Tag: Joe Tsai

Joe Tsai shuts down claim that he’s in on J-Lo, A-Rod’s Mets bid

Mason Plumlee indicated Joe Tsai was going to try to purchase the Mets with him, Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez, but that’s not the case.

The first post at the top of the home page on Mason Plumlee’s personal website is a piece about former Brookly Nets big man interest in purchasing the New York Mets as a part of former New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and singer/actress Jennifer Lopez’s group.

In the post, Plumlee indicated Tsai was now part of the Rodriguez-Lopez party, as well.

But there was a report from Brian Lewis of the New York Post indicating that was not the case.

With Brooklyn’s games being broadcast on the New York Yankees-owned YES Network, it might create complications if the Nets governor owner the other MLB team in town.

It turns out YES Network has nothing to worry about.

After Tsai’s involvement in the Rodriguez-Lopez bid made the rounds on Twitter, the Nets governor tweeted he isn’t involved in the bid:

Sorry Twitter, it is not true. I grew up as a Mets fan and I have a lot of respect for Alex and Jennifer. But I’m not involved in bidding for the Mets. Gotta focus on basketball.

Joe Tsai linked to J-Lo, A-Rod’s bid to buy Mets

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez want Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai to buy the New York Mets with them.

Joe Tsai diversified his business portfolio further when he became the Brooklyn Nets’ majority owner prior to the 2019-20 season. But the Alibaba co-founder and executive may have plans to invest in another major American professional sports franchise.

Tsai has now been linked to the New York Mets.

The power couple of former New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and singer/actress Jennifer Lopez are reportedly working toward buying the Mets from the Wilpons. In doing so, they’ve attempted to align themselves with other big names.

Among those who’ve been linked to Rodriguez and Lopez’s group is former Brooklyn Nets big man Mason Plumlee. On his personal website, Plumlee wrote that Tsai is now “in the mix as a partner”:

The reality is this group has plenty of money and experience. There’s no bigger, more dynamic, power couple than A-Rod and J-Lo. Vinnie and Mike Repole are first-generation billionaires with passion and vision. Alex knows a little something about baseball. Jennifer is a mogul in the entertainment industry. Vinnie knows the ownership gig as owner of the Florida Panthers. And spoiler alert: we’ve now got another billionaire sports owner in the mix as a partner — Joe Tsai — who brings our collective net worth to the top of the bid list.

However, there may be an issue with Tsai’s involvement.

Brian Lewis of the New York Post is reporting Tsai is not in on the bid, due to the Nets’ partnership with YES Network — which is owned by the Yankees.

Given Brooklyn’s games are broadcast on YES, there might be some complications with the Nets governor owning a stake in the other MLB in town.

Report: Nets taking care of season-ticket holders with refund plan

Joe Tsai is giving Brooklyn Nets season-ticket holders what they need right now, while also providing an interesting option.

When the NBA came to a screeching halt in mid-March, the Brooklyn Nets had nine home games remaining on their schedule — plus the potential for at least a pair of home games in the postseason.

But those final nine games were of more importance for Nets season-ticket holders than the possible playoff games when the league went on hiatus.

Play was postponed, but the tickets were paid for. And with the league deciding to play the rest of the 2019-20 season at Disney World in a bubble, those fans won’t be able to attend games.

So Nets governor Joe Tsai is “offering a full refund on the final nine home games,” according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. The Nets also presented fans with another option.

According to Berman, instead of a refund, fans could instead “roll over their money for next season’s schedule of games,” to which Tsai will “give a 20% bonus on the amount of the rollover.”

Joe Tsai hearing differing opinions from NBA owners on continuing 2019-20

There are some NBA teams who aren’t necessarily pressing to play out the rest of the 2019-20 NBA season.

Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai can only say so much about the possibility of the NBA continuing the 2019-20 season. As Tsai put it during his appearance on Stanford University’s “Stanford eCorner,” he is “kind of under a gag order of what I really think and what the NBA should do.”

One thing Tsai touched upon was NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s approach to the situation. Silver has not set a target date for a return. The NBA’s commissioner is instead encouraging everyone to focus on the data regarding the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Tsai also added how there are some teams who aren’t exactly eager to finish off the season, unlike the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks who both had a shot at winning the 2020 NBA Finals:

There are other teams that are — if you’re in 28th place, maybe this season isn’t that important. So there’s a difference of opinion among the owners as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kppZy6Ahu8

Report: Clara Tsai to represent Nets on New York’s re-opening advisory board

New York governor Andre Cuomo and his staff continue to add names to the New York Forward Re-Opening Advisory Board.

As New York continues to navigate through the novel coronavirus outbreak, New York governor Andrew Cuomo has begun developing a plan for re-opening the state.

As part of his phased plan, Cuomo and his team have put together the New York Forward Re-Opening Advisory Board to “help guide the state’s re-opening strategy.” The board has over 100 “business, community and civic leaders,” from the state, including the CEO of MasterCard, Ajay Banga, as well as the President and CEO of MetLife, Michel Khalaf.

The sports world will be well-represented, too. Co-owner of the New York Islanders Jon Ledecky, president of the New York Yankees Randy Levine and COO of the New York Mets Jeff Wilpon are all on the board. New York Knicks governor and Madison Square Garden CEO James Dolan is also featured among the list, as is Kathy Behrens, the NBA’s president of social responsibility and player programs.

