Pablo Torre: Kawhi/Clippers/Ballmer/Aspiration Thread (part 2)

[SkyBill40]

Man Cuban is making a complete ass of himself. It’s so fascinating lol.

I just don't get it. There has to be more to it for him to remain actively defending Ballmer. Some other angle or compensation.

Any remotely reasonable person would have backed away by now. The further reveals just keep solidifying the cap circumvention claims.

I'm usually not one for conspiracy theories but it's getting difficult to believe he really is that hard-headed and stupid.

Maybe being a mouthy ass is just who Cuban is? There doesn't need to be some hidden layer to it. But assumption and conspiracy are free, so go with whatever suits you or anyone else for that matter.

[ryguy613]

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I hope its crystal clear to everyone that first and foremost, the billionaire class sticks together when the **** hits the fan. Make no mistake.

[seren]

There are many things we learn about Ballmer and how his “good billionaire” act is just an act. From the carbon credit scheme to funneling money to a so-called charity that benefits nobody, the entire thing stinks. I don’t even care about the NBA angle anymore. This report gives us a glimpse of what the whole do-gooder billionaire’s world is all about. At this point, I question every dollar he gave to any charity and what it does other than laundering Ballmer’e money. My guess is this holds for most billionaires. We need to stop pretending these are good people and start taxing them as we should.

[ryguy613]

What a **** show...
This can't be swept under the rug.

Watch on YouTube

I know that this portion of the story has already been discussed ad nauseum, by myself included, but the part of this that bugs me the most is the humiliating, shameless, pathetic dick riding of Ballmer by ESPN. Pablo shows a compilation of hosts like SAS, Shelburne, and Windhorst who all not only excuse away this behavior by Ballmer... they downright PRAISE it. SAS wants to make it clear what a standup guy Ballmer is for being so transparent with the media about this embarrassing situation. Windhorst and Shelburne essentially state Ballmer doesnt need plausible deniability for these investments because hes so **** rich that it doesnt matter. his plausible deniability is that he has more money than god, so why would he care, or even know, if $50M+ is going to a fraudulent company who is also repping his star player. Its beneath him to know or care. This is the same kind of billionaire worship we've been trained to partake in over and over again, and I really hope the public stops buying into it.

[ciueli]

Man Cuban is making a complete ass of himself. It’s so fascinating lol.

I just don't get it. There has to be more to it for him to remain actively defending Ballmer. Some other angle or compensation.

Any remotely reasonable person would have backed away by now. The further reveals just keep solidifying the cap circumvention claims.

I'm usually not one for conspiracy theories but it's getting difficult to believe he really is that hard-headed and stupid.

Maybe being a mouthy ass is just who Cuban is? There doesn't need to be some hidden layer to it. But assumption and conspiracy are free, so go with whatever suits you or anyone else for that matter.

Yeah, there's a couple of things here, Cuban is a guy who was on Shark Tank for years, we know what kind of person it takes to do that, it's attention seeking behaviour when you are already a multi-billionaire and don't need to do it, pure ego feeding.

The second bit is he famously fought an insider trading charge, paid more than the fine in legal fees, but still won in court, he's also lost money investing in people he trusted, so he's a kindred spirit in the way only another multi-billionaire can be. So there's definitely an aspect of white knighting for Steve Ballmer, and there's not much downside to him doing this when it gets him on the good side of the richest owner in the league.

[Slava]

If he is using his non profit, on which he writes off his taxes to pay an employee under the table, there maybe a tax crime there. Not big but not nothing either. The IRS would want to closely scrutinize The Ballmer Group and all its donations for similar reach arounds.

[levon]

If he is using his non profit, on which he writes off his taxes to pay an employee under the table, there maybe a tax crime there. Not big but not nothing either. The IRS would want to closely scrutinize The Ballmer Group and all its donations for similar reach arounds.

Honestly the fact that the Trump administration hasn't seized on this to humiliate the NBA and LA as punishment for 2020 "wokeness" suggests to me that Ballmer and potentially Silver have made some "charitable contributions" upwards too.

It's highly suspicious to me that this hasn't broken containment into national headlines.

[SNPA]

What a **** show...
This can't be swept under the rug.

Watch on YouTube

I know that this portion of the story has already been discussed ad nauseum, by myself included, but the part of this that bugs me the most is the humiliating, shameless, pathetic dick riding of Ballmer by ESPN. Pablo shows a compilation of hosts like SAS, Shelburne, and Windhorst who all not only excuse away this behavior by Ballmer... they downright PRAISE it. SAS wants to make it clear what a standup guy Ballmer is for being so transparent with the media about this embarrassing situation. Windhorst and Shelburne essentially state Ballmer doesnt need plausible deniability for these investments because hes so **** rich that it doesnt matter. his plausible deniability is that he has more money than god, so why would he care, or even know, if $50M+ is going to a fraudulent company who is also repping his star player. Its beneath him to know or care. This is the same kind of billionaire worship we've been trained to partake in over and over again, and I really hope the public stops buying into it.

They are access based. The NBA under Stern made it clear it will cut you off if you go negative on a major sore spot for the league. This is how the NBA keeps major stories to as low profile as possible. SAS ain’t giving up those checks to dump on Balmer circumventing the cap.

[ATLTimekeeper]

I thought it was interesting that the Clippers announced a sponsorship with "Visit Rwanda" today. Kawhi went there in the summer, before the story, through Masai Ujiri's charity Giants of Africa, and met with Raptor superfan and president Paul Kagame.

[FrodoFraggins]

Should be addressed soon, doubt league will allow this to go into the season and be a distraction. Reporters will keep asking about it.

