Los Angeles Clippers

State Farm -- one of the Clippers' biggest sponsors -- tells TMZ Sports they're happy Donald Sterling has been banned for life ... but they're not ready to get back into business with the Clips ... yet.

We broke the story ... State Farm decided to "take a pause" in its relationship with the Clippers in the wake of the Sterling audio.

So, we reached out to the insurance titan today to see if SF would rekindle things with the team now that Sterling is gone for good -- and they told us, they need more time before running back to the blue and red.

"At this time, we are continuing the pause of our sponsorship of the Clippers organization as we evaluate this ongoing situation," a rep tells us.

State Farm notes they "applaud and support" Adam Silver's decision -- say they're especially proud of the way State Farm spokesperson Chris Paul has handled himself over the past few days.

The L.A. Clippers organization made a huge statement on its official website in the wake of the announcement that Donald Sterling is banned for life from the NBA ... saying simply, "We Are One."

Unclear who made the decision to post the message on the team website, since Sterling is no longer calling the shots.

It's not just the sponsors, now a famous L.A. clothing store says it's done with the Clippers too -- pulling all team merchandise off the shelves as long as Donald Sterling owns the team.

TMZ Sports has learned ... Kitson LA has decided to stop selling Clips items, effective immediately -- telling us, "We love our LA teams – the fans, the players, and the franchise -- but we cannot support the sale of an item that leads to Donald Sterling profiting in any way."

Donald Sterling's wife got REALLY close with her husband's alleged mistress back in 2011 ... before Shelly suspected anything ... and TMZ Sports has the photo to prove it.

Oprah Winfrey just came out firing at Donald Sterling -- telling TMZ Sports, "We're off the plantation! The plantation days are over!"

The Big O just broke her silence on the Sterling situation while leaving CBS in NYC -- and told us the ideal resolution would be for Magic Johnson to take over the Clips ... "That would be really cool."

But despite the impact of the Sterling story -- and the fact President Obama even weighed in -- Oprah says it's not the biggest story of her lifetime ... that distinction goes to ANOTHER big case involving a huge sports star.

Two NBA lawyers left the law firm representing V. Stiviano Monday ... and sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ Sports ... the lawyers are now convinced -- the racist audio of Donald Sterling is REAL.

NBA lawyer David Anders and another NBA lawyer went to the law office of Mac Nehoray Monday afternoon. Stiviano was also there for the purpose of authenticating the audio.

We're told there was NO doubt by anyone the recording is the real deal. The NBA lawyers heard the 15 minutes that have been made public, but not the remaining 45. And we're told ... based on conversations along with analysis ... they're satisfied about authenticity.

Neither Stiviano nor Anders had comments for our photog as they left the building.

TMZ Sports has also learned ... people who have heard the entire recording say there is "NO DOUBT" Donald Sterling KNEW he was being recorded.

L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling told his GF he does NOT want her bringing black people to his games ... including Magic Johnson ... and it's ALL on tape.

TMZ Sports has obtained audio of Sterling making the racist declaration during a heated argument on April 9th with V. Stiviano ... after she posted a photo on Instagram posing with Magic.

Sterling rails on Stiviano -- who ironically is black and Mexican -- for putting herself out in public with a black person (she has since taken the pic down). But it doesn't end there. You have to listen to the audio to fully grasp the magnitude of Sterling's racist worldview. Among the comments:

-- "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?" (3:30)

-- "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games." (5:15)

-- "I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people." (7:45)

-- "...Don't put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don't bring him to my games." (9:13)

Sterling has a documented history of allegedly racist behavior -- he's been sued twice by the federal government for allegedly refusing to rent apartments to Blacks and Latinos.

He was also sued by former Clippers exec Elgin Baylor for racial discrimination -- though a jury was ultimately not convinced and shot down Baylor's case.

Sterling has been separated from his wife Shelly for years. She remains a key player in running the team and sources tell us she's "mortified" by Sterling's comments.

We have made several calls to Sterling and his people ... so far, no word back.

Donald Sterling's son-in-law, Director of Basketball Administration for the Clippers who helps run the day-to-day operation of the team, tells TMZ Sports what his father-in-law did is ignorant and racist ... and if that costs him his job ... so be it.

Here are the words of his son-in-law Eric Miller:

"I find the statements and representations made by the Clippers' team owner to be deplorable and disgusting. There is no room in sports or society in general, for racism."

Miller goes on: "I pledge my full support for the wonderful players, coaches and staff members of the Clippers organization. I have complete faith that Commissioner Silver will deal with this matter swiftly and severely."