Neither Barclays Center nor the Brooklyn Nets were initially represented. However, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News is reporting Clara Tsai, wife of Nets governor and Barclays Center owner Joe Tsai, will be added to the board.

The Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation helped New York early in the battle against the virus, donating 2.6 million masks, 170,000 goggles, and 2,000 ventilators. The Tsais have also helped San Diego and Detroit receive personal protective equipment (PPE).

RELATED: Joe Tsai helping Pistons deliver PPE to Detroit

Joe Tsai helping Pistons deliver PPE to Detroit

Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai and his wife, Clara Wu, continue to help others throughout the novel coronavirus outbreak.

As New York became the epicenter for the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States — and eventually the world — Joe and Clara Wu Tsai did what they could to help. Through the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation, the Brooklyn Nets governor and his wife donated 2.6 million masks, 170,000 goggles and 2,000 ventilators to New York in early April.

Now the Tsais are aiding another NBA market battle the illness.

The Tsais are helping the Pistons deliver 350,000 KN95 masks and 100,000 medical goggles to the City of Detroit.

Tsai made the following statement with the announcement from Pistons governor Tom Gordes and the franchise:

Many cities in America have been hit hard by the pandemic. Clara and I wish to help the people of Detroit get through these difficult times, and we are grateful that Tom and his organization readily stepped up to help us distribute the supplies. We have a history of friendship with Detroit and I want to thank Mayor Duggan for directing the PPE to where they are needed most.

Report: Tyronn Lue interested in Brooklyn Nets head coaching job

Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai reportedly “made the call” on Kenny Atkinson’s standing with the franchise.

Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks has expressed that the team is currently in a holding pattern as it pertains to the head coaching position. Jacque Vaughn took over the role on an interim basis after the team and Kenny Atkinson mutually parted ways in March, and was set to remain in the position for the rest of the 2019-20 season.

Although, based on the recent report from Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, the parting of ways may have not been as mutual as the team originally indicated.

According to Bondy, Nets governor Joe Tsai was the one who “made the call” regarding Atkinson because “players griped.”

Kyrie Irving was not among those players, according to Bondy. However, Irving does have a replacement in mind, according to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports: Tyronn Lue, who coached Irving in Cleveland.

And Lue is “interested in the Nets gig,” according to Bondy, so Brooklyn could wind up playing host to a reunion tour.

RELATED: Ranking the top five small forwards in Nets history

Joe Tsai cracks Forbes’ list of world’s richest sports team owners

The owner of the Brooklyn Nets is among the 10 richest owners in all of professional sports.

Joe Tsai has done a lot recently for New York in its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak. He’s helped in the delivery of ventilators, masks and more personal protective equipment.

Before he did that, the Brooklyn Nets governor made sure both team and Barclays Center part-time and hourly employees were told they would be compensated for games and events canceled that had been scheduled between the start of the shutdown and the end of May.

But this all comes with a cost: money. Though, it’s not a secret that in order to be the owner of a professional sports franchise, one must be very, very well off. Tsai is no exception.

In fact, according to Forbes, Tsai is one of the richest individuals to own a pro sports team. He is tied for ninth on the list with Stanley Kroenke, the owner of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal, Colorado Rapids, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche. Although, Kroenke’s wife, Ann Walton Kroenke, is officially the owner of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.

Both Kroenke and Tsai each have an estimated worth of $10 billion.

Tsai is the second-richest NBA owner, behind only Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers — who happens to be the richest pro sports owner in the world with a net worth of $52.7 billion.

Joe Tsai calls for more COVID-19 tests to be made available

The Brooklyn Nets, with Joe and Clara Wu Tsai leading the way, are helping New York combat the novel coronavirus.

Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai and his wife, Clara Wu Tsai, have stepped up for New York in the state’s battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, as New York City has now become the epicenter of the pandemic.

Between Thursday and Saturday, the Tsais have donated 2.6 million masks, 170,000 goggles and 2,000 ventilators to New York. But Tsai is calling for more to be done.

On Twitter, Tsai responded to a tweet from Bill Gates that read as follows:

The federal government needs to step up on testing: far more tests should be made available, and we should aggregate the results so we can quickly identify potential volunteers for clinical trials and know with confidence when it’s time to return to normal.

Tsai then wrote:

We need more tests. Otherwise we can’t find the asymptomatic virus carriers who could be contagious. Need an effective program to TEST, TRACE and ISOLATE.

RELATED: Joe and Clara Wu Tsai donate more ventilators to New York than initially thought

Joe and Clara Wu Tsai donate more ventilators to New York than initially thought

The Brooklyn Nets governor and his wife are making major donations to help New York battle the novel coronavirus.

On Saturday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo made two announcements regarding the state’s battle against the novel coronavirus that included Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai and his wife, Clara Wu Tsai.

First, Cuomo stated at his Saturday press conference that the Tsais, along with others, were helping facilitate the donation of 1,000 ventilators to New York from the Chinese government.

“This is a big deal and it’s going to make a significant difference for us,” Cuomo said after sharing news of the donation.

Hours later, Cuomo tweeted the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and the NBA were working together with China’s Consul General Huang Ping to donate one million “desperately needed” surgical masks to New York.

But it turns out the Tsais were providing more personal protective equipment (PPE) than Cuomo initially reported.

According to CNN, the Tsais are donating 2.6 million masks, 170,000 goggles and 2,000 ventilators to New York. The first shipment of supplies came on Thursday, another on Saturday.