http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1938651 P. Diddy Wants To Own NYC NBA Team Sean "P. Diddy" Combs wants to purchase the New York Knicks. The hip-hop/fashion mogul and devout fan of Gotham's National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise proclaimed his interest during an appearance this morning on Howard Stern's syndicated morning radio show. "I think I could do a good job," Combs said, admitting that his efforts to engage in talks with the team's current ownership have to this point been fruitless. "I'm publicly puttin' it out there, because they're not taking my calls. "I think [they need] some new blood up in there... I'm not saying let's get rid of the owners, I'm saying put me down. Put me in the game... Because it's not going down right now." His desire stems from the team's poor performance over the past several years. The Knicks finished the 2002-2003 season with a losing record. "I wanna make sure we [are] gonna win," Combs said. During the interview, Combs criticized the team's personnel decisions. "We're making rush decisions," he said. "I think we need a team that also reflects the spirit of the city. We need an aggressive, fast team that knows how to run." When contacted, a representative for the Knicks had no comment on Combs' comments. Combs also used the interview to plug the "Bad Boys II" soundtrack, issued last week as the first release on his reactivated Bad Boy Records label. As previously reported, the set boasts songs by Combs, 50 Cent, Nelly, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Will Smith, one of the film's co-stars. "Bad Boys II" was the No. 1 film in the U.S. over the weekend, taking in $46.5 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter. -- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.
Anybody is better than the Dolans. They've run that team into the ground along with the Rangers. And besides, the Knicks could use Puffy's parties as a free agent recruiting tool! That would make the NYC the free agent destination of choice.
He has a lot more than Jordan has. According to Ebony magazine he's one of the front runners to become the first black billionaire.
Diddy is loaded with cash. He owns 3 businesses: Bad Boy Record Label Sean John Clothing Blue Mindset These 3 bring provide him with an income of $50 million annually. On top of that, he produces his own records, other people's records, and is working on a TV show for MTV and has moved into films, most recently working on 'Monster's Ball, opposite Oscar winner Halle Berry. Put simply, he could own a team.
Oprah 1st Black Female Billionaire But who's really who among the list of richest women, African-Americans and Latinos/Hispanics for 2003? PRNewswire UNIONDALE, N.Y., -- Oprah Winfrey ranks third among Women's Money Magazine annual survey of the "25 Richest Women with Self-Made Fortunes" with $1 billion, making her the first Black female billionaire. Oprah was named the female mogul of the year. Oprah's non-inherited fortune is over twice Martha's Stewart's fortune ($410 million). Name Net Worth Source Doris Fisher $1.4 billion Gap Inc. Marian Illitch $1.3 billion Lil Caesar's Pizza Inc. Oprah Winfrey $1.0 billion Harpo Productions Inc. Meg Whitman $800 million E-Bay Inc. Marcey Carsey $610 million Carsey-Werner Marion Sandler $550 million Golden West Financial Among the famous celebrities and athletes on this year's Black Fortune 100 were Michael Jordan ($500 million), Tiger Woods ($330 million), Percy 'Master P' Miller ($420 million), Sean 'P.Diddy' Combs ($450 million) and Sean (Jay-Z) Carter ($130 million). However, they were far below Robert Johnson ($1.5 billion). Notable additions to the list include Venus and Serena Williams, the estate of Tupac Shakur, Richard Parsons, and Kenneth Chenault. Household celebrities and business moguls, Alex Rodriguez ($180 million), Jennifer Lopez ($105 million), and Tony Sanchez, are on this year's Latino Money Magazine's 'Richest 50'. The wealthiest Hispanic individual is Alberto Vilar ($900 million). The top five are as follows: 1. Robert Johnson (BET founder) $1.5 billion 1. Gouizeta Family (Late CEO of Coke Inc.) $1.0 billion 2. Oprah Winfrey (Harpo Productions) $1 billion 2. Alberto Vilar (Amerindo) $900 million 3. John Johnson Publishing) $600 million 3. Unanue family (Goya Foods) $750 million 4. Bill Cosby (Television) $540 million 4. Tony Sanchez and family (Diversified Holdings) $475 million 5. Bruce Llewelyn (Coke-Cola Distributor) $530 million 5. Raul Alarcon and family (SBC Inc.) $410 million
Forbes Magazine once reported Jordan's net worth in the $300-$400 million range (a few years ago). Puffy has been quoted a net worth of $100-$300 million from what I remember.
I'm sure Puffy can get the rest of the Bad Boys to pony up some money to buy the Knicks. Then they'll have a monopoly on Madison Square for concerts and stuff!
It doesn't matter how much money Combs has if the Knicks' owners don't want to sell. Btw, why would Combs make a good owner of the Knicks anyway? The current ones aren't running a great ship, but I'm not exactly confident in Combs' abilities either.
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs appeared on "The Howard Stern Show" and said that he wants to purchase the Knicks from Cablevision, according to Mainelli & Delfiner of the N.Y. POST. Combs said, "I'm trying to buy 'em. I think I could do an excellent job with the organization. I'm publicly putting it out there, but they're not taking my calls." When Stern asked how much money it might take, Combs replied, "Whatever amount of money I need to raise." While he was "short on specifics," Combs said that he would "make the Knicks better." Knicks VP/Public Relations Joe Favorito said the team is "not going to comment" (N.Y. POST, 7/23). REAX: Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard: "I love the idea of him rolling with his posse and Olde English, a bunch of bottles of 40s, into a meeting with [Wizards Owner] Abe Pollin and [Bucks Owner] Herb Kohl and all of these old guys. I want him in the NBA" ("PTI," ESPN, 7/22).
How much are the Rockets worth now? Didn't Les buy them from Charlie Thomas for like $70 million a decade ago? Mark Cuban bought the Mavs for around $300 million right?
Bob Johnson was the first black billionaire and he did it several years ago selling BET to Viacom for something in the $3.2 billion range. Oprah was the second black billionaire and made the list last year when her net worth was estimated at just over a billion dollars. An NBA franchise would probably go for somewhere in the $300-$500 million dollar range now. I remember a report being done on the purchasing of sports teams when Snyder bought the Redskins several years ago and it said we shouldn't be surprised to see sports franchises going for nearly one billion dollars in the next 5 to 10 years. I think P. Diddy could do it with some help.