The major news from the world of sports this week is Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been given a lifetime ban from the NBA by commissioner Adam Silver. The ban was a response to Sterling being heard on video tape making racist comments. Sterling has since acknowledged that it was his voice and was subsequently punished.
With Sterling out, rumors have begun to circulate about who the next owner of the NBA franchise will be. Magic Johnson’s name was thrown around a bit, but it appears a group consisting of entertainment mogul David Geffen, Oprah, and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. The news of the partnership was released via e-mail on Wednesday. This would be the second business partnership between Ellison and Geffen who owned the world’s largest luxury yacht, The Rising Sun, together.
While Ellison is yet to confirm his involvement with the group, there’s no doubt he loves the sport. As a child Ellison would skip his homework to play hoops. $40 billion later, Ellison has been known to have basketball courts on his yachts and has been seen playing hoops their many times. Of course, like a billionaire, Ellison has someone in a powerboat on the water to retrieve the basketballs that go overboard.
Right now, Magic Johnson and his group is the fan favorite to own the Clippers. Many fans have been attending the games (Ellison has been at the games as well) with signs pitching Magic as the next owner. However, it’s hard to deny that Ellison’s group’s power can be matched. They’d clearly be great owners – look what the three of them have accomplished!!
Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
