LOS ANGELES -- If Donald Sterling is compelled to sell the Los Angeles Clippers, the list of potential buyers has more stars than their roster. Dermontti Dawson Jersey . Oprah Winfrey is contemplating a bid. Sean Combs is a Knicks fan, but he wants in. Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants the whole team. Matt Damon wants a tiny piece. Billionaires, entertainers and athletes alike announced their intentions to pursue the Clippers with varying degrees of seriousness Wednesday, proving the longtime losers will be quite a prize if the NBA is able to wrest control of the team away from Sterling after his lifetime ban for racist remarks. Winfrey led the list, and the media mogul is already bringing in her friends. "Oprah Winfrey is in discussions with David Geffen and Larry Ellison to make a bid for the Los Angeles Clippers should the team become available," spokesperson Nicole Nichols confirmed in an email. If Winfrey joins Geffen, the billionaire entertainment executive, and Oracle CEO Ellison to pool their vast resources for a bid, they could be among the top contenders for a franchise that would be among the most valuable sports properties to hit the market since the Los Angeles Dodgers $2 billion sale in 2012 to the Guggenheim Partners group fronted by Magic Johnson, the Lakers great and another potential Clippers bidder. The Clippers spent the last three decades rotting in the shadow of the glamorous Lakers, who piled up championships while the lowly Clips only racked up losses. With Sterlings ouster, the Clippers suddenly became the most attractive team in town to wealthy fans lining up for an unlikely chance to seize control of a Hollywood sports franchise on the move. David Carter, the executive director of USCs Sports Business Institute, identifies multiple factors contributing to the Clippers extraordinary value. "Interest in the team results from the combination of NBA teams being rare assets that are seldom available for purchase, the location of this particular team, and potential owners belief that revenue streams linked to rehabbing the brand and participating in future revenue linked to a new TV deal all make the team very attractive to prospective buyers," Carter said. For a day, almost everybody seemed interested in being those buyers -- and even entertainers without those limitless resources were clamouring for the chance. Combs, Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg all aired their interest, as did longtime Clippers fan Frankie Muniz and Damon, who told CNBC hed like to be a "super tiny minority investor." Fans also got in on the frenzy, opening campaigns on Kickstarter and Crowdtilt to pool their resources for the club. Mayweather spoke seriously about his interest while preparing for his fight with Marcos Maidana this Saturday, although Money May would have to curb his enthusiastic sports gambling habit. Oscar De La Hoya, the majority shareholder in Golden Boy Promotions whose statue sits outside Staples Center, volunteered himself as a part-owner. "The league has made it known that it wants more minorities involved, and as a proud Mexican-American, I will bring a different perspective to the NBA in general, and the Clippers in particular," De La Hoya said. "I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I know what it takes to run a successful sports entity." A vocal segment of the NBAs social media following immediately started a campaign to move the Clippers to Seattle, a basketball-loving city that has been without a team since Clay Bennett moved the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008. But much of the Clippers value results from their location in the nations second-largest city and their opportunity to sign a lucrative new television rights deal in 2016. The Clippers association with Sterlings racist remarks could have been crushing to their prestige and value, but they dont seem to be a problem if Sterling is no longer associated with the club. "The short term damage has been dramatic, but Commissioner (Adam) Silver provided a tourniquet that has stopped the brand erosion," Carter said. "The NBA, working in conjunction with new ownership, will have an extraordinary opportunity to rehabilitate the teams reputation, and then extend its brand." The Clippers havent been known for success during most of their existence, but thats changing. And whats more, the Clippers are cool. Led by point guard Chris Paul and high-flying forward Blake Griffin -- two All-Stars signed to long-term contracts -- the Clippers have won two straight Pacific Division titles and are on the brink of their third playoff series victory since Sterling bought the team in 1981. The Clippers have captured the imagination of Los Angeles counterculture, the transplants and contrarian fans who arent interested in the Lakers bandwagon. Theyre also attracting more of an international following with each highlight-reel performance by Paul and dunking virtuosos DeAndre Jordan and Griffin, who coined the phrase "Lob City" to describe their daredevil style of play. And it doesnt hurt that the Lakers just finished their worst season in more than 50 years, missing the playoffs for just the third time in 38 seasons. The Lakers appear to be years away from title contention, while the Clippers are built to contend every year in the near future. "Were proud of this team," Clippers guard Jamal Crawford said. "Were proud of our city, and we want to make them proud of us." Mike Wagner Jersey . For one, he still gets to crank the intensity to the max. "I push pretty angry. I ran pretty angry too though, but I have fun doing it," Lumsden said. Carnell Lake Jersey .ca/CurlingSkins - with the Top 16 curlers earning a ticket to Banff, Alta. to compete in the TRAVELERS ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME Presented by Pintys, running Jan. http://www.authenticsteelerspro.com/ . Braves reliever David Carpenter was also fined for throwing at Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson in the same game, which featured several ejections, including Colorado manager Walt Weiss.Ahead of Burnley’s trip to Preston on Friday, Adam Bate caught up with Clarets midfielder David Jones to find out what the return to his old club means to him and why he’s on course for a fourth promotion to the Premier League… What makes someone an expert in promotion? Ian Holloway and Mick McCarthy have each taken teams to the Premier League on two occasions. Neil Warnock has led three clubs to the top flight. But