If Donald Sterling is compelled to sell the Los Angeles Clip
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If Donald Sterling is compelled to sell the Los Angeles Clip
LOS ANGELES -- If Donald Sterling is compelled to sell the Los Angeles Clippers, the list of potential buyers has more stars than their roster. Bruno Alves Portugal . Oprah Winfrey is contemplating a bid. Sean Combs is a Knicks fan, but he wants in. Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants the whole team. Matt Damon wants a tiny piece. Billionaires, entertainers and athletes alike announced their intentions to pursue the Clippers with varying degrees of seriousness Wednesday, proving the longtime losers will be quite a prize if the NBA is able to wrest control of the team away from Sterling after his lifetime ban for racist remarks. Winfrey led the list, and the media mogul is already bringing in her friends. "Oprah Winfrey is in discussions with David Geffen and Larry Ellison to make a bid for the Los Angeles Clippers should the team become available," spokesperson Nicole Nichols confirmed in an email. If Winfrey joins Geffen, the billionaire entertainment executive, and Oracle CEO Ellison to pool their vast resources for a bid, they could be among the top contenders for a franchise that would be among the most valuable sports properties to hit the market since the Los Angeles Dodgers $2 billion sale in 2012 to the Guggenheim Partners group fronted by Magic Johnson, the Lakers great and another potential Clippers bidder. The Clippers spent the last three decades rotting in the shadow of the glamorous Lakers, who piled up championships while the lowly Clips only racked up losses. With Sterlings ouster, the Clippers suddenly became the most attractive team in town to wealthy fans lining up for an unlikely chance to seize control of a Hollywood sports franchise on the move. David Carter, the executive director of USCs Sports Business Institute, identifies multiple factors contributing to the Clippers extraordinary value. "Interest in the team results from the combination of NBA teams being rare assets that are seldom available for purchase, the location of this particular team, and potential owners belief that revenue streams linked to rehabbing the brand and participating in future revenue linked to a new TV deal all make the team very attractive to prospective buyers," Carter said. For a day, almost everybody seemed interested in being those buyers -- and even entertainers without those limitless resources were clamouring for the chance. Combs, Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg all aired their interest, as did longtime Clippers fan Frankie Muniz and Damon, who told CNBC hed like to be a "super tiny minority investor." Fans also got in on the frenzy, opening campaigns on Kickstarter and Crowdtilt to pool their resources for the club. Mayweather spoke seriously about his interest while preparing for his fight with Marcos Maidana this Saturday, although Money May would have to curb his enthusiastic sports gambling habit. Oscar De La Hoya, the majority shareholder in Golden Boy Promotions whose statue sits outside Staples Center, volunteered himself as a part-owner. "The league has made it known that it wants more minorities involved, and as a proud Mexican-American, I will bring a different perspective to the NBA in general, and the Clippers in particular," De La Hoya said. "I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I know what it takes to run a successful sports entity." A vocal segment of the NBAs social media following immediately started a campaign to move the Clippers to Seattle, a basketball-loving city that has been without a team since Clay Bennett moved the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008. But much of the Clippers value results from their location in the nations second-largest city and their opportunity to sign a lucrative new television rights deal in 2016. The Clippers association with Sterlings racist remarks could have been crushing to their prestige and value, but they dont seem to be a problem if Sterling is no longer associated with the club. "The short term damage has been dramatic, but Commissioner (Adam) Silver provided a tourniquet that has stopped the brand erosion," Carter said. "The NBA, working in conjunction with new ownership, will have an extraordinary opportunity to rehabilitate the teams reputation, and then extend its brand." The Clippers havent been known for success during most of their existence, but thats changing. And whats more, the Clippers are cool. Led by point guard Chris Paul and high-flying forward Blake Griffin -- two All-Stars signed to long-term contracts -- the Clippers have won two straight Pacific Division titles and are on the brink of their third playoff series victory since Sterling bought the team in 1981. The Clippers have captured the imagination of Los Angeles counterculture, the transplants and contrarian fans who arent interested in the Lakers bandwagon. Theyre also attracting more of an international following with each highlight-reel performance by Paul and dunking virtuosos DeAndre Jordan and Griffin, who coined the phrase "Lob City" to describe their daredevil style of play. And it doesnt hurt that the Lakers just finished their worst season in more than 50 years, missing the playoffs for just the third time in 38 seasons. The Lakers appear to be years away from title contention, while the Clippers are built to contend every year in the near future. "Were proud of this team," Clippers guard Jamal Crawford said. "Were proud of our city, and we want to make them proud of us." Helder Postiga Portugal Jersey . </br></br> Apparently this took place at a soccer stadium for a club match in Brazil. Ruben Amorim Portugal Jersey . Nurse, the Oilers first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, had 13 goals, 37 assists, and 91 penalty minutes this season with the Ontario Hockey Leagues Sault Ste.WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- Its been a season of hockey firsts for Canadian forward Jamie Lee Rattray. The 21-year-old from Kanata, Ont., became the first Clarkson University player to win the Patty Kazmaier Award that goes to the best player in NCAA Division 1 womens hockey. Rattray helped lead the Golden Knights to their first Frozen Four appearance. Theyll face the University of Minnesota on Sunday in the championship game. "Its been unbelievable," Rattray told The Canadian Press after receiving the award Saturday. "Especially as a senior, theres nothing more I could ask for than to cap off my senior year playing in the last game of the season. "Its my last college game. The first game ever I played in my career was against Minnesota and now the last one. Its going to be exciting (Sunday) and a lot of emotions, but youve got to go out there and play your game." Rattray ranked second in NCAA scoring this season with 62 points -- 28 goals and 34 assists in 39 games -- to help Clarkson set a single-season record for wins with 30. Shes the fifth Canadian to win the Patty Kazmaier Award in its 17-year history. Cornell forward Jillian Saulnier from Halifax and American forward Hannah Brandt of the University of Minnesota were the other two finalists for the award. Brandt led Division 1 scoring with 22 ggoals and 41 assists for 63 points in 39 games. Eusebio Portugal. Saulnier, 22, ranked fourth with 28 goals and 28 assists in 34 games. Previous Canadian winners of the award were Mercyhursts Vicki Bendus of Wasaga Beach, Ont., (2010); Harvards Sarah Vaillancourt of Sherbrooke, Que., (2008); Wisconsins Sara Bauer of St. Catharines, Ont., (2006); and Harvards Jennifer Botterill of Winnipeg (2001, 2003). The award was established in 1998 in memory of Kazmaier, a Princeton defenceman who died of a blood disease at the age of 28. "Its definitely a great honour and especially with those nominees," Rattray said. "It was kind of neat to be part of that group and it was neat to see at the banquet today what Patty was all about. "I was pretty nervous at first, but then excitement kind of came over me. Definitely an honourable group to be part of." Rattray, five foot six and 172 pounds, will graduate with a degree in business from Clarkson, which is located in Potsdam, N.Y. She had two assists in Clarksons 5-1 win over Mercyhurst in Fridays Frozen Four semifinal. Rattray is a prospect for the Canadian womens hockey team. She won silver and gold with Canada at the world under-18 womens hockey championship in 2009 and 2010 respectively. She then spent three years playing for Canadas under-22 team. cheap jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '