Written by Andra Tudor
By Reckless Dream Photography – Diddy 23, CC BY 2.0,
With President Trump in the hot seat, it isn’t rare to wake up to news which no longer takes you by surprise. But, even the most battle-hardened cynic would have had to blink twice when they read the headline “P Diddy to buy Panthers.” Wait there a minute: what?! Yep, apparently the rumors are true and the three-time Grammy winner confirmed them on Twitter of all places. Very Presidential. But, underneath the hype and gossip, is it realistic or is it another “Oprah wants LA Clippers scenario?” Let’s take a look and find out.
Accessibility
Normally, sports franchises in the US are like hen’s teeth and even rarer in some cases. The Donald Sterling example is case and point as a racist still sold his empire for one billion dollars. So, finding an owner willing to listen to offers is not going to be easy, unless you have personal injury lawyers scratching at the door. According to news reports, Mr Richardson has been a very naughty boy and tried to cover up all kinds of workplace misconduct. As a result, he looks set to bow to pressure and sell the Panthers amid a worsening scandal. Puffy can tick opportunity off the list, then.
Money
To knock a man for only being worth a reported $800 billion is a little rich (get it?). However, this is the world of professional sports where owners dismiss people who don’t have bank accounts with ten number figures. Again, Sterling’s Clippers went for a cool $1.2 billion which is more than Diddy’s entire wealth. Some people think he’s worth more, but Forbes won’t be out by as much as $500 million. There is a twist in the tail, though, and he’s called Steph Curry. The Golden State Warriors MVP has announced he wants in and could front the cash, as could a consortium of Sean’s other business associates. Two down, two more to go.
The NFL
Even if Puffy’s offer were accepted, he wouldn’t be in the clear. Like most sports organization, the league would have to ratify the deal. For the most part, that includes ensuring he has the finances and can pass a fit and proper person’s test. But, if the Premier League’s standards are anything to go by, this won’t be hard. After all, Thaksin Shinawatra as the owner of Manchester City Football Club lives long in the memory. The only blocking point could be the other owners. Mainly white, Republican and not hip-hop producers, they may not like the idea of Combs being in charge.
Other Investors
Combs may be the media’s choice, but he’s by no means the only player in the game. Indeed, billionaires will crawl out of the woodwork to get a piece of the action. As a result, he may be a small fish in a big pond when push comes to shove. Steve Ballmer wasn’t the darling of the media yet ended up usurping Winfrey and Co. in 2014.
There’s a long way to go, but there’s no doubt he has the money to lodge a successful bid. Still, he may not be in pole position in a few weeks’ time.
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