Ranma wrote:50CALguns wrote:This (interview/thread/post) was just minutes/hours after finding out about the Steve Ballmer purchase...
And I shared my thoughts, my apprehension.
Before all of this, the last thing I wanted to see was anyone with Washington ties buy the team.
....
Then consider my efforts as a PSA to alleviate the fears and concerns of battered Clipper fans.
To be honest, I had the same apprehension about Ballmer, myself, but reading over the available media materials and just thinking about the situation, everything just points to the Clippers staying in Los Angeles
at the very least for the next 9 years, which will be even longer once the TV contract is negotiated.
p.s. Another thing to consider is that Ballmer paid an absolutely huge premium in order to acquire sole ownership of the team. I don't see him giving up even partial ownership, especially at the cost of further subsidizing such interests in terms of monetary value, in order to partner up with Chris Hansen, who to my understanding, owns all or most of the property in Seattle suitable for a professional sports arena.
The guy is known as a showman who loves the spotlight. It's his opportunity to shine on the national stage and to do something that has not been done before in history: win a championship for the Clippers/Braves franchise. He's trying to turn us into the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA. Sure, he is not without his failures (Windows Vista, Zune, etc.) but you've got to think the situation he bought himself into suits him just fine here in Los Angeles.
Well there you go.
Aside from the Washington ties, landing an owner the likes of Ballmer is all aces.
I see Ballmer being a cross between
Mark Cuban X Larry Scott (Pac-12 commissioner).
Larry Scott, commissioner of the PAC-12, has set a 'global initiative' for the conference (e.g. regular season games played in China, a first). He's big on building the Pac 12's digital platform to broadcast games. Generally, just a forward thinker.
I could see Ballmer taking a more global approach than other NBA teams--forget the "Dallas Cowboys", more like "Manchester U". The NBA is a more global league than the NFL, MLB, as it is.
P.S. Plus a bit of
Dana White (UFC promoter). I'm watching the UFC right now... they just put on two events in two hemispheres on the same day, a first (in Germany and in Brazil). Other than China, I'd say Brazil is another burgeoning global sports market. The UFC is huge in Brazil... the Clippers might want to take the lead in cultivating that market too.
