SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Former NBA Commissioner David Stern prefers to look at the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers for a record $2 billion and not the decades of Donald Sterlings "interesting" ownership that came before it. Speaking on Thursday at a media availability before he is to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Stern said the unprecedented offer from former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to buy the troubled franchise "is an exclamation point on the health of the league." Stern said that the price being paid for the Clippers "is just the next step" in a process that has brought stability to franchises like the New Orleans Hornets, who were seized by the league in 2010 when owner George Shinn couldnt pay his debts. The renamed Pelicans are now ensconced in New Orleans, as are the Bucks in Milwaukee and the Kings in Sacramento, all under new owners. The Clippers should be next, now that a California probate judge has cleared the way for Shelly Sterling to sell the team she co-owned with her husband to avoid having the franchise seized by the league. While praising new commissioner Adam Silvers handling of the matter, Stern insisted he couldnt have acted under his own tenure because Sterling managed to sidestep definitive legal judgments in two cases where he was accused of racism. (Still, Silver waited just four days, needing no such cover from the legal system, before fining Sterling $2.5 million and banning him for life for racist comments to a girlfriend.) Asked if he wishes he had done more, Stern said: "There were challenges." "It was an interesting ownership period," he said. "Im not going to say anything now that will disturb the waters that will hopefully calm a bit between Adam and Mr. Sterling." Stern headed a group of 10 Hall of Fame inductees who will be honoured on Friday night by the Springfield shrine. Also in the class of 2014 are former NBA stars Alonzo Mourning and Mitch Richmond and NCAA championship-winning coaches Nolan Richardson of Arkansas and Gary Williams of Maryland. The womens team from Immaculata College, which won three straight national championships in the 1970s, is also being honoured, along with Lithuania star Sarunas Marciulionis. Former Indiana Pacers coach Bob "Slick" Leonard, the late Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton of the New York Knicks and the late Guy Rodgers of Temple round out the class. Speaking with a cane at his side because of recent hip-replacement surgery, Stern said he was proud to have helped the league grow during his 30-year tenure from a league that broadcast its championship on tape-delay to one of the most powerful in the world. The NBA he took over had 23 teams and broadcast revenue of about $10 million per year; when he left, the 30-team league was bringing in $900 million in TV revenue alone. "Youve got to give credit where credit is due," Richmond said. "Hes one of the guys who propelled our league to another level." Asked if there was anyone in the class he was especially proud to be honoured with, Mourning pointed across the room at the commissioner and said, "David Stern, without a doubt." "Twenty-two years ago, he welcomed me into the league," said Mourning, who wore his 2013 Miami Heat championship ring on his right hand. "And now, after 30 years, of his impact on the league ... were going into the Hall together. So that makes it special." Richmond said he had only been at the Hall one other time, for the induction of former teammate Chris Mullin in 2011. Richmond was excited just to find a picture of himself, as part of two Olympic teams. Now hell be added to the ring of honour on his own. Cheap Kansas City Royals Jerseys . 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Russia has spent about $51 billion to deliver the Sochi Olympics, which run Feb. 7-23, making them the most expensive games ever, even though as a winter event it hosts many fewer athletes than summer games do.Its obvious Maurice Mann is no fan of feel-good movies. The script had been followed to the letter. After a successful career in the CFL, Mann won the 100th Grey Cup at home in his final game, then walked off the field for the final time as a champion. With a plot twist worthy of The Usual Suspects, the 32-year old receiver has decided to re-shoot the final scene and return to action. Hell suit up for the Toronto Argonauts Saturday night in Regina for a game against the Roughriders. How did this happen? It started out when the receiver was spotted by the staff at recent Argo home games. "They saw me at a few of the games and said Mo, you look good, you look to be in shape" Mann told TSN 1050. "I said I am in shape, coach. So when the injury bug hit, I was there and sent an e-mail or two." Head coach Scott Milanovich says it was general manager Jim Barkers brainwave to bring back the six-year veteran. "It was Jims idea a couple of weeks ago when we started having injuries," Milanovich told TSN 1050. "It made a lot of sense to me and you almost question yourself why hasnt Mo been around? Hes been great, you just hope he can keep his wind up. Hes been staying in great shape and I expect hell play well." The coach is happy with what hes seen at practice. "He looks good," continued Milanovich. "It looks like he hasnt missed a beat. He looks like hes been through training camp and hes running well, hes catching the ball well. Weve been moving him around position-wise trying to fit him in where we may need the help and thats probably been the challenge for him, is having us give him a definitive position that hes going to be in." Mann is listed on the depth chart as the x position, or the wide receiver on the boundary side. He has moved around during the week and will likely move inside on ooccasion.dddddddddddd John Chiles, who is usually in that spot, made the trip, but is a game-time decision with a leg injury. If Chiles cant go, hell join Chad Owens, Jason Barnes and Andre Durie on the sidelines, meaning the Argos would be down four quality starting receivers. Perhaps the best person to ask about the progress of Mann is quarterback Ricky Ray, who played with the receiver not only during the Grey Cup run in Toronto, but for three seasons in Edmonton. "Weve had the injury bug, its nice to have a guy youre familiar with coming back into the lineup," said Ray. "The good thing is that he has a good basis for the terminology in the offence that were doing and obviously, we have a lot of game experience together, so for me, I feel pretty comfortable with having him out there and we have a lot of past experiences to build off of." Mann is comfortable with the offence and the terminology, but admits a lot has changed in the last year and four games. "Scott (Milanovich) is a mad scientist," joked the receiver. "Even though Marcus (offensive coordinator Marcus Brady) is running it, theres a lot of new things in terms of the offence, but its pretty similar and Im pretty comfortable already because I have a great teacher in (receivers coach) Jason Maas, who is keeping me seven hours after practice to learn everything possible about what I need to see, and where I have to be." Seeing Mann in double blue will evoke memories of the Argos 31-26 win over the Riders in Regina in 2012, the game most point to as the turning point in their championship season. On that day, the Seaside, California native hauled in seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Repeating those numbers would be a long shot at best, but with his return to the lineup, Mann has demonstrated that nothing is impossible. 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