Clippers Owner Racist Comments Fallout: Oprah Winfrey, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya & Frankie Muniz Interested in Buying Team?
The National Basketball Association banned Donald Sterling for life for his racist remarks and will be forced to sell the Los Angeles Clippers franchise. And after the announcement was made, several big-name personalities quickly expressed intention in buying the Clippers.
ESPN reported on Wednesday that Oprah Winfrey will team up with David Geffen and Larry Ellison to make a bid to acquire the franchise once the NBA Board of Governors makes their vote to force Sterling to sell the team.
Geffen said, though, that Winfrey has no interest in running the team. Geffen and Ellison would be assigned to run the franchise, while Winfrey will only be a major investor.
"Oprah is not interested in running the team," Geffen said. "She thinks it would be a great thing for an important black American to own [another] franchise."
Geffen, a film and music mogul, previously tried to purchase a controlling stake in 2010 for $600 million, but was reportedly turned down by Sterling.
Boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr., who regularly watches Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers game at the Staples Center, also wants to buy the Clippers.
Mayweather told reporters on Tuesday that he was serious about his interest, saying that he has already talked to Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, and boxing adviser Al Haymon about owning the Clippers.
"I called Al today about that to see if me, Leonard and Al, and hopefully Richard and a couple of other guys, a couple other of my billionaire guys, we can come together and see what we can come up with," Mayweather said. "Hopefully, we can do it, and it's not just talk."
Mayweather added, though, that he has nothing against Sterling, who was also slapped a $2.5 million fine. The reigning boxing pound-for-pound king said that Sterling has always been good to him, always inviting him to games.
Long-time Clippers fan Frankie Muniz, who previously starred in "Malcom in the Middle", also said that he is buying the Clippers.
Muniz was disgusted with the racist remarks made by Sterling in a recorded conversation with V. Stiviano, saying that there is no place for owners like him in the NBA.
"I'm disgusted by the things said by owner Donald Sterling," Muniz said. "I feel badly for the players, coaches and all members of the Los Angeles Clippers staff. They have worked incredibly hard to put together an amazing team."
It was also reported that Oscar De La Hoya has interest in buying the team.
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