US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (left) sits with Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling (right) and Sterling’s wife Shelly (second right) at the team’s NBA game against the Chicago Bulls. (Reuters)



AFP/Los Angeles


Hollywood moguls, sports stars and rappers have all voiced interest in taking over the Los Angeles Clippers after the NBA urged owners to expel disgraced Donald Sterling in the wake of a racism row.
The rumor mill was churning in overdrive yesterday, with everyone from boxing greats Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather to millionaire musician Sean “Diddy” Combs on the list of potential suitors.
A three-quarters majority of the remaining 29 owners must agree, and Silver said he expects to have their backing.
Though that process has not yet been fleshed out, that did not keep possible investors from expressing their interest in the team, which Forbes has valued at $575 million.

‘IT’S NOT JUST TALK’  
“Do we want to buy the Clippers? Yes, we do. We are very, very interested in buying the Clippers,” Mayweather, an undefeated welterweight champ, said Tuesday in Las Vegas, according to ESPN.
The 37-year-old Mayweather said he would want to take on a “solid percentage” of the team, adding: “It’s not just talk.”
De La Hoya, an Olympic gold medallist and former world champion turned boxing promoter, also threw his hat into the ring.
“The league has made it known that it wants more minorities involved, and as a proud Mexican-American, I will bring a different perspective to the NBA in general, and the Clippers in particular,” said De La Hoya.  
“I was born and raised in Los Angeles, I know what it takes to run a successful sports entity and nothing would make me happier than to bring an NBA Championship home to Southern California sports fans.”
Sports stars were not the only ones apparently getting into the game. Billionaire media tycoon David Geffen—who reportedly sought to buy the Clippers in 2010 - told Forbes on Tuesday he “would very much like to buy the team” if Sterling is forced to sell.
Die-hard Clippers fan and actor Frankie Muniz said on Facebook, perhaps in jest, that he would like to buy the team.
And rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs said on Twitter: “I will always be a Knicks fan, but I am a business man. #DiddyBuyTheClippers #NameYourPrice”.