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New Clippers Owner Says Hello: Fans Rally at Festival

New owner Steve Ballmer met with team supporters at a Staples Center rally.

How do team supporters mark that major and fairly rare moment, the entry of a new owner?

By taking to social media with thoughts and opinions, yes. By reading up on the team sale, for sure, and studying what's ahead for the season and how the announcement impacts the overview.

And by gathering together at a free fan rally Monday to both meet the new honcho and get fully stoked. Clipper fans are in get-pepped mode following the news that former Microsoft owner Steve Ballmer is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers "following the entry by a California court confirming the authority of Shelly Sterling, on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust, to sell the team."

The announcement comes on the heels of former owner Donald Sterling's moves to put the brakes on the $2 billion sale of the team.

The Clippers Fan Festival featured a few words from an excited and rowdy Ballmer, as well as appearances by coach Doc Rivers and players Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Matt Barnes and more.

"This is an amazing new day in Clippers history," Coach Rivers said. "I couldn't be more excited to work together with Steve as we continue to build a first-class, championship organization."

There's more to discuss among the fans at the fest, too; the team's 2014-2015 regular season schedule was released last week, with the NBA.com noting the Clippers will play "seven of their first nine at home."

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Late October isn't too far off, Clipper Nation.  Let the anticipation kick into high gear, starting with the Staples fest. Feeling stoked yet?

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