Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer's first season with the team "ended abruptly in tatters, leaving him with nothing but strong opinions on how to fix it," and in a "refreshingly honest and direct conversation ... on Thursday morning, Ballmer critiqued and challenged and laid out those opinions," according to Bill Plaschke of the L.A. TIMES. Ballmer "heartily endorses" Clippers coach and Senior VP/Basketball Operations Doc Rivers as the "face of his franchise." But he noted that Rivers is "still growing as an executive and will hopefully benefit from his first summer of ownership stability." Ballmer added that he "continues to support the idea of one man running the entire team, from roster to floor, because his neighbor Pete Carroll has experienced success in that role" as coach of the Seahawks. Ballmer: "I like being able to have direct conversations with Doc. This is the first year we really have a chance to see what Doc has got as (an executive). I consider this his real coming-out party as an executive."
NOISE ALERT: Ballmer is also "hoping this season is a coming-out party for Clippers fans." Ballmer said that despite being the "loudest basketball fans" in L.A., they need to "turn it up a notch, and he hopes to tailor the game production to encourage that." He added, "To me, it's how do we get the place more boisterous, more supportive, more engaged? ... It's not like other arenas, it's not as noisy as other arenas. For Los Angeles, it's noisy, but who cares? We're competing against everyone in the league. We've got to do some stuff to get our folks moving some." Ballmer said that it is "only natural to want more priority, which could eventually mean building his own arena." He added, "We're third guy in, we have third choice in dates. If you are a good businessman, you don't come to the end of your lease and say, 'I have no options, landlord, please take me to the woodshed and beat me.' We'll have options."
STAYING PUT: Ballmer confirmed that the Clippers "will make their stand" in L.A., not in his Seattle home. He said, "This team, outside of Los Angeles, isn't worth what I paid for it. It's worth what I paid for it because it is in this market with its financial opportunities and buyer base. I'm not moving this team. I'm happy to be playing in Los Angeles, and when it comes time to renew our lease, we'll either renew here or we'll build here" (L.A. TIMES, 6/19). Ballmer: "The Clippers will always be in L.A. Hey, let’s face it, for most of our history we’ve been the No. 2 team in L.A., but we embrace this place and we’re as fired about it and care as much about it as anybody else around. We’re here. We’ll always be here. I don’t even think about it" (ESPNLA.com, 6/18).
