2 billion dollars is a ridiculous sum of money. In terms of the value of sports franchises, 2 Billion far exceeds the value of any other basketball franchise. In fact, in order to form a valid comparison I had to look at football and baseball franchises. The Dallas Cowboys are valued at 2.3 Billion. The New York Yankees are valued at 2.5 billion. The New England Patriots are valued at 1.8 billion–less than the Clippers who have never won a championship. In fact, they’ve only made 10 playoff appearances with a lifetime 38.2% win percentages (find the best.com). What does this all add up to?
Well for starters it means the clippers win at a lower percentage (38.2) than the San Antonio Spurs shot (40) in their last playoff win. If we compare the Spurs and Clippers, the Spurs have appeared in 3 times as many playoffs and average 2,000 more fans per game. The Spurs make nearly $11.00 more per fan than the Clippers, yet the team is valued at $660 Million–more than 3 times less than the Clippers sold for. What does that tell me?
It tells me that racism pays.
I don’t presume that the Sterling tape was a set up. It is possible that his estranged wife collaborated to release the tape and thus find him in a position to sell the team and for her to make a crazy profit. It isn’t that far fetched. We also know that there were people so jacked to by a franchise that they helped to push the bid up to 2 billion dollars. The Lakers and Knicks are valued at 1.35 and 1.4 billion respectively. In fact, you could by the Lakers and the Celtics combined for little more than was shelled out for the Clippers.
Sterling made out like a bandit–nay, a Real Estate Baron, which is exactly what he is.