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| Meet Steve Ballmer, the man who bid $2 billion to buy the L.A. Clippers | Meet Steve Ballmer, the man who bid $2 billion to buy the L.A. Clippers |
| (3 days later) | |
| Former Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer walked away from a meeting with Shelly Sterling as the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to a winning bid of $2 billion. | Former Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer walked away from a meeting with Shelly Sterling as the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to a winning bid of $2 billion. |
| “I will be honored to have my name submitted to the NBA Board of Governors for approval as the next owner of the Los Angeles Clippers,” Ballmer said in a release Thursday night. “I love basketball. And I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that the Clippers continue to win – and win big – in Los Angeles. LA is one of the world’s great cities – a city that embraces inclusiveness, in exactly the same way that the NBA and I embrace inclusiveness. I am confident that the Clippers will in the coming years become an even bigger part of the community. I thank Shelly Sterling for her willingness to entrust the Clippers franchise to me, and I am grateful to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and his colleagues for working collaboratively with me throughout this process.” | “I will be honored to have my name submitted to the NBA Board of Governors for approval as the next owner of the Los Angeles Clippers,” Ballmer said in a release Thursday night. “I love basketball. And I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that the Clippers continue to win – and win big – in Los Angeles. LA is one of the world’s great cities – a city that embraces inclusiveness, in exactly the same way that the NBA and I embrace inclusiveness. I am confident that the Clippers will in the coming years become an even bigger part of the community. I thank Shelly Sterling for her willingness to entrust the Clippers franchise to me, and I am grateful to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and his colleagues for working collaboratively with me throughout this process.” |
| Ballmer has wanted to be an NBA owner for some time; he wanted to bring a team back to Seattle after the departure of the 2008 departure of the SuperSonics, now the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ballmer also tried to buy the Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle in a deal that eventually went south. | Ballmer has wanted to be an NBA owner for some time; he wanted to bring a team back to Seattle after the departure of the 2008 departure of the SuperSonics, now the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ballmer also tried to buy the Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle in a deal that eventually went south. |
| But assuming the team is his — pending the NBA’s approval — Ballmer has no intention of moving it. | But assuming the team is his — pending the NBA’s approval — Ballmer has no intention of moving it. |
| “If I get interested in the Clippers, it would be for Los Angeles,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “I don’t work anymore, so I have more geographic flexibility than I did a year, year-and-a half ago. Moving them anywhere else would be value destructive.” | “If I get interested in the Clippers, it would be for Los Angeles,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “I don’t work anymore, so I have more geographic flexibility than I did a year, year-and-a half ago. Moving them anywhere else would be value destructive.” |
| Magic Johnson, who was reportedly interested in buying the team, greeted the news with enthusiasm: | Magic Johnson, who was reportedly interested in buying the team, greeted the news with enthusiasm: |
| Clipper Fans you’ll love Steve Ballmer as your owner! — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 | Clipper Fans you’ll love Steve Ballmer as your owner! — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 |
| Clipper Fans you’ll love Steve Ballmer as your owner! | Clipper Fans you’ll love Steve Ballmer as your owner! |
| — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 | — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 |
| Steve Ballmer loves basketball, is smart businessman & he’ll probably shake every fans hand outside the arena on opening night! — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 | Steve Ballmer loves basketball, is smart businessman & he’ll probably shake every fans hand outside the arena on opening night! — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 |
| Steve Ballmer loves basketball, is smart businessman & he’ll probably shake every fans hand outside the arena on opening night! | Steve Ballmer loves basketball, is smart businessman & he’ll probably shake every fans hand outside the arena on opening night! |
| — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 | — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 |
| Steve Ballmer owning the Clippers is a big win for the City of LA and all the people who live in the City of Angels! — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 | Steve Ballmer owning the Clippers is a big win for the City of LA and all the people who live in the City of Angels! — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 |
| Steve Ballmer owning the Clippers is a big win for the City of LA and all the people who live in the City of Angels! | Steve Ballmer owning the Clippers is a big win for the City of LA and all the people who live in the City of Angels! |
| — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 | — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2014 |
