New Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer, nearing the beginning of his first season with the team, continues to make the media rounds in wake of his blockbuster $2B purchase, including conversations with SI, PBS and NBA TV, among others. SI's Lee Jenkins asked Ballmer if his team's dynamic with the Lakers mattered to him. Ballmer responded, "I don't think so. Our goal is to compete with 29 teams, not one. But how people in Los Angeles self-select to be a Clippers fan or Lakers fan is interesting. I did a poll of a thousand Angelenos who have any basketball interest. We found that people are very open-minded. There's a lot of hope for the Clippers and interest in what the new team is going to look like." Ballmer said of the team's culture under new ownership, "The team culture changes every four or five years whether you want it to or not. But changing the culture with the fans is the hardest part. Can they accept that this is a dynamic franchise, a relentless, driving team? That doesn't mean you won't get setbacks, but we're so darn committed, so darn hard core, we're going to be fun and exciting." Asked what a "hard-core owner" does, Ballmer replied, "Support his guys the best he can, give them every opportunity to win and give the fans the deepest, richest, best experience. I've spent most of my time learning what other teams do and how you make the best experience for the person in the stadium, the person watching at home and the person who is in neither of those two places but may dial in and watch from something later" (SI, 10/27 issue).
CLOSE TO THE VEST: Appearing on Monday's episode of "CBS This Morning," Ballmer denied the report he was willing to "pay anything" to acquire the Clippers. But when asked what he would have paid, he said, "You don’t ever go back and reveal your negotiating strategy … because then you can't play a hand next time." Ballmer said former Clippers co-Owner Shelly Sterling was "very gracious with me during the process and I just tried to say, 'Hey, I really want to own this team. I have no intent to move it to Seattle despite the fact that Seattle is our home. I'll commute down and I love basketball'" (
"CBS This Morning," CBS, 10/21). Meanwhile, Ballmer said his investment in the Clippers will yield as good a return as an S&P Index Fund and, "I believe it has less downside than almost anything you buy." Ballmer: "It's a good asset. It's beachfront property in the NBA" (
"Charlie Rose," PBS, 10/22).
PLAYERS BUYING IN: Clippers G Chris Paul said Ballmer "has been unbelievable, letting everybody know that there are great days ahead." In a Q&A with CBSSPORTS.com's Ken Berger, Paul was asked if he could describe Ballmer in one word and replied, "Enthusiastic." He added, "I really like him. From my own personal experience, I had an opportunity to play golf with him once this summer and our team had dinner with him." Paul also was asked if NBA Commissioner Adam Silver gained any credit from players for how he dealt with the ownership transition. Paul: "I don't know. Knowing Adam, I don't think he does anything to gain some points or some cred. I think he definitely has our respect. I've said this before: One of the best things about Adam so far has been the dialogue. At times, we differ on different things, but just to have that dialogue, I think helps." Meanwhile Paul, who also is NBPA President, addressed players taking max contracts: "I don't think guys should be blamed for taking max contracts." He added, "Fans, at the end of the day, want to see players go out and play. And guys want to try to earn as much as they can in this short amount of time that we have to play our careers" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/21).
ALL ABOUT STEVE: TNT's Chris Webber said of Ballmer, "It’s good for the NBA, and I am happy to see somebody really proud to be an owner.” TNT's Charles Barkley added, "It’s great for the Clipper organization. Donald Sterling gave the Clippers -- even when they were bad and unsuccessful -- a bad name." TNT's Shaquille O'Neal said of Ballmer's purchase price, "Even though some think he overpaid, I think it was a great investment. ... The Clippers have always been a team that hasn't been looked at in the city of Los Angeles. Again, with Kobe leaving in two years and them being young and exciting, they could actually take over that city.” Basketball HOFer Isiah Thomas: "I am happy that we got someone who is knowledgeable about the game, who is a fan of the game, and who is passionate about the game, and who really gets it." TNT's Reggie Miller: "I think Adam Silver is happy. … It is day and night between Sterling and Ballmer. I think there was such a black cloud, especially during the playoffs and covering the games, and going to Staples (Center) and seeing the fans and everything that was going on” (“Open Court,” NBATV, 10/21).
