just focusing on the 60 minutes tonight. I dont think that had an effect on us at all tonight." ' ' '