| Ballmer’s 14-year tenure as chief executive of Microsoft was not regarded with much reverence. After all, he’s the guy who laughed at the iPhone and gave the world Windows Vista (which he later acknowledged was a mistake). In 2011, he had a 35 percent employee approval rating according to Glassdoor and, in 2012, Forbes contributor Adam Hartung wrote a scathing review of Ballmer’s tenure at Microsoft, calling him the “the worst CEO of a large publicly traded American company today.” | Ballmer’s 14-year tenure as chief executive of Microsoft was not regarded with much reverence. After all, he’s the guy who laughed at the iPhone and gave the world Windows Vista (which he later acknowledged was a mistake). In 2011, he had a 35 percent employee approval rating according to Glassdoor and, in 2012, Forbes contributor Adam Hartung wrote a scathing review of Ballmer’s tenure at Microsoft, calling him the “the worst CEO of a large publicly traded American company today.” |
| “Although he’s #19 on Forbes list of billionaires, Mr. Ballmer should not be allowed to take such incredible risks with investor money and employee jobs,” Hartung wrote. “Best he be retired to enjoy his fortune rather than deprive investors and employees of building theirs.” It should be noted: Multiple tech publications came to Ballmer’s defense (sort of) following Hartung’s criticism. | “Although he’s #19 on Forbes list of billionaires, Mr. Ballmer should not be allowed to take such incredible risks with investor money and employee jobs,” Hartung wrote. “Best he be retired to enjoy his fortune rather than deprive investors and employees of building theirs.” It should be noted: Multiple tech publications came to Ballmer’s defense (sort of) following Hartung’s criticism. |
| If nothing else, Ballmer gets massive points for charisma. His intensity has been widely documented, like the time he got so animated about Windows that he ripped his vocal cords and had to have them surgically repaired. Ann Livermore, a former executive vice-president at Hewlett-Packard, once called him “the kind of businessman most companies either wish they had working for them or wish they didn’t have to deal with,” according to the Seattle Times. | If nothing else, Ballmer gets massive points for charisma. His intensity has been widely documented, like the time he got so animated about Windows that he ripped his vocal cords and had to have them surgically repaired. Ann Livermore, a former executive vice-president at Hewlett-Packard, once called him “the kind of businessman most companies either wish they had working for them or wish they didn’t have to deal with,” according to the Seattle Times. |
| We’ve compiled some of the most notable moments from the life of Microsoft’s “Monkeyboy.” Have a look-see: | We’ve compiled some of the most notable moments from the life of Microsoft’s “Monkeyboy.” Have a look-see: |
| If Forbes ever does a list of the world’s kookiest billionaires, he’s a shoo-in for the top five. | If Forbes ever does a list of the world’s kookiest billionaires, he’s a shoo-in for the top five. |
| If Ballmer brings half this much enthusiasm to Clippers games, what’s the point of the team’s Spirit dance squad? The man is a self-contained pep rally. Who gets that excited about Windows? Steve Ballmer, that’s who. | If Ballmer brings half this much enthusiasm to Clippers games, what’s the point of the team’s Spirit dance squad? The man is a self-contained pep rally. Who gets that excited about Windows? Steve Ballmer, that’s who. |
| Then there was the time Ballmer, who spent 34 years working for Microsoft, signed a kid’s Macbook. Maybe he’ll sign Lakers jerseys, too! | Then there was the time Ballmer, who spent 34 years working for Microsoft, signed a kid’s Macbook. Maybe he’ll sign Lakers jerseys, too! |
| In 2009, he created a “secret” Twitter account. It is utterly unremarkable. This is his most popular tweet. He’s referring to Kiev Polytechnic Institute, where he delivered a speech in 2010. | In 2009, he created a “secret” Twitter account. It is utterly unremarkable. This is his most popular tweet. He’s referring to Kiev Polytechnic Institute, where he delivered a speech in 2010. |
| I love kpi — steve b (@stevebmicrosoft) November 5, 2010 | I love kpi — steve b (@stevebmicrosoft) November 5, 2010 |
| I love kpi | I love kpi |
| — steve b (@stevebmicrosoft) November 5, 2010 | — steve b (@stevebmicrosoft) November 5, 2010 |
| He and Bill Gates are best buds. Well, they were until it was time for Ballmer to leave Microsoft, anyway. Kara Swisher says his departure was sped up by Microsoft’s board and then Gates himself. Somehow, pictures of them together always look like prime candidates for Awkward Family Photos. | He and Bill Gates are best buds. Well, they were until it was time for Ballmer to leave Microsoft, anyway. Kara Swisher says his departure was sped up by Microsoft’s board and then Gates himself. Somehow, pictures of them together always look like prime candidates for Awkward Family Photos. |
| He described the bromance to the Telegraph in 2007: “Partners, spouses, whatever, we participated together in giving birth to this amazing thing called Microsoft. We always work well together, we do not always agree, we always work through our disagreements. That is why I say there is a certain husband-wife, brothers thing, where you have an ability to agree, resolve issues, a fundamental respect, admiration, good feeling. All that lets you make one plus one equal three, in terms of getting the best from two people.” | He described the bromance to the Telegraph in 2007: “Partners, spouses, whatever, we participated together in giving birth to this amazing thing called Microsoft. We always work well together, we do not always agree, we always work through our disagreements. That is why I say there is a certain husband-wife, brothers thing, where you have an ability to agree, resolve issues, a fundamental respect, admiration, good feeling. All that lets you make one plus one equal three, in terms of getting the best from two people.” |
