Steve Ballmer

Karen Song

LA Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer, President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker and Consultant and NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West were recently named to the LA Business Journal’s LA 500, a list of the 500 most influential people in Los Angeles. The trio was recognized for their work leading the Clippers and developing the Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center, which is expected to break ground this summer and be the team’s home starting with the 2024 NBA season.

Ballmer has been included on the LA 500 for the past six years, West for four and Zucker for two. Other notable Angelenos on the list include L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, Honey Co-Founders Ryan Hudson and George Ruan and Harpo Productions’ Oprah Winfrey.

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Ballmer, Zucker and West Named Among Most Influential Angelenos By LA Business Journal

Anthony Davila

I am again angry over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Doc Rivers and the Bucks players said it well: We need real police accountability. Give citizens data to do so. Let's have criminal justice reform that keeps all people safe, but not senselessly imprisoned or afraid.

Now is the time to research and vote for the mayors, council people, commissioners, legislators, governors, judges, prosecutors, and attorneys general who can make it happen. Now is the time to work out bipartisan national police reform.

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A Statement from Steve Ballmer | (08.26.20)

Joseph Ibarra

LOS ANGELES, October 17, 2018 – The L.A. Clippers today announced the launch of Clippers CourtVision, a revolutionary new way to watch Clippers games that puts fans in control of the viewing experience. Envisioned by Steve Ballmer, Chairman of the L.A. Clippers, and leveraging innovative technology pioneered by Second Spectrum, Clippers CourtVision uses machine learning, data visualization and augmented reality to bring fans deeper into the game and let them customize their viewing experience. The new Clippers CourtVision experience is available to FOX Sports Prime Ticket subscribers via the FOX Sports mobile application.

“It’s long been a dream of mine to use technology to transform the sports-watching experience. Innovation is at my – and the Clippers’ - core, and we’re excited to redefine fans’ expectations of what it means to watch sports through this revolutionary new broadcast technology,” said Ballmer. “When I first bought the Clippers, I met with Rajiv and his team at Second Spectrum. They understood what I thought might be possible, and were ultimately able to make it a reality. The real-time video visualization technology and big data capabilities we’ve designed to power Clippers CourtVision are incredible.”

Clippers CourtVision delivers a more robust and more impactful viewing experience, where fans can toggle across multiple Modes with real-time data and augmented reality features. This season’s release includes Coach Mode, which diagrams the plays as they happen; Player Mode, in which real-time-updating shooting percentages hover over each player; and Mascot Mode, which incorporates fan-friendly animations, graphics and special effects.

“We are proud to partner with Steve and the L.A. Clippers to bring this new technology to life,” said Rajiv Maheswaran, CEO and Co-Founder, Second Spectrum. “When Steve first came to us with his desire to transform the sports-watching experience, we knew that we shared a common vision and we would be able to work together to create the most innovative platform yet using Second Spectrum technology. Clippers CourtVision will be the first step in making sports more customized and interactive with cutting-edge technology. Our software is already used by many of the world’s top leagues and teams. Now fans can have the same access.”

“Just like the Clippers, FOX Sports prides itself on innovation,” said Lindsay Amstutz, SVP and General Manager of FOX Sports West and Prime Ticket. “We are excited to offer this enhanced viewing experience to our subscribers.”

FOX Sports Prime Ticket subscribers can preview Clippers CourtVision’s augmented reality (AR) streams within the FOX Sports mobile app. A limited number of Clippers season ticket holders will also have a chance to test a Clippers CourtVision Beta release this year, which has additional customization features, including the choice of seven different camera angles throughout the arena, including baseline, center court, backboard, sidelines and even Jumbotron view. Viewers can also choose their audio experience, including broadcast commentary or in-arena live sound. The in-game commentator feature allows CourtVision to autogenerate facts and players notes to raise fans’ basketball IQ. More devices, more modes and more functionality are planned for the 2019-20 season.

Fans can learn more at www.clipperscourtvision.com.

Led by Chairman Steve Ballmer, the L.A. Clippers in 2018-19 are competing in the franchise’s 49th season and 35th in Los Angeles. They recently extended a franchise record, completing their seventh consecutive winning season in 2017-18. The team has logged the NBA’s 5th-best record over the course of head coach Doc Rivers’ five-year tenure. The Clippers are committed to the city of Los Angeles and through the L.A. Clippers Foundation, provide resources and opportunities that make a positive difference toward leveling the playing field for youth in Southern California. Visit the Clippers online at www.clippers.com or follow them on social media @LAClippers.