I don’t think that the NBA believes that. It’s obvious that all ESPN reporting is compromised. This is going to have to be driven by the Barstools, Pablo’s, other independents and, perhaps, larger reporting outlets (New York Times, Washington Post, etc.).

I used to believe in independent media and integrity. With that said, we are seeing an attack on that institution as more and more media outlets partner with the organizations that they report on, instead of remaining objective, with scrutinization. I’m sure that they believe that they can help each other succeed by playing nice together. It’s less risky. Guaranteed $$$ for both.

This is why we need competition and non-monopolized industries in America… especially in the press. To keep everyone in check. There should be 50 top reporters gunning for this story to find out every little detail and expose it… doing so would propel their career. Yet, it feels like 95% are compromised and lack the drive + integrity to do so. It’s a sad time.

Agreed. I really feel like there is room in the market for a factual news outlet (but then it would probably be purchased by Ellison or someone after it gained any sort of traction.)

We need more people not driven purely by money/profit.

Room? maybe.

But it may be really tough to get sponsors that aren't worried about pissing off the leagues or mega networks.

[G R E Y]

There are many things we learn about Ballmer and how his “good billionaire” act is just an act. From the carbon credit scheme to funneling money to a so-called charity that benefits nobody, the entire thing stinks. I don’t even care about the NBA angle anymore. This report gives us a glimpse of what the whole do-gooder billionaire’s world is all about. At this point, I question every dollar he gave to any charity and what it does other than laundering Ballmer’e money. My guess is this holds for most billionaires. We need to stop pretending these are good people and start taxing them as we should.

The two parties that conspired for years to come together have each been exposed repeatedly as being willing to and knowingly breaking rules. So no surprise. Don't look at what they say but at their pattern of behaviour. They deserve each other.

[Invictus88]

Hearing Kawhi just blatantly lying in his Clippers media day press conference saying right now he has a hard time remembering details about the Aspiration endorsement deal or how he would receive money from it. Hilarious.

Paraphrasing: Q: "Can you describe what you did for your endorsement deal?" A: "Uhh.. a lot. It was a while back so I just don't remember details".

According to him this is all just "clickbait journalism".

Looks like Ramona Shelburne was the only reporter allowed to ask anything about the investigation. And there were no follow-ups. All softball questions.

[G R E Y]

Hearing Kawhi just blatantly lying in his Clippers media day press conference saying right now he has a hard time remembering details about the Aspiration endorsement deal or how he would receive money from it. Hilarious.

Paraphrasing: Q: "Can you describe what you did for your endorsement deal?" A: "Uhh.. a lot. It was a while back so I just don't remember details".

According to him this is all just "clickbait journalism".

This is like when he was booed mercilessly in SA and said it was just media spin fans didn't like him

[Invictus88]

Hearing Kawhi just blatantly lying in his Clippers media day press conference saying right now he has a hard time remembering details about the Aspiration endorsement deal or how he would receive money from it. Hilarious.

Paraphrasing: Q: "Can you describe what you did for your endorsement deal?" A: "Uhh.. a lot. It was a while back so I just don't remember details".

According to him this is all just "clickbait journalism".

Looks like Ramona Shelburne was the only reporter allowed to ask anything about the investigation. And there were no follow-ups. All softball questions.

I want to edit this since it was quick and I just watched it again.

Q: "What is your understanding of the endorsement deal you had with the company and did you perform any services for them:
A: "I understand the full contract and the services I had to do. Like I said, I don't deal with the conspiracies or the clickbait analysis or research that is going on."
Q: "I think the allegation was that you didn't perform any services. Is that accurate?"
A: "I don't think it's accurate. It's old. This is all new to you."

[Clav]

Noticed last evening while watching football for a New Balance advertisement (Kawhi is part of their ad normally).

Cam Brink, Coco Gauff, Flagg, Maxey were all a part of it, maybe another one, but auspiciously, no KL.

[RyderMike]

Hearing Kawhi just blatantly lying in his Clippers media day press conference saying right now he has a hard time remembering details about the Aspiration endorsement deal or how he would receive money from it. Hilarious.

Paraphrasing: Q: "Can you describe what you did for your endorsement deal?" A: "Uhh.. a lot. It was a while back so I just don't remember details".

According to him this is all just "clickbait journalism".

Looks like Ramona Shelburne was the only reporter allowed to ask anything about the investigation. And there were no follow-ups. All softball questions.

I want to edit this since it was quick and I just watched it again.

Q: "What is your understanding of the endorsement deal you had with the company and did you perform any services for them:
A: "I understand the full contract and the services I had to do. Like I said, I don't deal with the conspiracies or the clickbait analysis or research that is going on."
Q: "I think the allegation was that you didn't perform any services. Is that accurate?"
A: "I don't think it's accurate. It's old. This is all new to you."

I fully understand what I had to do.... Nothing

It's not fully accurate.... Did not say its false. He did something, he had to sign his name. That's something.

[PushDaRock]

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lol how do you not just answer with a definitive NO that is unless you don't want to get caught in a lie that might come back to bite you.

[G R E Y]

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lol how do you not just answer with a definitive NO that is unless you don't want to get caught in a lie that might come back to bite you.

Read on Twitter

His eyes look like he knows it's coming and knows what he's been told to say and dreads it.

Weird how he repeats almost verbatim what Ballmer said.

And why can't either just answer, "No"?

Brings us back to PushDaRock's point.

[G R E Y]

The responses are gold:

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[TinmanZBoy]

at the end, all of these are just entertaining.... Silver and NBA would never turn their gun at Ballmer, owners may grump behind the doors, but ultimately Ballmer is too valuable to everybody involved... good job by Pablo though