Post by Utah Jazz on May 7, 2009 11:10:56 GMT
Salt Lake Tribune-
It has just been reported that the Utah Jazz have officially been sold. Long time Jazz Owner Larry H. Miller recently passed away this year and his family felt it would be in everyone’s best interest to sell the team. Miller’s family did not have to wait long to sell the team as they were contacted within hours by Andre “Dr. Dre” Young as soon as he found out that the Jazz were in fact for sale. Dre is believed to be worth an estimated $150 million dollars which is not very high in comparison to the net worth of the majority of other pro sports teams owners. The Utah Jazz franchise is believed to currently be worth an estimated $350 million dollars and Dre is believed to have put down a down payment of over $100 million dollars and has worked out a payment plan with the Miller family to pay off the additional $250 million dollars owed to them. Dre makes a majority of his money as a producer and rapper and has also just recently launched a line of high quality headphones to help boost his annual income. We were able to get a phone interview with Dr. Dre and ask him several questions regarding his purchase of the Utah Jazz…
Salt Lake Tribune: Thank you Doctor for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us and answer a few questions about your recent purchase of the Utah Jazz franchise.
Dr. Dre: It’s no problem at all. And please call me Dre
SLT: Will do Dre. 1st off, what made you want to purchase the Utah Jazz in the 1st place? Being from California are you not a Laker fan?
DD: Yea being from Cali I am a Laker fan but owning a NBA team is something I’ve always wanted to do and the Lakers aren’t for sale. I have a lot of respect for the Jazz franchise and their fan support is unbelievable. I felt that my personality would mesh well with the personalities of Coach Sloan and John Stockton. They are both very competitive people and I am the same way. When I found out the Jazz were for sale I jumped at the opportunity. Utah is also somewhat close to LA so I won’t have that far of a commute back and forth.
SLT: Do you have any possible personnel changes in mind at this time?
DD: No absolutely not. I trust John Stockton when it comes to making our personnel decisions. I think his track record since he has become GM speaks for itself. For the most part the only involvement I’ll have in personnel decisions is putting up the money to keep and bring players to Utah.
SLT: So I take it then that you will be the kind of owner that doesn’t mind opening his checkbook to bring players to Utah?
DD: Yes I will definitely open my wallet to pay top dollar to anybody that we feel is worth paying that type of money. I’m a businessman though, so I won’t just be throwing my money around. Every personnel contract situation will be examined on a case by case basis and I really trust the input of our GM and Coach to help make the majority of personnel decisions.
SLT: The Jazz are currently in 2nd place in the Western Conference. How do you feel about the rest of the upcoming season and the potential post-season?
DD: I’m very excited about the rest of the season. I think we can compete with and beat any team in the league. Props to John Stockton because he has done a tremendous job putting this team together. We’ve got one of the best players in the league in Dwyane Wade and I’ve always been an Elton Brand fan. Elton and I go way back from his days out in L.A. as a Clipper but I won’t get into the specifics of that to much ha-ha. Hopefully we can continue to win some games and build some momentum heading into the playoffs to make a run at a Championship. I realize how loaded the Western Conference is though so I know if we don’t stay sharp and stay focused there are a bunch of teams that can beat us.
SLT: Well we would like to thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Are there any final words you have for Jazz fans?
DD: It’s no problem, any time fellas. I’d just like to let the Jazz fans know that I’m 100% committed to building off of what Larry Miller has built during his time as owner in Utah. I’m committed to putting a winning team on the court and I would like for the Utah Jazz to become the franchise that other franchises measure themselves against. Also in honor of Larry Miller we will be dedicating the remainder of the season to his memory and we will be wearing the initials “LM” on our jerseys for the rest of the season.
Looks like there’s a new a boss in Utah.
-AP
To comment on this article, post your comments below.
It has just been reported that the Utah Jazz have officially been sold. Long time Jazz Owner Larry H. Miller recently passed away this year and his family felt it would be in everyone’s best interest to sell the team. Miller’s family did not have to wait long to sell the team as they were contacted within hours by Andre “Dr. Dre” Young as soon as he found out that the Jazz were in fact for sale. Dre is believed to be worth an estimated $150 million dollars which is not very high in comparison to the net worth of the majority of other pro sports teams owners. The Utah Jazz franchise is believed to currently be worth an estimated $350 million dollars and Dre is believed to have put down a down payment of over $100 million dollars and has worked out a payment plan with the Miller family to pay off the additional $250 million dollars owed to them. Dre makes a majority of his money as a producer and rapper and has also just recently launched a line of high quality headphones to help boost his annual income. We were able to get a phone interview with Dr. Dre and ask him several questions regarding his purchase of the Utah Jazz…
Salt Lake Tribune: Thank you Doctor for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us and answer a few questions about your recent purchase of the Utah Jazz franchise.
Dr. Dre: It’s no problem at all. And please call me Dre
SLT: Will do Dre. 1st off, what made you want to purchase the Utah Jazz in the 1st place? Being from California are you not a Laker fan?
DD: Yea being from Cali I am a Laker fan but owning a NBA team is something I’ve always wanted to do and the Lakers aren’t for sale. I have a lot of respect for the Jazz franchise and their fan support is unbelievable. I felt that my personality would mesh well with the personalities of Coach Sloan and John Stockton. They are both very competitive people and I am the same way. When I found out the Jazz were for sale I jumped at the opportunity. Utah is also somewhat close to LA so I won’t have that far of a commute back and forth.
SLT: Do you have any possible personnel changes in mind at this time?
DD: No absolutely not. I trust John Stockton when it comes to making our personnel decisions. I think his track record since he has become GM speaks for itself. For the most part the only involvement I’ll have in personnel decisions is putting up the money to keep and bring players to Utah.
SLT: So I take it then that you will be the kind of owner that doesn’t mind opening his checkbook to bring players to Utah?
DD: Yes I will definitely open my wallet to pay top dollar to anybody that we feel is worth paying that type of money. I’m a businessman though, so I won’t just be throwing my money around. Every personnel contract situation will be examined on a case by case basis and I really trust the input of our GM and Coach to help make the majority of personnel decisions.
SLT: The Jazz are currently in 2nd place in the Western Conference. How do you feel about the rest of the upcoming season and the potential post-season?
DD: I’m very excited about the rest of the season. I think we can compete with and beat any team in the league. Props to John Stockton because he has done a tremendous job putting this team together. We’ve got one of the best players in the league in Dwyane Wade and I’ve always been an Elton Brand fan. Elton and I go way back from his days out in L.A. as a Clipper but I won’t get into the specifics of that to much ha-ha. Hopefully we can continue to win some games and build some momentum heading into the playoffs to make a run at a Championship. I realize how loaded the Western Conference is though so I know if we don’t stay sharp and stay focused there are a bunch of teams that can beat us.
SLT: Well we would like to thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Are there any final words you have for Jazz fans?
DD: It’s no problem, any time fellas. I’d just like to let the Jazz fans know that I’m 100% committed to building off of what Larry Miller has built during his time as owner in Utah. I’m committed to putting a winning team on the court and I would like for the Utah Jazz to become the franchise that other franchises measure themselves against. Also in honor of Larry Miller we will be dedicating the remainder of the season to his memory and we will be wearing the initials “LM” on our jerseys for the rest of the season.
Looks like there’s a new a boss in Utah.
-AP
To comment on this article, post your comments below.