| Sometimes, even their philanthropy matches up. Gates and Ballmer are both proponents of marriage equality. In 2012, they donated $100,000 each to Washington United for Marriage. The New York Times might have the best characterization of the duo: “One C.E.O., treated to a good-cop, bad-cop routine from Bill Gates and Ballmer, called the pair ‘the Pearly Gates and the Em-balmer: one sets you up for heaven and the other prepares you for death.’” | Sometimes, even their philanthropy matches up. Gates and Ballmer are both proponents of marriage equality. In 2012, they donated $100,000 each to Washington United for Marriage. The New York Times might have the best characterization of the duo: “One C.E.O., treated to a good-cop, bad-cop routine from Bill Gates and Ballmer, called the pair ‘the Pearly Gates and the Em-balmer: one sets you up for heaven and the other prepares you for death.’” |
| He is the only non-”American Idol” contestant ever to be this excited to meet Ryan Seacrest. | He is the only non-”American Idol” contestant ever to be this excited to meet Ryan Seacrest. |
| Even Seacrest doesn’t know what to make of it. | Even Seacrest doesn’t know what to make of it. |
| Like Miley Cyrus, he sometimes has trouble keeping his tongue in his mouth. Miley twerks (or does her best approximation of it). Ballmer gets geeked over ringing the bell that opens the Nasdaq. When you think about it, it’s the same thing, really. | Like Miley Cyrus, he sometimes has trouble keeping his tongue in his mouth. Miley twerks (or does her best approximation of it). Ballmer gets geeked over ringing the bell that opens the Nasdaq. When you think about it, it’s the same thing, really. |
| We’re serious about the tongue thing. It’s a habit: | We’re serious about the tongue thing. It’s a habit: |
| His eye-roll rivals Bill Cosby’s: | His eye-roll rivals Bill Cosby’s: |
| His eye-roll is better than his bellowing. According to a 2013 readwrite Q-and-A with Microsoft veteran Joachim Kempin, Ballmer used to bring baseball bats to meetings: | His eye-roll is better than his bellowing. According to a 2013 readwrite Q-and-A with Microsoft veteran Joachim Kempin, Ballmer used to bring baseball bats to meetings: |
| Let me start with how Steve sometimes walks down the hallways bouncing a basketball. Or if he’s having a really good day he’s swinging a baseball bat. Do you think that sends a signal? Sometimes he brings it with him into the conference room. Is it symbolic? Maybe. I don’t know. I would never do that. For me it doesn’t send the right message. The man has some nervous energy and that’s how he gets rid of it. Have I heard him yelling? Yeah, I have. Most of the time he apologizes afterwards. He’s just a very high-strung guy. He’s not a bad guy. He just goes overboard sometimes. | Let me start with how Steve sometimes walks down the hallways bouncing a basketball. Or if he’s having a really good day he’s swinging a baseball bat. Do you think that sends a signal? Sometimes he brings it with him into the conference room. Is it symbolic? Maybe. I don’t know. I would never do that. For me it doesn’t send the right message. The man has some nervous energy and that’s how he gets rid of it. Have I heard him yelling? Yeah, I have. Most of the time he apologizes afterwards. He’s just a very high-strung guy. He’s not a bad guy. He just goes overboard sometimes. |
| Let me start with how Steve sometimes walks down the hallways bouncing a basketball. Or if he’s having a really good day he’s swinging a baseball bat. Do you think that sends a signal? Sometimes he brings it with him into the conference room. Is it symbolic? Maybe. I don’t know. I would never do that. For me it doesn’t send the right message. The man has some nervous energy and that’s how he gets rid of it. Have I heard him yelling? Yeah, I have. Most of the time he apologizes afterwards. He’s just a very high-strung guy. He’s not a bad guy. He just goes overboard sometimes. | Let me start with how Steve sometimes walks down the hallways bouncing a basketball. Or if he’s having a really good day he’s swinging a baseball bat. Do you think that sends a signal? Sometimes he brings it with him into the conference room. Is it symbolic? Maybe. I don’t know. I would never do that. For me it doesn’t send the right message. The man has some nervous energy and that’s how he gets rid of it. Have I heard him yelling? Yeah, I have. Most of the time he apologizes afterwards. He’s just a very high-strung guy. He’s not a bad guy. He just goes overboard sometimes. |
| Congratulations, Los Angeles Clippers. You’re about to be owned by this guy: | Congratulations, Los Angeles Clippers. You’re about to be owned by this guy: |
| RELATED: | RELATED: |
| Donald Sterling reportedly deemed ‘mentally incapacitated’ before sale of Los Angeles Clippers | Donald Sterling reportedly deemed ‘mentally incapacitated’ before sale of Los Angeles Clippers |
| Donald Sterling to surrender ownership of Los Angeles Clippers to wife to negotiate sale | Donald Sterling to surrender ownership of Los Angeles Clippers to wife to negotiate sale |
| Report: Donald Sterling will fight the sale of L.A. Clippers | Report: Donald Sterling will fight the sale of L.A. Clippers |
| Donald Sterling will fight NBA on sale of Clippers ‘to the bloody end,’ his lawyer says | Donald Sterling will fight NBA on sale of Clippers ‘to the bloody end,’ his lawyer says |
| Meet the most hated man in America: Donald Sterling | Meet the most hated man in America: Donald Sterling |