Electric Factory
Steve Ballmer addressing his hometown crowd in Seattle is 10 times as electric as you'd imagine
If there are two things Steve Ballmer knows better than anybody, it's 1. Being stupid rich, and 2. Enjoying the absolute HELL out of being stupid rich. With No. 2 comes a third thing, too, and that's screaming his head off when he's handed a microphone. And if there's no microphone available, he'll still make due:
A true internet classic. Much like "The Shawshank Redemption," you simply cannot cross paths with this video and NOT watch it through the end.
Fortunately for us, there was a microphone available on Monday night at Pledge Arena in Seattle, where Ballmer's L.A. Clippers were in town for a pre-season game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Ballmer, who was born and raised in Michigan but now calls Seattle home, wanted to address the crowd pre-game, and it was 10 times as electric as you'd imagine. Go off, king:
If you're wondering why this one was extra-passionate, it's because A. Ballmer is extra-passionate at all times, and B. People forget Ballmer tried desperately to bring the Seattle SuperSonics back, multiple times. In 2008, Ballmer was part of an investment group that committed $150 million in cash toward the $300 million renovation of KeyArena, and he was prepared to also buy the damn team and keep them in Seattle. That plan eventually fell through, with the SuperSonics, and superstar Kevin Durant, relocating to Oklahoma City and becoming the Thunder.
Four years later, Ballmer tried again, attempting to buy the Sacramento Kings and to relocate them to Seattle for a proposed $650 million. That plan was also nixed, and two years later Ballmer purchased the L.A. Clippers.
If Monday night is any indcation, though, there's still a clear thirst for pro basketball in Seattle. Just look at that crowd for a damn pre-season game between two teams who are very much not from Seattle. Former SuperSonics legends Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Lenny Wilkens, Sam Perkins and Detlef Schrempf were all also in attendance and honored at half court. The momentum to bring back the Sonics is clearly growing, which literally no one would be opposed to.