Clippers owner Steve Ballmer expresses 'sincere regrets' in surprising statement

"This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets," Ballmer began. "I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner."

Ballmer openly accepting responsibility is a notable part of this post. 

"We are committing to put this chapter behind us," he continued. "We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract."

It is interesting to see Ballmer say he and the Clippers want to put this all behind them. That may not be entirely possible if the federal government ends up pursuing legitimate criminal charges.

"The challenges ahead of us are significant, but so is our resolve," he concluded. "We will continue to build our team and invest in our community. The confidence of our fans is our priority. With our talented roster, outstanding staff and clear vision, I am certain that we will compete at the highest level and be an organization our fans can be proud of."

The final section of the statement reads as rather generic, but does express Ballmer's view that his team is not completely ruined following the NBA's punishments. Most notably, those include the loss of the team's next five first-round picks.

Clippers fans have been waiting to hear from Ballmer, and his statement says a lot, and also a little at the same time.