Oprah Winfrey To Place Bid For Los Angeles Clippers?
by Staff Editor
Whether Oprah Winfrey is or is not a basketball fan, the veteran TV show host is considering to team up with David Geffen and Larry Ellison to buy the Los Angeles Clippers if the NBA’s board of governors vote to force Donald Sterling to sell, according to ESPN.
Geffen, a music and film mogul with a net worth estimated at $6.2 billion, reported attempted to buy a controlling stake in the Clippers back in 2010 but was rebuffed by Sterling. Ellison, the CEO of Oracle – a business software and technology company – has attempted to purchase various sports teams in previous years. Both Geffen and Ellison have expressed varying levels of interest in ownership and it appears Oprah is tacking on to strengthen their team with her sizable numbers.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed in yesterday’s (April 29) press conference that there is no room for Sterling in the NBA. The owner is banned for life and has been fined $2.5 million for his racist comments. The commissioner also expressed that he will do what ever it takes to force Sterling out of ownership.
“I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him,” Silver said.
Aside from Oprah, boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Puff Daddy have also claimed interest in buying the team yesterday, as well as real-estate tycoon Rick Caruso.
Rumors are circulating that Magic Johnson, Mark Walter and their Guggenheim Partners group are also possible bidders.