theres a player who can beat that record. David Jones is looking to win his fourth promotion to the Premier League.The Burnley midfielder isnt about to trumpet his case. He has not masterminded the clubs campaign, that honour belongs to manager Sean Dyche. But the 31-year-old is clearly doing something right. He knows what a promotion-winning team looks like and fortunately for fans of the Clarets, he recognises a lot of those qualities in the Burnley dressing room. Burnleys team spirit was in evidence following Michael Keanes late equaliser The more experienced you are helps, Jones tells Sky Sports. Ive just been lucky to play for some good managers and some good teams. Theres no secret but the common theme Ive experienced in good teams in the Championship is the spirit in the dressing room. It counts for so much and is probably one of the most important ingredients in this league.That spirit was in evidence on Tuesday when the top two met at Turf Moor. With Burnley on the brink of a damaging defeat to Middlesbrough, Michael Keane forced home a late equaliser. The draw means Burnley remain within two points of the leaders but are now level on points with third-placed Brighton. With just three games to go, it was not a game to lose.After Middlesbrough scored, we put them under lots of pressure and luckily managed to put one away, says Jones. Theyre one of our rivals at the top so it was important not to let them gain any more ground on us, The goal means Burnley still havent lost in the league since Boxing Day. It was important to keep our unbeaten run going too, he adds.Jones was on the bench against Boro, only the fourth Championship game hes missed all season. Id have much rather been out on the pitch, but the manager changed a couple of things, he says. Im just looking forward to the next big game because they come around very quickly. Particularly given that the next game is on Friday night against Preston. Jones celebrating a goal for Preston as a young loanee in 2005 This is the club at which Jones made his league debut on loan from Manchester United in 2005. From training with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes, he was thrust into a battle for points under the management of Billy Davies and alongside experienced Championship performers such as Graham Alexander and Chris Lucketti.I can remember really wanting to go out on loan because you could stagnate a bit in the reserves and not get the first-team experience you need to become savvy as a professional, says Jones. You need to learn how to play winning football in a business where results mean everything. Preston gave me the chance to do that.It was a really enjoyable time and Ive got very fond memories of the fans and the people there. You learn a lot at a club like United when youre coming through the ranks about how to become a professional. But I also learnt a lot at Preston under Billy Davies. There were also a lot of experienced players in that dressing room and you had to learn quickly. Jones training with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes at Manchester United A lot is expected from players who arrive from Manchester United in terms of their talent and ability and you have to demonstrate that. You come in from the comfort zone at United to a different style of play and a new way of playing. It was different to what I was used to so it was about trying to be effective. Whatever the style, you have to affect the game.Jones has been doing that this season. Hes provided six assists and thanks to his role as a dead-ball specialist has created more chances (53) than any other Burnley player. A pass completion rate of 84.4 per cent - also a Burnley best - reflects the importance of his sensible use of the ball in midfield. Midfield influence Player Pass accuracy Player Chances created David Jones 84. Heath Miller Jersey. 4% David Jones 53 Dean Marney 80.8% Scott Arfield 43 Michael Keane 79.3% Sam Vokes 37 Scott Arfield 74.8% George Boyd 34 Its a responsibility he relishes, but the entire team has had to embrace the increased responsibility that comes with expectation. When Burnley were promoted in 2013/14 it was regarded as an unlikely success. Back in the Championship with a bigger budget, the demands are greater. It is different, admits Jones. Weve evolved as a club.There are a lot of things going on off the pitch that are moving the club forward. For example, the new training ground. The expectations from the fans and the town have increased and with the outside factors such as the media, theres more expected of us now. That brings different pressures and a different challenge. Highlights from Burnleys 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on Tuesday night But for all the change, some things remain. Burnley retained Dyche in the wake of relegation from the Premier League and the decision has been justified. You can see in the way the club operates that its a reflection of our managers personality, says Jones. Its taken time to develop that but hes managed to stamp that all over the team and all over the club.Dyche has got the big decisions right. The signing of Joey Barton might have been perceived as a gamble but its been one that has paid off. Meanwhile, replacing top scorer Danny Ings was always likely to be crucial but the signing of Andre Gray has been a triumph - as shown by his 22 goals, culminating in the Championship player of the year award.Andre has done fantastically well, says Jones. Hes scored goals wherever hes been and hes been vitally important for us. We needed to replace Danny Ings and while theyre different players - theyre not like for like - its still been effective in the way that we play. Now its just about finishing the job and Jones reluctantly admits that they are well aware that Middlesbrough and Brighton must play each other on the final day of the season. It means that three more wins will guarantee promotion.It is hard not to look at other teams, he says. But as players we can only really focus on our performances. If we can take care of that then Im sure itll be positive for us at the end of the season. There are three big cup finals for us to concentrate on now.And what would it mean to Jones? Itd be fantastic to do it again. Thats the aim. We all want to challenge ourselves at that level again. Thats what the club is geared towards this season. With promotion number four in reach, clearly its what David Jones is geared towards too. 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