<h4>Chapter 977 – Another Donald</h4>
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 popr than ping-pong and ser (football). Feng Yu also start to watch the NBA during that period, but he only recognized a few famous basketball stars.
Feng Yu still rememberster this year, the NBA will be lockout because of the yers’ sries dispute, and he had heard the news of it now. LA is a big city, and if there are good yers around, they will be getting high sries. Feng Yu can also let the yers 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 yer 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 yers and see if there are any future basketball stars. He will try his best to get good yers or trade with other teams for the yers he wants.
An hourter, Ralph entered Feng Yu’s office and ced 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 asions 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 popr 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 dayster. I can apany 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 intion 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 yoffs 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 zers nine years ago, they had entered the yoffs from the second year onwards. Even when the team is not doing well in recent years, and was knocked out of the yoffs in the first rounds, they are still much stronger than Clippers.
Afterparing with zers, 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 yers participating in the drafts. Feng Yu go through every yer and suddenly notice an NBA star from his previous life. This yer is one of his favorite yers in his previous life. Vince Carter!
Damn! This yer is skillful and is a crowd puller. Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce are also on the list. Any one of these three yers can be one of the main yers of Clippers. But Dirk Nowitzki is quite young and will be sessful in a few more years. Vince Carter and Paul Pierce are better choices.
Feng Yupared both yers 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 yoffs 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 cks and dislike most of the NBA teams that have ck yers.
“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 rtionship 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