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Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Completes Purchase of LA Clippers

The former CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer is now officially the new owner of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise LA Clippers, capsule NBA announced on Tuesday.

The NBA Board of Governors had previously approved the $2 billion deal, which was officially and quickly closed after a California court issued an order confirming the authority of Shelly Sterling to sell the team on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust, the league said.

Shelly Sterling was the sole trustee after her husband, Donald Sterling, was found mentally incapacitated by two doctors and subsequently removed as a co-trustee.

An NBA statement read: “The transaction in which Steve Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers closed today following the entry of an order by a California court confirming the authority of Shelly Sterling, on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust, to sell the team.

“The NBA Board of Governors previously approved the sale and Ballmer is now the Clippers Governor.”

Ballmer was delighted with the news and said in a statement: “I am humbled and honored to be the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

“Clipper fans are so amazing. They have remained fiercely loyal to our franchise through some extraordinary times. I will be hard core in giving the team, our great coach, staff and players the support they need to do their best work on the court. And we will do whatever necessary to provide our fans and their families with the best game-night experience in the NBA.”

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Former FOTA & Premier League Executive Weingarten Launches New Sports Advisory

Former Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) and Premier League executive Oliver Weingarten has launched a new sports advisiory company called OW Advisory Limited.

The new venture will offer offer clients a “one-stop shop” for issues which often crossover.

Weingarten, who will be CEO of the organisation, revealed the company will offer sports business advice, lobbying/ public policy assistance and can help boost fan engagement and fan events.

OW Advisory will look to attract sports organisations, or businesses associated with sport, whether that be those providing legal, financial or commercial services.

The former Secretary General of FOTA added: “In respect of the fan engagement, I am keen to offer up my experience to other event organisers, whilst continuing to work with F1 circuits.

“However, in respect of the lobbying offering, there is no restriction on the sort of business I can work with, given my previous experience lobbying across the world, and also working with the creative industries.”

Caterham F1 Counter-Sue Former Employees Following Dismissal

Formula 1 team Caterham are set to counter-sue a number of former employees and their representatives following their dismissal.

A statement on Monday revealed that a number of axed employees were commencing legal action against the team, claiming unfair dismissal and that Caterham had reneged on promises that they would be paid in July.

Caterham has now responded that the accusations in the statement were incorrect and that it would be seeking compensation for damages.

“Caterham F1 Team has read with great concern recent reports about a group of individuals who are claiming unfair dismissal from the Formula 1 team following its takeover by new owners,” a team statement read.

“The team is now taking legal action against those parties representing the individuals concerned, and each person involved, seeking compensation for the damages suffered by the team due to the gross misrepresentation of the facts made by all those concerned.

“These claims include the statement that they have been released from Caterham F1 Team – this is incorrect. Caterham F1 Team’s staff are employed by a company that is a supplier to the company that holds its F1 licence, the licence that allows it to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship.

“Additionally, the team has read claims that its staff were not paid in July – again, this is wholly untrue. Every individual currently employed by Caterham F1 Team was paid their July salary in full on 25th July, one week before it is formally due on the last day of the month, in this case 31st July.

“A formal request for the withdrawal of the relevant press statement issued on 28th July has been made by Caterham F1 Team and the team will vigorously pursue its action against all those concerned. However, it will not allow its core focus to be distracted from achieving tenth place in the 2014 Formula 1 World Championship, and building for the 2015 campaign and beyond.”

Former Staff Not Deterred

The former employees reacted to Caterham’s claims by suggesting Caterham was the company employing them.

In a statement released to the press on Wednesday the group said: “As confirmed in the contracts of employment for those working in the Caterham F1 Team, Caterham F1 is ‘the trading name of the employer and the name of its motor racing team entered into the F1 world championship’.

“All those dismissed were employed in the Caterham F1 Team by their operational company Caterham Sports Limited (company number 07042086, previously 1Malaysia Racing Team (UK) Limited).

“The dismissal letters were on Caterham F1 Team headed notepaper and the reason for dismissal was given as: ‘following the change in ownership and, as a result of the current financial position that the new owners have inherited, your position at Caterham Sports Ltd will terminate with immediate effect… You are being dismissed in law for Some Other Substantial Reason.’

“The summary dismissal of employees from Caterham was done without warning or consultation, which is a breach of employment laws and will result in significant compensation claims.

“Lawyers [acting] for those who have been dismissed wrote to Caterham on 25 July 2014 urging a response to the above matters and inviting settlement.

“A response from Caterham to this letter is awaited.”

