Feng Yu loves sports and felt sports is a good investment, but in China, the sporting sector is not developed. The only sports Feng Yu watches in the US is only basketball.
In Feng Yu’s previous life, after Yao Ming joins the NBA, many Chinese starts to watch NBA games, and at that time, basketball is more popular than ping-pong and soccer (football). Feng Yu also start to watch the NBA during that period, but he only recognized a few famous basketball stars.
Feng Yu still remembers later this year, the NBA will be lockout because of the players’ salaries dispute, and he had heard the news of it now. LA is a big city, and if there are good players around, they will be getting high salaries. Feng Yu can also let the players endorse for his brands.
“Ralph, help me find out who is the owner of the LA Clippers, and what is the share proportions of this team. Let me know how much this team cost.”
“Boss, are you serious about buying Clippers? That team is one of the worst teams. In LA, most people watch the Lakers, and no one watches Clippers.” Ralph is also a basketball fan, but he prefers NCAA over the NBA.
“Boss, I know about your bet with Mr. Allen. You are too rash.”
“A good player can change the whole team. Go and get the information I want, and settle this as soon as possible.”
Clippers are a lousy team and will have a higher draft pick. Feng Yu will go through the draft players and see if there are any future basketball stars. He will try his best to get good players or trade with other teams for the players he wants.
An hour later, Ralph entered Feng Yu’s office and placed a report on his desk.”
“Boss, this Donald Sterling is the owner of Clippers and owns all of the team’s share. He is a businessman in real estate and was partners with Lakers’ boss, Jerry Buss. But the difference between both teams is great.”
Another Donald? He is also in real estate?”
Feng Yu thought for a while and made a call. “Hello, Donald. Are you busy?”
“Not really. What is it?” Donald Trump was surprised. He had met Feng Yu a few days ago in New York before Feng Yu left for Seattle. Why is he calling me now?
“Do you know Donald Sterling? The boss of LA Clippers and he is also in real estate business.”
“Oh… I know him. Why are you looking for him?”
Trump’s real estate investments are mainly around New York, while Sterling’s investments are mainly in LA. But they had met on several occasions before.
“I would like to buy the LA Clippers from him. Can you help to introduce me to him?”
Trump was confused. Invest in a basketball team? NBA is the less popular association out of the four main sports association in the US. Why is Feng Yu investing in a basketball team?
This is a small favor from Feng Yu, and Trump did not reject him.
“No problem. I will give him a call, and I will be going over to LA a few days later. I can accompany you to meet him.”
Before Feng Yu finishes his cup of tea, Trump called him back. “Feng, I had called him, and we will be having lunch the day after tomorrow.”
After thanking Trump, Feng Yu hangs up and starts reading the information given to him by Ralph.
The market value of the LA Clippers is only 55 million USD! Over a decade ago, Sterling bought the team at 12.5 million USD!
If inflation is included, the team’s value had depreciated!
Damn! Was I too boastful? This team sucks! The attendance is the second-lowest among the teams, and this team is based in LA!
In the past ten years, this team had only entered the playoffs thrice and were eliminated in the first round. The current season is not over, and the Clippers will not win more than twenty matches. Their win rate is less than 25%!
Since Allen bought Blazers nine years ago, they had entered the playoffs from the second year onwards. Even when the team is not doing well in recent years, and was knocked out of the playoffs in the first rounds, they are still much stronger than Clippers.
After comparing with Blazers, Feng Yu felt the Clippers is worse than he expected!
No wonder Allen is so confident. The gap between the teams is too wide.
In the documents, there is a list of players participating in the drafts. Feng Yu go through every player and suddenly notice an NBA star from his previous life. This player is one of his favorite players in his previous life. Vince Carter!
Damn! This player is skillful and is a crowd puller. Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce are also on the list. Any one of these three players can become one of the main players of Clippers. But Dirk Nowitzki is quite young and will become successful in a few more years. Vince Carter and Paul Pierce are better choices.
Feng Yu compared both players and felt Vince Carter is the best among the three. Of course, it will be best if Feng Yu can get both!
Feng Yu suddenly felt confident. Maybe this team can get into the playoffs within two years.
……
Feng Yu and Ralph arrived at LA and met Trump at a hotel.
They boarded Trump’s car and went to a restaurant.
“Feng, Sterling is quite arrogant and stingy. If you are going to buy Clippers, be prepared to pay a higher price.” Trump said. He knew Sterling does not like blacks and dislike most of the NBA teams that have black players.
“Then, I will need your help. I had made a bet with someone, and I will buy the worst team to beat his team. If I cannot buy the Clippers, then I will buy another team.” Feng Yu did not show that he must buy Clippers, as he does not know about Trump’s relationship with Sterling.
Trump was stunned. You are buying a basketball team because of a bet? Do you have to be so extreme? Using the worst team to beat another team? From your tone, that team should be quite strong.
“No problem. I will try my best.”
Feng Yu and Trump waited for almost half an hour at the restaurant, and a white man walked in slowly. Trump stood up and extended his hand. “Sterling, it’s been a while.”
“Hi, Trump.”
“Let me introduce. This is Feng, the new World’s Second Billionaire that is announced on <Forbes> recently. He is also a Microsoft shareholder and one of the directors. Feng, this is Donald Sterling. The boss of Clippers.” Donald Trump introduces both.
After hearing the introductions, Sterling’s eyes brighten up. Clippers should be able to fetch a good price.
Yao Ming
