http://www.tmz.com/2014/05/25/shelly-sterling-steve-ballmer-clippers-sale-seattle-sell/
EDIT: (added 6/4/2014) -kado
Attorney: Donald Sterling agrees to sell Clippers
http://www.nba.com/2014/news/06/04/sterling-agrees-to-sell-clippers.ap/index.html
Shelly Sterling will meet with former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Sunday afternoon ... and the subject of the meeting is selling the Clippers ... TMZ Sports has learned.
The meeting will take place at Shelly's Malibu mansion. TMZ Sports broke the story ... Donald Sterling has surrendered control of the team to Shelly.
We're told Shelly sees the handwriting on the wall -- the NBA wants the team sold -- but she wants to do it on her terms. She and her lawyer, Pierce O'Donnell, have been secretly meeting with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to see if they can reach an agreement whereby Shelly has the right to voluntarily sell the team.
Shelly is taking matters into her own hands. Ballmer -- worth an estimated $20 billion -- has indicated he wants to buy the team. We're told O'Donnell will be present at the meeting.
Here's the rub for L.A. fans. Although Ballmer has publicly said if he bought the team he would keep it in the City of Angels ... he's deeply entrenched in Seattle. He was actively trying to keep the Sonics in his home city before the team moved to Oklahoma. With such deep family ties and city pride ... there's fear Ballmer would move the team North.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/05/25/shelly-sterling-steve-ballmer-clippers-sale-seattle-sell/#ixzz32lITNfJE
EDIT: (added 6/4/2014) -kado
Attorney: Donald Sterling agrees to sell Clippers
http://www.nba.com/2014/news/06/04/sterling-agrees-to-sell-clippers.ap/index.html
I'd hate it because clipper fans put up with some BULLSHIT through out history.
But Ballmer would be a good owner i think. Or. Invested owner anyway.
But Ballmer would be a good owner i think. Or. Invested owner anyway.
I'd hate it because clipper fans put up with some BULLSHIT through out history.
But Ballmer would be a good owner i think. Or. Invested owner anyway.
For a league that had Sterling, Taylor, the Maloof brothers and Dolan
Ballmer would be very good..
I'd hate it because clipper fans put up with some BULLSHIT through out history.
But Ballmer would be a good owner i think. Or. Invested owner anyway.
For a league that had Sterling, Taylor, the Maloof brothers and Dolan
Ballmer would be very good..
Oh yeh. Engaged. Think he'd be Cuban-esque. But maybe less press vocal.
...and then the NBA gets to charge a huge franchise fee for a second LA team again, and erase the Clipper name from collective memory. Everybody wins!
Seems like Grant Hill and SoCal investors are trying to make a bid as well...
Well I imagine there will be at least a few competing bids. The Sterlings are many things, but they are certainly good with money so they will let the bidding drive the price up.
Ballmer does need a new hobby though so hopefully we can win it at the end.
#getthesupersonicsoutofla
Shelly Sterling has retained Bank of America to help sell the franchise. ESPN reported Sunday that at least six serious groups have approached Shelly Sterling and her advisers about purchasing the team. Four of those groups are known: former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer; a group including music mogul David Geffen, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Oprah Winfrey; billionaire surgeon and entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong; and a group including former NBA star Grant Hill and Southern California businessmen Tony Ressler and Bruce Karsh.
One source with knowledge of the process estimated that most of the first bids will start at $1 billion.
this whole thing is going to turn into all the players, coaches, etc turning to not giving a shit and pretending not to care about the issue due to how long its going to take this to get through litigation
RT @soshnick: BREAKING: Tony Ressler/Karsh/Grant Hill group submits $1.2 billion offer on @LAClippers #sportsbiz
BRUH WUT??? $1.2BIL?
BRUH WUT??? $1.2BIL?
RT @soshnick: BREAKING: Tony Ressler/Karsh/Grant Hill group submits $1.2 billion offer on @LAClippers #sportsbiz
BRUH WUT??? $1.2BIL?
they getting well over a billion.. That's been known
this whole thing is going to turn into all the players, coaches, etc turning to not giving a shit and pretending not to care about the issue due to how long its going to take this to get through litigation
It's all talk to save face. Sterling will never turn down 1+ billion dollars.
Ballmer bought them for $2b.
Steve carrying over his Microsoft CEO decision making to other areas of life.
Steve carrying over his Microsoft CEO decision making to other areas of life.
My condolences to Clips fans.
However, I must say that the potential Thunder-Sonics rivalry will be insane.
You have to think if Ballmer is willing to pay $2 billion that he isn't keeping them in LA.
However, I must say that the potential Thunder-Sonics rivalry will be insane.
You have to think if Ballmer is willing to pay $2 billion that he isn't keeping them in LA.
I thought he was keeping it in LA. I mean they're definitely not worth $2 billion in Seattle.
They're likely not 'worth' 2 billion in LA. Balmer really really wanted them, makes me think if he's willing to blow other offers away by 500-800 million then he's willing to move them to get them to Seattle even if it costs him some money.
Well the worst case scenario happened. Guess I'm stuck without a team now.