WTA to Launch New Grass Court Event in Mallorca

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Board of Directors has approved a new grass court International event in Mallorca, Spain starting in 2016.

The 32-player main draw International event will be staged by e|motionmanagement GmbH at a multi-purpose-built facility, sports complex in Mallorca, Spain. In 2016, Mallorca will join Birmingham in the second week of the three-week swing, resulting in five WTA grass court events in the lead-up to The Championships, Wimbledon. An experienced sports and events promoter in Germany, e|motion currently manages the ATP 250 event in Stuttgart, including when the event becomes a grass court tournament in Stuttgart beginning in 2015.

The sports complex in Mallorca will feature five permanent natural grass courts and world class facilities, including a retail development and a tennis academy. The construction and maintenance of the grass courts will be done in collaboration with The All England Lawn Tennis Club, which has been a prime supporter in the project.

Beginning in 2015, the international professional tennis calendar will provide for a three-week grass court swing between the second Grand Slam event of the year, played on red clay at Roland Garros in Paris and The Championships, staged on the lawns of the All England Club in southwest London. The three weeks of grass-court events will be composed of two International level events in the first week in Nottingham, England and in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, which moves earlier from its traditional timing. The Aegon Classic in Birmingham follows in the second week, with the Aegon International at Eastbourne Premier event in the third week, before the attention of the tennis world settles on Wimbledon.

Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman & CEO said: “With the grass court season set to expand next year, it was important for the WTA to provide players and fans alike with a fresh opportunity to experience the expanded grass court tennis season. Thanks to the cooperation of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, the WTA Board of Directors and e|motion management, the event in Mallorca will strengthen the grass court season leading up to Wimbledon.”

Edwin Weindorfer, CEO and Founder of e|motion management said: “We are very excited about the great opportunity to join the WTA with a new tournament in Mallorca, Spain. Besides thanking the WTA and their board for their trust and committment to provide us with the licence and sanction of this new event, we wanted to further thank The All England Lawn Tennis Club for their ongoing support and vision for another grasscourt tournament in continental Europe.”

Atlanta Falcons Owner ‘optimistic’ about NFL Franchise in London

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is ‘optimistic’ that the NFL will have a franchise in London in the future and even suggested it could be more than one.

The Falcons gave up one of their home games in 2014 to play in London which will be apart of three games in the city this year. Blank believes the NFL’s European expansion is only just beginning to escalate.

“The games in London, I think are a tribute to the NFL, a tribute to the fans there, the quality of the game — and I think that it’s proved conclusive that fans will come out when they see the real players playing games that are really meaningful, as opposed to NFL Europe,” Blank told The MMQB’s Peter King. “So I think — and all three of the games for 2014 sold out immediately, 240,000 tickets — the league, as you know, has been in discussion about a fourth game, in discussion about games beyond that. There’s been discussion about potentially having a franchise in London. I’m very optimistic.”

Blank sees adding games in London as just the start. The owner imagines that, in the future, London could be home to at least one NFL team.

“I think it will start with an increased number of games,” he said. “That will be translated into a very successful series of games, and eventually, I think a franchise. And maybe more than one. London’s a big city.”

FIFA Reveals High Ticket Demand for 2014 World Cup

Soccer’s world governing body FIFA has announced the significant demand for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with over one million tickets requested within seven hours of going on sale.

On the first day of ticket sales for football’s flagship event, over one million tickets were requested through more than 163,000 applicatants within the first seven hours of ticket sales for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Brazil, Argentina, USA, Chile and England currently top the charts as the five countries with the highest amount of applications so far.

The opening match at the Arena de Sao Paulo (more than 168,000) and the Final at Maracana in Rio de Janeiro (more than 165,000) have been by far the most popular tickets.

If the number of requests received per product and category exceeds the number of tickets available, a lottery will be held to determine the successful applicants. During this first sales period, fans may apply for tickets for the FIFA World Cup regardless of their application date within this time period.

October 10th is the cut off point for fans applying for tickets for the first sales period.

Rajasthan Royals Owner Reportedly Confesses to Betting

The severity of the cricket scandals in India have broken new ground after reports have suggested Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra has confessed to betting.

Delhi Police chief Neeraj Kumar confirmed that Kundra (pictured, left), who is married to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty (pictured, right), had admitted to placing bets.

Kundra, according to the Delhi Police chief, has told the police that he lost money after placing bets on his own team.

The Delhi top cop said that Raj Kundra admitted to betting through bookie Umesh Goenka. Kundra has already had his passport seized by the cops who have told him not to leave the country till the IPL spot-fixing probe is over.

