Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to buy Clippers for $2 billion

[Atomic Playboy]

Rich cares about money and securing the future for themselves and heirs. I personally know a multibillionaire who started two separate billion dollar companies. One was sold off at retirement age for retirement cash. The other probably would be sold for the right price if given a chance like Sterling. It's not about comfortable living. It's about making money.

Yes, all rich people care about the exact same thing; getting richer at any cost. That's why the giving pledge has failed to attract a single donor; every rich person on Earth is more interested in hoarding money so they can give it all to their heirs. It's also why rich people never buy megayachts or private jets, as those are just sunken costs, not a good investment. Because there's literally nothing on Earth that matters to a rich person outside of money.

They say money can't buy happiness. But it turns out money can buy the Clippers. Someone go ask Steve Ballmer if he's happier or sadder now that he owns an NBA franchise. Remind him that he's now $2 billion poorer, as that will probably have a dramatic impact on his normally ebullient mood.

 

[momeNt]

under what law?

Not sure, people can call for something without a law backing it up.

Perhaps Congress should be able to pass decrees, that aren't precedent setting, and address only a specific issue. So congress could decree Sterling cannot receive the money from the sale of the franchise, and could designate the beneficiaries of the sale. No precedent would be set, so the racists wouldn't have to set their hair on fire over potentially losing THEIR wealth and property. But justice could still be served.

Not really my views on the matter, but perhaps the people that do want Sterling to lose the money from the sale might be able to get on board with this.

 

[preslove]

Wtf, lol.

His family doesn't want their racist asshole of a patriarch to stand in the way of their payday.

 

[Phoenix86]

He's said he's not moving it.

He can't. He already tried with another team and the NBA denied it. NBA commented on this purchase and they won't allow this move either.

 

[darkewaffle]

Not sure, people can call for something without a law backing it up.

Perhaps Congress should be able to pass decrees, that aren't precedent setting, and address only a specific issue. So congress could decree Sterling cannot receive the money from the sale of the franchise, and could designate the beneficiaries of the sale. No precedent would be set, so the racists wouldn't have to set their hair on fire over potentially losing THEIR wealth and property. But justice could still be served.

Not really my views on the matter, but perhaps the people that do want Sterling to lose the money from the sale might be able to get on board with this.

The sobering part is some people are probably like "HEY THATS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA".

 

[waggy]

His family doesn't want their racist asshole of a patriarch to stand in the way of their payday.

hell no. i don't blame them in the least.

Not sure, people can call for something without a law backing it up.

Perhaps Congress should be able to pass decrees, that aren't precedent setting, and address only a specific issue. So congress could decree Sterling cannot receive the money from the sale of the franchise, and could designate the beneficiaries of the sale. No precedent would be set, so the racists wouldn't have to set their hair on fire over potentially losing THEIR wealth and property. But justice could still be served.

Not really my views on the matter, but perhaps the people that do want Sterling to lose the money from the sale might be able to get on board with this.

rolf.yeah so something easy eh?

lol

 

[SP33Demon]

What can he do with $5 billion that he can't do with $1 billion? Buy the Lakers? At a certain point, additional money becomes largely meaningless; it's just numbers on paper. It doesn't affect his quality of life in any discernible way. However, ownership of something that brings him joy CAN affect his quality of life. The way some of you people talk about passions as investments makes me wonder at what point something is dear enough to you that no amount of money would make you sell it. "I'll give you $1 billion, but you can never see your kids again. No? OK, $2 billion. $5 billion? Everything has a price, am I right?" If he decides that owning a basketball team brings him more happiness than ANY amount of additional money in his bank account, is he wrong for thinking that way?

Holy shit, the assumptions about someone's happiness is ridiculous. Who the fuck knows what makes him happy? Maybe 2 billion makes him happier than owning a stupid team, stop speaking for him already. Maybe the massages and bj's and threesomes he may get now that he doesn't have to worry about a team will bring him more "happiness than ANY additional money in his bank account". Maybe buying a new [insert possession or membership here] will give him more happiness than the clips. Who the fuck knows, all we know is that he now has a lot more money than he used to have to invest in something that will bring him "happiness". smh

 

[preslove]

Why do we care about the happiness of a racist asshole with a long history of racial discrimination in housing?

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Why do we care about the happiness of a racist asshole with a long history of racial discrimination in housing?

Why did we only care about his racism when it became about Magic Johnson and not the people he'd legitimately harmed through his business practices? Life's funny that way.

 

[momeNt]

Holy shit, the assumptions about someone's happiness is ridiculous. Who the fuck knows what makes him happy? Maybe 2 billion makes him happier than owning a stupid team, stop speaking for him already. Maybe the massages and bj's and threesomes he may get now that he doesn't have to worry about a team will bring him more "happiness than ANY additional money in his bank account". Maybe buying a new [insert possession or membership here] will give him more happiness than the clips. Who the fuck knows, all we know is that he now has a lot more money than he used to have to invest in something that will bring him "happiness". smh

How is "what if" speaking for him? It's simply conjecture. Calm down bro.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Holy shit, the assumptions about someone's happiness is ridiculous. Who the fuck knows what makes him happy? Maybe 2 billion makes him happier than owning a stupid team, stop speaking for him already. Maybe the massages and bj's and threesomes he may get now that he doesn't have to worry about a team will bring him more "happiness than ANY additional money in his bank account". Maybe buying a new [insert possession or membership here] will give him more happiness than the clips. Who the fuck knows, all we know is that he now has a lot more money than he used to have to invest in something that will bring him "happiness". smh

You were quick to make assumptions about Ballmer's "investment" in the Clippers, as though the only reason anyone would want to own a sports franchise is to make money. We have lots of examples of Donald Sterling announcing that he never wanted to sell the Clippers and that he enjoyed owning a sports team; I think that speaks pretty clearly to him deriving happiness from owning that team and thinking about it outside of a monetary investment. Do we care about his happiness? No, not in the slightest. But it speaks to motivation beyond "what amount is required to get you to sell?" Sometimes you can't put a value on something you love.