The fuck are you talking about? Ballmer isn't moving the team out of LA. This isn't some back room Robber Baron shit like with OKC.
Bennett said the Sonics were staying in Seattle too.Well the worst case scenario happened. Guess I'm stuck without a team now.
The fuck are you talking about? Ballmer isn't moving the team out of LA. This isn't some back room Robber Baron shit like with OKC.
I really wonder if Ballmer would move the team. It's a pet project purchase for him most likely and the clamor for a team in Seattle would be huge, admittedly. Plus you have the Vancouver fanbase just 110 miles away who have also been deprived of any kind of NBA activity for years now too. A move could work, imo...
People need to stop worrying about the $2 billion figure too. It's a prestige purchase. A pro sports franchise is the ultimate toy for a billionaire.
There's a huge amount of psychic value to owning the team, plus he'd be forever revered in the Pacific NW for bringing the Sonics back.
There's a huge amount of psychic value to owning the team, plus he'd be forever revered in the Pacific NW for bringing the Sonics back.
People need to stop worrying about the $2 billion figure too. It's a prestige purchase. A pro sports franchise is the ultimate toy for a billionaire.
There's a huge amount of psychic value to owning the team, plus he'd be forever revered in the Pacific NW for bringing the Sonics back.
its still unbelievably high--there are owners who's net worth is around that figure
Well the worst case scenario happened. Guess I'm stuck without a team now.
The fuck are you talking about? Ballmer isn't moving the team out of LA. This isn't some back room Robber Baron shit like with OKC.
It's not the same situation with OKC at all. He wouldn't even take heat from anyone for moving the team because LA still has a vastly more popular team.
In fact, Stern tried to get Sterling to move the team for years unsuccessfully so I can't imagine Silver would have a problem with such a move.
I just don't see why you move it now and instantly cut a sizable amount of its value, but this is the same guy that did all he could to run MS into the ground. So sure why not.
RT @ramonashelburne: Espn has learned that experts had declared Donald Sterling mentally incapacitated, leaving Shelly as sole trustee & power to sell the team
RT @ramonashelburne: The Sterling Family Trust had rules & guidelines about mental incapacitation. Very recently, Donald was found by experts to be incapacitated
I thought you guys were joking. Wow.
RT @ramonashelburne: The Sterling Family Trust had rules & guidelines about mental incapacitation. Very recently, Donald was found by experts to be incapacitated
I thought you guys were joking. Wow.
Moving to Seattle from some backwards-ass city is one thing, moving from LA of all places just doesn't seem plausible to me, even if they're playing second banana to the Lakers.
i'd like very much for the clippers to fuck off from LA, but they're not leaving one the biggest media markets in the world. :/
Moving to Seattle from some backwards-ass city is one thing, moving from LA of all places just doesn't seem plausible to me, even if they're playing second banana to the Lakers.
Neither is paying $2 billion for a sports team. Yes, the Clippers can be profitable for years to come, but it will take a long time, if ever, it make the $2 billion back. He also overpaid for the team so it will be a long time before the franchise value actually exceeds $2 billion.
I realize Ballmer is saying he won't move the team because it will devalue the team by a factor of 2 instantly, but I believe this is just a setup to make him look like a hero, or to get a favorable arena deal from Seattle.
RT @ramonashelburne: Espn has learned that experts had declared Donald Sterling mentally incapacitated, leaving Shelly as sole trustee & power to sell the teamEven if they didn't, the easy QUICK out by the NBA to let the daughter / wife handle the sale and not donald, versus a potential 5 year legal battle if far out weighed. you take the quick out. As long as they're not selling it for $2 and a black cornfield, it doesn't matter.
RT @ramonashelburne: The Sterling Family Trust had rules & guidelines about mental incapacitation. Very recently, Donald was found by experts to be incapacitated
I thought you guys were joking. Wow.
You get it sorted this off season. New owner in place. And A direction for the team, whether it be seattle or LA, in place.
I don´t know why people assume Ballmer will move them to Seattle. I think it´s just an inflated ego and he´s probably just pissing Hansen off. Would be great, but i think the chances of moving and renaming them are slim to none.
Moving to Seattle from some backwards-ass city is one thing, moving from LA of all places just doesn't seem plausible to me, even if they're playing second banana to the Lakers.Like the Raiders moving to Oakland?
Moving to Seattle from some backwards-ass city is one thing, moving from LA of all places just doesn't seem plausible to me, even if they're playing second banana to the Lakers.Hey now, get it right! The state is backwards-ass, the city isn't.
The Clips-to-Seattle move makes a lot more sense than the Sonics-to-OKC move, honestly. Seattle is a big traditional basketball market, they need a team, and LA doesn't need two teams. Plus it's not like they'd be getting a bad team. Blake, CP3 and Doc is a nice core to build around.
I'd be shocked if they don't move.
Bennett said the Sonics were staying in Seattle too.Well the worst case scenario happened. Guess I'm stuck without a team now.
The fuck are you talking about? Ballmer isn't moving the team out of LA. This isn't some back room Robber Baron shit like with OKC.