“We have seized Kundra’s passport so he doesn’t go out of the country till the spot-fixing probe is over. We will be questioning him further,” a police official said.

Kundra, who is a British national, has businesses in Dubai, Ukraine and Botswana.

“Kundra’s role is very important in the Rajasthan Royals team. We are yet to decide on his arrest. It will be known only after further questioning,” the official added.

According to police, Kundra’s business partner Umesh Goenka might be questioned again in connection with the spot-fixing case.

Delhi Police have arrested 26 people in the case, including S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, part of the Rajasthan Royals team.

“Kundra told police that he owned 11.7 percent while Suresh Chelaram, the brother-in-law of Lalit Modi, owned 43 percent and Manoj Badale has 34 percent. Rupert Murdoch`s son Lalchan Murdoch also has stake in the team,” a senior police official said.

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Carolina Hurricanes Owner Puts ECHL Affiliate Florida Everblades Up for Sale

Germain Arena, Southwest Florida’s premier sports and entertainment venue, and the East Coast Hockey League’s (ECHL) defending Kelly Cup Champion Florida Everblades, are being put up for sale effective immediately.

The announcement was made by Germain Arena and Everblades owner Peter Karmanos, owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, an Everblades affiliate, and Executive Chairman of Compuware Corporation. Both the team and venue, located in Estero, Florida, were founded in 1998.

“I am at a point in time where I want to simplify my life. While I have thoroughly enjoyed owning the arena and team and seeing the tremendous benefit they have been to the community, it is now someone else’s turn,” said Karmanos.

“With the rapidly improving economy in Southwest Florida, this is an excellent time for someone to acquire the team and the arena,” said Craig Brush , Florida Everblades President and General Manager. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished over the last 15 years and believe that greater successes are on the horizon for both Germain Arena and the Everblades.”

Sports investment bank Park Lane, led by its Founder and Managing Director Andrew Kline, will serve as the exclusive sell-side banker for both the team and the arena.

Wade to Endorse Li-Ning

Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade has officially departed Jordan Brand and reportedly joined Beijing-based company Li-Ning.

Wade had been with Jordan Brand since 2009, his contact expired on October 1.

“The Jordan Brand and Dwyane Wade have mutually agreed to end our relationship. We wish Dwyane well as he continues his career,” Jordan Brand said.

Wade said: “We went our separate ways. I still feel honored to have represented my favorite player of all-time and his brand, and the opportunity I was given. But I’m not disappointed at all.”

On Monday, Philadelphia 76er Evan Turner, who represents Li-Ning, tweeted a welcome to Wade that was later removed.

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Philadelphia Phillies 257-Game Ticket Sellout Streak Ends

The Philadelphia Phillies’ regular-season sellout streak at Citizens Bank Park was snapped at 257 consecutive games during Monday night’s 6-1 loss to Atlanta.

It ends as the longest streak ever in the National League and third longest in Major League history.

“You kinda know it’s gonna happen,” said Jimmy Rollins, the longest-tenured Phillies player. “You would hope that it wouldn’t. You would hope that one bad season wouldn’t break it up, especially after the five winning seasons that we had and division championships. But that’s the way it goes. People aren’t gonna spend money and come to the game if they don’t feel they’re getting their money’s worth. And this year we’ve been a little short.”

Manager Charlie Manuel, whose club fell to 49-60 on Monday night, said: “It’s kind of up to us to make sure we get our team together and get better and get our crowd back. I’m sure we can. I know we still had 40,000 or something like that. I’m sorry we didn’t sell out. That just goes to show you what kind of season we’ve had.”

The streak started during a 4-3 loss to the Reds on July 7, 2009. From that game through Sunday’s, the combined paid attendance was 11,585,952, with an average of 45,082 per game. During the streak, the Phillies went 154-103 at Citizens Bank Park in the midst of three NL East championship seasons.

“The number of sellouts could not have been possible without the tremendous loyalty of our fans who continue to lead all of Major League Baseball in average attendance this year,” Phillies president David Montgomery said.

The paid attendance for Monday’s game against the Braves was 41,665.

The Phillies’ streak trails only the Red Sox’s current string of 772 consecutive sellouts and the Indians’ run of 455 in a row from 1995-2001.

“It was a heck of a run. We had fun. I know I go out every night, first thing I do is look up and see how many seats are empty at the beginning of the game, and by the third inning, see how many of those seats were filled. It was something we came to expect really. … That’s a lot of baseball games. There’s been a lot of winning in that time. Hopefully, they enjoyed it as much as we did.”