And then Miller says, "If these comments should happen to cost me my employment with the team, it is but a small price to pay to speak out against ignorance and racism."

Donald Sterling just can't catch a break ... now, the embattled Clippers owner is being sued by a woman who claims she was badly injured in a parking lot he owns.

Roselee Fagan filed a lawsuit in L.A. claiming she was walking through a parking structure in Hollywood back in February when she tripped on an uneven concrete service and fell down ... causing "severe and permanent physical and bodily injuries."

Fagan also claims the lighting in the structure sucked and created a hazard ... and blames Sterling for not posting a sign warning people to watch out for uneven surfaces.

The entire Miami Heat basketball team is warming up with their shirts inside out ... to show their support for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Everyone from Chris Bosh to Dwyane Wade and even LeBron James took part in the display of solidarity that took place in Charlotte before they took on the Bobcats.

The NBA owners can NOT band together to force Donald Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers ... multiple well-connected league sources tell TMZ Sports.

We're told ... the NBA has the power to fine and suspend Sterling for the racist comments he made during a conversation posted on TMZSports.com, but neither the owners nor the league can force a sale.

Billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso says he's ready and willing to buy the L.A. Clippers if Donald Sterling gets the boot -- telling TMZ Sports he already has a team of investors ready to pounce.

Caruso -- who made a run to purchase the L.A. Dodgers back in 2012 -- tells us ... "If [The Clippers] become available, I would absolutely be interested."

Rick notes, "We have a group still together from when we looked at the Dodgers ... and if it makes sense, I'll take a shot at it."

While Sterling has not expressed any plans to sell the Clips, Caruso believes it's something D.S. absolutely HAS to do ... for the sake of the players, the fans and the league.

Caruso says he knows there will be a lot of people looking to buy the squad, but believes he's in a strong position to make the deal ... if it becomes available.

The woman who taped Donald Sterling has been accused by the NBA of extorting the Clippers owner ... and she also taped hours of conversations which could be a crime if she didn't tell him in advance -- so it's baffling that V. Stiviano just showed up at the L.A. County D.A.'s office.

Sources connected with Stiviano tell us ... she didn't go there over a case, but to "visit friends." We're told she worked at the D.A.'s office as an intern a few years back and she just wanted to see some old pals ... yes, it's bizarre.

And if she's just visiting ... why is she carrying a briefcase?

Kia is joining the growing list of sponsors who are pulling the plug on their sponsorship of the Los Angeles Clippers ... TMZ Sports has learned.

A rep for the car company -- which has an advertising campaign built around Clippers star Blake Griffin -- released a statement to TMZ Sports, saying. "The comments allegedly made by Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, are offensive and reprehensible, and they are inconsistent with our views and values."

The statement continues, "We are suspending our advertising and sponsorship activations with the Clippers. Meanwhile, as fans of the game of basketball, our support of the players and the sport is unwavering.”

As TMZ Sports first reported, CarMax, Virgin America and State Farm have all pulled their advertising dollars from the team following Donald Sterling's racist remarks.

12:30 PM PT -- Add LoanMart to the list -- a rep tells TMZ Sports, "The statements allegedly made by Donald Sterling are completely inconsistent with the views and ethics of the LoanMart organization. As a result, LoanMart is suspending our advertising and sponsorship activities for the Los Angeles Clippers."

11:12 AM PT -- Now Amtrak's out too. A rep for the train company tells us the company's sponsorship expired at the end of the regular season, and it's now working to remove ALL advertising assets from the market in the wake of the Sterling audio.

The rep tells us, "Amtrak believes the language used is unacceptable and is inconsistent with our corporate belief to treat everyone with integrity and dignity."

The L.A. Clippers just got another first class ticket to Dumpsville -- a rep for Virgin America tells TMZ Sports, the airline has officially decided to discontinue its sponsorship of the team.

The rep tells us, "While we continue to support the fans and the players, Virgin America has made the decision to end its sponsorship of the L.A. Clippers."

State Farm has suspended its relationship with the L.A. Clippers -- telling TMZ Sports they are "taking a pause" to assess the situation in light of the Donald Sterling audio.

A rep for State Farm -- which famously features Clippers superstar Chris Paul in an ad campaign -- tells us, "While those involved sort out the facts, we will be taking a pause in our relationship with the organization."

"We are monitoring the situation and we’ll continually assess our options."

The rep adds, "We have a great relationship with Chris Paul and will continue supporting the Born to Assist advertising campaign involving Chris and now other NBA players."