Second Spectrum is the world leader in building machines that understand sports. As the Official Tracking and Analytics Provider of the NBA and partner of professional and college teams around the world, Second Spectrum creates tools that help teams save time and discover new insights by making data and video easily accessible and actionable. Second Spectrum's media products help content owners and distributors automatically create augmented video and interactive, personalized, OTT experiences. Founded in 2013, the company works with clients around the globe from its five offices in Los Angeles, New York, Lausanne, Manchester, and Shanghai. For more information, visit http://www.secondspectrum.com.

Together, Prime Ticket and sister networks FOX Sports San Diego and FOX Sports West, present more live, local sports programming than any other network or broadcast system in the market. Serving sports fans in Southern California, San Diego, Nevada and Hawaii, the regional networks produce over 900 live sporting events and telecast over 3,500 hours of live and original programming every year. For complete regional sports news, telecast schedules and more, visit www.FOXSportsWest.com and www.FOXSportsSanDiego.com.

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Clippers Introduce Revolutionary Technology with Launch of Clippers CourtVision Digital Viewing Experience

nbaplatformservices

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Inside The Playbook Vol. 2

lacmramirez

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers capped off the 2017-18 season on a high-note, but not in the usual fashion.

On April 2, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie, traveled to Jim Gilliam Recreation Center in South Los Angeles. Joining them were Team President Gillian Zucker, guards Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley, and the rest of the Clippers family.

On that day, Ballmer and Mayor Eric Garcetti would announce that the Ballmers and the L.A. Clippers Foundation would donate $10 million to renovate nearly 350 courts across Los Angeles. It helped to put a bow on a monumental year of community outreach.

And while it might have been one of the franchise’s most-highly publicized community endeavors, it was far from its only.

The Clippers organization was as active off the court this season as it was on the court, leaving its footprint across Los Angeles.

Below are recaps from some of the Clippers top community events over the past year:

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Clippers show strong commitment to community in 2017-18

At a press conference held on Monday at the Jim Gilliam Recreation Center in South Los Angeles, Steve and Connie Ballmer, along with the L.A. Clippers, announced a multi-million-dollar donation to the L.A. Parks Foundation. The money will go towards renovating nearly 350 basketball courts in city parks by the year 2021.

On hand for Monday’s announcement were the Ballmers, Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti and First Lady of Los Angeles Amy Elaine Wakeland, L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson, Executive Director of the L.A. Parks Foundation Judith Kieffer and Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker, as well as Clippers guards Lou Williams and Pat Beverley.

Garcetti began the press conference by sharing his deep admiration of the Ballmers, who have backed several initiatives across Los Angeles since purchasing the Clippers in 2014.

“A couple of years ago, we welcomed two angels to our city,” Garcetti said in reference to the Ballmers. “This gift will transform what this city is about.”

Hundreds of indoor and outdoor parks across the city will receive – among other upgrades – new floors and new asphalt, new hoops and backboards, as well as new scoreboards.

Without contributions from the Ballmers and the Clippers, money given to youth sports programming in L.A. as part of the 2028 Olympics would not make a difference for all areas of the city. So when asked by Mayor Garcetti to help fix some of L.A.’s courts, the Ballmers quickly joined the movement, helping renovate them all.

“Connie and Steve, you did more than chip in,” Garcetti said. “You changed the game.”

Wesson joined Garcetti in thanking the Ballmers and Clippers for their support of the local community.

“It means so much to our children, to the community, and to the parents to have an organization where it’s more important to give back than to just win basketball games,” Wesson said. “It’s not just about winning and losing, but contributing to the community.”

After a short video, which opened with Phillip Wiley of City of L.A. Recreation and Parks sharing how a basketball court saved his life, Garcetti welcomed Steve Ballmer to the stage.

Ballmer referenced his own sports background in discussing the importance of this initiative.

“I played basketball growing up and I stunk,” Ballmer joked. “I may have made one team with a no cut policy back in ninth grade. That was it. But, I spent a lot of time on basketball courts. It was a place to hang with friends and chill out.

