The year 2014 has been a crazy year for NBA team Los Angeles Clippers, and not because they made the Playoffs again. Last spring, former owner Donald Sterling was forced to resign over racist comments that leaked to the media and public. What does this have to do with technology?
This is where the rest of the story comes in. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is new the LA Clippers owner. If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time a former CEO/President of a major technical based corporation is also owner of a major sports franchise.? But Ballmer already appears to be throwing his weight around. According to a Reuters article, Ballmer feels some players and coaches aren’t on Windows. Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, maybe jokingly or not, “We are probably going to get rid of these iPads, aren?t we?” Steve Ballmer replied, “Yeah, we probably are.” I highly doubt the new Clippers owner was joking about that one. So this coming NBA season, don’t be surprise to see all Clippers personnel using devices like Surface tablets, whether they want to or not. Why should we be surprised? Some reports say Ballmer won’t even let his own family use Apple products.
I appreciate loyalty as good as anybody. If Steve Ballmer wants to represent his old company, may he be blessed at doing so. But to refuse or ban your own company from doing so is crossing the line. What Ballmer should do is encourage his players and Clippers staff to switch to Windows products on their own. Do a cool demonstration and show how the Surface is better than the iPad. Be the salesman he is. Maybe this is how Ballmer is going to get the organization off Apple. I hope it is. But I don’t like how this is leading: a potential forcing a entire team to switch to one brand. Now I know some people say, “It’s his team. He can do whatever he wants.” But tell me, how would you like to be forced to switch technical brands just because the new CEO said so?