 

[darkewaffle]

Why do we care about the happiness of a racist asshole with a long history of racial discrimination in housing?

It's not about his happiness, but what is right and his rights. It may cause your heart and your head to conflict, but all people [in the US] have rights, not just the 'good' people.

 

[DesiPower]

 

[SP33Demon]

You were quick to make assumptions about Ballmer's "investment" in the Clippers, as though the only reason anyone would want to own a sports franchise is to make money. We have lots of examples of Donald Sterling announcing that he never wanted to sell the Clippers and that he enjoyed owning a sports team; I think that speaks pretty clearly to him deriving happiness from owning that team and thinking about it outside of a monetary investment. Do we care about his happiness? No, not in the slightest. But it speaks to motivation beyond "what amount is required to get you to sell?" Sometimes you can't put a value on something you love.

Him not wanting to sell could have been for a lot of reasons, including to drive up the price of the team. Pure speculation on this happiness BS. The only sure thing we know is that young women make him happy, especially ones half his age.

 

[smackababy]

Him not wanting to sell could have been for a lot of reasons, including to drive up the price of the team. Pure speculation on this happiness BS. The only sure thing we know is that young women make him happy, especially ones half his age.

I wouldn't refer to 40 year olds (half his age) as young women.

 

[Phoenix86]

The team is already do inflated in value, that wouldn't be a bad thing. The Clippers are not worth $2 billion, not by a long shot.

Sterlings would disagree, or do you think your opinion (or anyone's opinion other than Ballmer) will change the amount the check they receive?

It's worth $2B because someone just paid $2B for it.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Him not wanting to sell could have been for a lot of reasons, including to drive up the price of the team. Pure speculation on this happiness BS. The only sure thing we know is that young women make him happy, especially ones half his age.

I wouldn't say we know for sure that young women make him happy. After this V Stiviano nonsense, I'd venture that he wishes he'd never met her...

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

 

[Phoenix86]

Why did we only care about his racism when it became about Magic Johnson and not the people he'd legitimately harmed through his business practices? Life's funny that way.

Mostly because I'm not so ignorant to think he can separate racism from his personal life to business, because racist don't do that, at best they hide it at work.

BTW, Stiviano was an employee of his.

Also, the events he was referring to were company games.

But let's not let little facts like that pollute the discussion.

 

[tynopik]

Now that Sterling has been officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's, can he sue the league under the ADA for not making reasonable accommodations for his disability?

 

[Fritzo]

 

[smackababy]

Mostly because I'm not so ignorant to think he can separate racism from his personal life to business, because racist don't do that, at best they hide it at work.

BTW, Stiviano was an employee of his.

Also, the events he was referring to were company games.

But let's not let little facts like that pollute the discussion.

You think that his personal views on race would effective his business? We should certainly remove the Chick-fil-a guy then. Gay are soon to be turned away from their chicken! And thank god Mozilla's CEO was removed, otherwise, gays wouldn't be able to use that browser!

I am rather curious as to what the rest of that hour+ long tape actually says. It is funny that only certain parts were released. As far as I am concerned, he was illegally recorded. You'd think, if he had asked to be recorded, he would consent on tape and that could be released right?

 

[Phoenix86]

You think that his personal views on race would effective his business? We should certainly remove the Chick-fil-a guy then. Gay are soon to be turned away from their chicken! And thank god Mozilla's CEO was removed, otherwise, gays wouldn't be able to use that browser!

I am rather curious as to what the rest of that hour+ long tape actually says. It is funny that only certain parts were released. As far as I am concerned, he was illegally recorded. You'd think, if he had asked to be recorded, he would consent on tape and that could be released right?

First, yes. Racists aren't non-racist the minute they walk into the work place. Multiply that times 100 when you are the boss. Second, yes. I don't need to guess because he actually did it and admitted to it. Stiviano was his employee. He was telling his employee not to be photographed with black people. He was telling his employee not to bring black people to company events (games).

Next, his business? Excuse me, when did he buy the NBA? He's a franchise owner. Franchise owners must operate within the franchise rules. I'm completely OK with the NBA kicking out someone for good enough reasons. What I wouldn't be OK with is demonizing every flaw in every person and abusing the position.

As far as the legality goes, has anyone answered where it was recorded? I don't know, but it really doesn't matter, he's "incriminated" himself just as much in that interview. He's also admitted it was his voice, so in the court of public opinion he's fucked. Also, as mentioned in the other thread, this isn't a criminal case. The bar for legal or illegal recordings doesn't apply in civil cases, from what I understand.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Sterling suing for 1 billion dollars

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...ers-owner-donald-sterling-suing-nba-1-billion

 

[rockyct]

Nobody is saying that the NBA won't grow, but today on paper that sale was a horrible investment since he won't recoup his initial investment for awhile. The opportunity cost simply isn't worth it. He must really love basketball.

I don't think he actually gives a shit. $2billion out of his $20 billion isn't going to change anything except he now owns a decent NBA team in a huge market. Why worry about investments if you have $20 billion unless you want to buy something that can't really go down much in value. He's the largest shareowner of Microsoft now (Bill Gates is steadily selling his shares off) and Microsoft's stock is doing quite well. It's gone up 20% since a year ago and is over $40.

The saddest thing here is that he barely could have afforded to buy Whatsapp.