“I have an emotional tie to this event today. This is special for me in my heart.”

Williams took the podium as the final speaker of the day, and he spoke of his upbringing in the sport of basketball, commenting that he would spend entire days in his local gym.

“This is an awesome opportunity for local youth,” Williams said. “I’m a product of a community center just like this. My first basketball game was here, in a gym like this.”

This gift will go towards renovating 108 indoor courts and 236 outdoor courts across the city within the next three years.

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Ballmers and Clippers make major gift to renovate basketball courts across L.A.

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L.A. Clippers and Steve and Connie Ballmer Announce Major Gift to Renovate Nearly 350 Public Basketball Courts in the City

LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of public basketball courts across the city will be renovated over the next three years, thanks to a major gift to the Department of Recreation and Parks Foundation from the L.A. Clippers and Chairman Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie Ballmer.

Mayor Eric Garcetti and First Lady Amy Elaine Wakeland joined the Ballmers and Clippers guard Lou Williams, as well as L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson, for the announcement today at Jim Gilliam Recreation Center — one of nearly 350 courts that will be overhauled by the end of 2021.

Last year, Mayor Garcetti led the effort to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games back to Los Angeles in 2028. LA 2028 will invest up to $160 million in youth sports programming in the city of Los Angeles over the next 10 years. The. Ballmers’ and Clippers' gift will build on the city's momentum towards creating even more access to sports for children in all geographic areas and economically diverse regions of Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles is a city that embraces opportunity – and every kid in this city should have every opportunity to grow up to be the next Lou Williams, or DeAndre Jordan,” said Steve Ballmer, Chairman of the L.A. Clippers. “Mayor Garcetti asked if the Clippers would play a role and help give opportunity to kids, and we were happy to step up. We believe every kid should have a shot at the American Dream, and youth sports opportunities can absolutely play a role in that.”

“Sports have always been an incredible vehicle for social change, and this gift is an extraordinary investment in our children and communities," said Mayor Garcetti. "The Ballmers and the Clippers organization reflect the best of Los Angeles, and I'm grateful to them for their leadership and generous commitment to our city's future."

Research has shown that the benefits of physical activity and sports for young people extend well beyond the values of teamwork, leadership, and fair play that are reinforced on courts and playing fields. They alsohold significant implications for short- and long-term health, academic achievement, and social development.

Students who participate in sports also have more opportunities to access scholarships that put higher education within reach — and girls who compete are more likely to get higher grades and graduate from high school, have lower levels of depression, and avoid unintended pregnancies. A large number of the courts being renovated are located in communities where Mayor Garcetti’s Girls Play L.A. (GPLA) initiative is driving higher participation by young women in the City’s youth sports programming.

Gender equity is a core value of the Clippers organization, which has the largest female leadership team in the National Basketball Association. In Los Angeles, basketball participation is roughly 25% female and 75% male whereas nationally the stats are 40% and 60% respectively. In conjunction with the targeted resources and expanded female mentorship that GPLA provides, today’s donation is expected to help the program continue to increase female participation rates.

Early in Mayor Garcetti’s administration, the Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) conducted a detailed assessment of basketball courts and determined that the floors of 108 indoor courts and 236 outdoor courts are in need of restoration in order to be in use. The generous donation from Steve and Connie Ballmer and the Clippers will renovate every single court that is in need of repair in Los Angeles.

Renovation of Los Angeles basketball courts will include updating the asphalt, concrete (outdoor) or wood (indoor) flooring, installing new backboards, frames, rims and scoreboards. Each project will be customized to update each court in line with the needs of the local community who uses it. RAP expects all renovations to be complete within three years.

Led by Chairman Steve Ballmer, the L.A. Clippers in 2017-18 are competing in the franchise’s 48th season and 34th in Los Angeles. They are one of only two teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) to have won 50+ games in each of the past five completed seasons and have made the postseason for the past six seasons. The Clippers are committed to the city of Los Angeles and through the L.A. Clippers Foundation, make a positive difference for children in L.A. on a daily basis. The Clippers pride themselves on being a fan-first, diverse, tech-driven franchise that is focused on winning and giving fans the best game entertainment experience possible. Visit the Clippers online at www.clippers.com or follow them on social media @LAClippers.