SOLD: Buss family to sell Los Angeles Lakers Controlling Stake for $10B

Playing basketball, we've seen a big week on the hardwood and the Indiana Fevers, Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham were involved in a shocking skirmish while the Pacers beat the Thunder to force Game 7 in the NBA finals last night.

And Jeanie Buss is selling her family's majority stake in the LA Lakers for a whopping $10 billion.

Well, joining me ahead of the weekend to weigh in is Rick Horow, CEO of Horo Sports Ventures.

Happy Friday to you, Rick.

Well, let's start off with Caitlyn Clark.

The WNBA and its officials are facing criticism after the Indiana fever and Connecticutun brawl.

So Clark has also been drawing sellout crowds lately.

So Rick, what is your take?

My take is happy summer solstice, so let's hurry up.

I've got an extra couple of holes to play because of the 10:42 sunset, but we've got a lot to cover.

Caitlin Clark is an incredible athlete, an incredible marketing draw.

You realize that within 31 minutes she scored 32 points.

She also mixes it up now.

Everybody's kind of excited about her teammates coming to her aid, but most important is we just finished game.

6 of the NBA Finals will go to Game 7.

We'll talk about the Lakers in a minute, but that sellout at Cambridge Fieldhouse was the same week as the Pacers' trip to the NBA Finals.

Really important to understand, Remy, that 51% of those in a US women's sports parody study said that the WNBA is the top draw for women's sports, and in a $2 billion women's sponsorship side.

Protect your assets WNBA on the way to even higher values.

Well, Rick, some hefty price tags there and speaking of which, the Buss family sold the Lakers for $10 billion and the NBA finals are going 7 games after the Pacers beat the Thunder last night.

So break this down for us.

I'll break it down really well because I know the Oklahoma City Thunder people.

I helped with the arena and moving them from Seattle years ago.

So money doesn't always buy happiness.

That team is in the middle of the NBA pack, but yet they and the Pacers will drive significant ratings and excitement tomorrow or Sunday.

On the other hand, the Mark Walter Group, Guggenheim, they did it again.

They set a record for the Dodgers buying them at over a billion dollars.

Now, according to Forbes, they're worth nearly 7, and now that group buys the.

Acres from the bus family for $10 billion.

Forbes says they're worth about $7 billion but obviously a lot more.

The tide rises all boats in all sports look for values, by the way, to go up everywhere.

Every owner of every sport is going to have 100 of these articles printed for them so they can go out and troll for higher prices.

Well, Rick, I'll have to quote you on that money doesn't buy happiness, especially here on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

But speaking of which, a virtue also having a big week, they rang the opening bell on Tuesday to celebrate their transfer listing to the New York Stock.

Exchange and then later that day, Vinny Viola's Florida Panthers won their 2nd straight Stanley Cup, and now hockey has left Atlanta a few times, but new stadium plans have been approved.

So is the NHL going to try to hit the ice in Atlanta yet again?

We've got a lot of hockey issues.

First of all, the NHL is doing really well. $6.6 billion in revenue this last year, up maybe 15 to 20%.

Gary Bettman, the commissioner, done well, struck out in Atlanta twice, but as he says, number 7, market changed circumstances and obviously Vernon Krauss and Virtu may make a difference.

They've got to compete in expansion like everyone else.

How about That picture though, years ago when I started with the Miami folks, we built a basketball arena.

We didn't expect not only a hockey team, but we also now have a dynasty.

And by the way, for those of you who are Panther fans, how about the rats?

That's been a big tradition.

This is my own rat.

I had my buddy.

I've named my rat Bottom line. talking about money buying happiness.

The Viola Group bought this team in 2013 for $250 million.

Wayne Heiser got the expansion franchise in 1993 for $50 million.

It's now worth over a billion dollars.5.

Talk about money buying happiness, and that's why, as you say, as Axio said, the NHL wants to consider Atlanta again, and so does Krauss.

Yeah, and finally, Rick, we have time for one more question.

We want to ask you about Montreal.

We were thinking of you last weekend, so last Sunday we wanted more of the Canadian Grand Prix, but it ended a few laps early because of a crash.

So you were there.

Tell us about how the leading driver won the race a few laps early.

Well, he won because he won under caution, and then there was a lot of confusion with Russell about safe driving.

The organization decided at the end of the day that it was allowed to continue the first win of the year, Max Verstappen, very excited as a rival.

Canadian Grand Prix from a business perspective, as you see the overlay here.

300,000 visitors, net economic impact, nearly half a billion dollars.

They just signed a continuing deal until 2031.

Hard to get to, hard to leave, but everybody's so excited in Montreal because this is their big event of the year, and they showed it off very well.

I wish I could kind of race as quickly as this.

His apology is fine, but the people behind him, not so sure.

Well, Rick, we will have to leave it there, but always great talking to you and have a great weekend.

You too, happy summer solstice.

See you next week.