1. Fuck you.
2. That was different.
3. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11005695/seattle-bid-nba-team-dealt-blow-steve-ballmer-agrees-purchase-los-angeles-clippers
Seattle is essentially to the NBA what Los Angeles is to the NFL (albeit on a smaller scale). For the NBA having Seattle without a team provides better bargaining power for all those mid size cities looking to extort their populace for new arenas and whatever.
Moving to Seattle from some backwards-ass city is one thing, moving from LA of all places just doesn't seem plausible to me, even if they're playing second banana to the Lakers.Like the Raiders moving to Oakland?
Al Davis found a populace he could extort.
Let's be honest, there's 0 logical reason to move the Clippers to Seattle. The Staples Center is a great arena, they have plenty of TV viewership, they have a huge populace to draw from (I think the Clippers have one of the longest sell out streaks going in the NBA right now). This isn't a team that is struggling financially and needs the economic boost that rebooting in another city brings. Its a money making asset that has been run poorly basketball-wise because the owner didn't care about it as anything other than an asset.
It's not about logic. It's about a Seattle homer who would love to get the Sonics back.Bennett said the Sonics were staying in Seattle too.Well the worst case scenario happened. Guess I'm stuck without a team now.
The fuck are you talking about? Ballmer isn't moving the team out of LA. This isn't some back room Robber Baron shit like with OKC.
1. Fuck you.
2. That was different.
3. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11005695/seattle-bid-nba-team-dealt-blow-steve-ballmer-agrees-purchase-los-angeles-clippers
Seattle is essentially to the NBA what Los Angeles is to the NFL (albeit on a smaller scale). For the NBA having Seattle without a team provides better bargaining power for all those mid size cities looking to extort their populace for new arenas and whatever.Moving to Seattle from some backwards-ass city is one thing, moving from LA of all places just doesn't seem plausible to me, even if they're playing second banana to the Lakers.Like the Raiders moving to Oakland?
Al Davis found a populace he could extort.
Let's be honest, there's 0 logical reason to move the Clippers to Seattle. The Staples Center is a great arena, they have plenty of TV viewership, they have a huge populace to draw from (I think the Clippers have one of the longest sell out streaks going in the NBA right now). This isn't a team that is struggling financially and needs the economic boost that rebooting in another city brings. Its a money making asset that has been run poorly basketball-wise because the owner didn't care about it as anything other than an asset.
wow. its done.
clippers sold to Ballmer for $2 Billion.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/11003237/former-microsoft-executive-steve-ballmer-submits-winning-bid-buy-clippers-according-sources
clippers sold to Ballmer for $2 Billion.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/11003237/former-microsoft-executive-steve-ballmer-submits-winning-bid-buy-clippers-according-sources
It's not about logic. It's about a Seattle homer who would love to get the Sonics back.Bennett said the Sonics were staying in Seattle too.Well the worst case scenario happened. Guess I'm stuck without a team now.
The fuck are you talking about? Ballmer isn't moving the team out of LA. This isn't some back room Robber Baron shit like with OKC.
1. Fuck you.
2. That was different.
3. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11005695/seattle-bid-nba-team-dealt-blow-steve-ballmer-agrees-purchase-los-angeles-clippers
Seattle is essentially to the NBA what Los Angeles is to the NFL (albeit on a smaller scale). For the NBA having Seattle without a team provides better bargaining power for all those mid size cities looking to extort their populace for new arenas and whatever.Moving to Seattle from some backwards-ass city is one thing, moving from LA of all places just doesn't seem plausible to me, even if they're playing second banana to the Lakers.Like the Raiders moving to Oakland?
Al Davis found a populace he could extort.
Let's be honest, there's 0 logical reason to move the Clippers to Seattle. The Staples Center is a great arena, they have plenty of TV viewership, they have a huge populace to draw from (I think the Clippers have one of the longest sell out streaks going in the NBA right now). This isn't a team that is struggling financially and needs the economic boost that rebooting in another city brings. Its a money making asset that has been run poorly basketball-wise because the owner didn't care about it as anything other than an asset.
Ballmer is a businessman first and foremost. I think the reason he split from Hansen is that he realized he had a better chance of getting an NBA team if he WASN'T trying to move it. If he was going to move them to Seattle he would've stuck with Hansen.
RT @WojYahooNBA: Donald Sterling plans to file a $1 billion lawsuit against the NBA, his attorney Max Blecker confirms in email to Yahoo Sports.
RT @WojYahooNBA: The NBA has resolved dispute with Shelly Sterling and says sale of Clippers to Ballmer only pending Board of Governors vote, league says.
RT @WojYahooNBA: Because of binding agreement with Steve Ballmer, the NBA has cancelled the termination hearing on Tuesday in New York.
RT @WojYahooNBA: Asked source involved w/ Clippers sale process if Sterling has any legal avenue to stop Ballmer ownership, "No. He is totally boxed in."
RT @WojYahooNBA: Because of binding agreement with Steve Ballmer, the NBA has cancelled the termination hearing on Tuesday in New York.
RT @WojYahooNBA: Asked source involved w/ Clippers sale process if Sterling has any legal avenue to stop Ballmer ownership, "No. He is totally boxed in."
