Will Tom Gores be forced out as owner of the Pistons?

**renf** · December-20-20, 10:30 AM

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/sports...icle8-headline

Do I recall that when Michael Illitch sought to buy the Tigers,
his application was held up by MLB for some time because he
also owned the Red Wings and then later because he owned
a casino? Did he transfer ownership of the casino to his wife
before he was allowed to buy the Tigers?

**EGrant** · December-20-20, 10:31 AM

I don't think he'll be forced out, but I do think he'll have to do something about that company.

**313WX** · December-20-20, 11:04 AM

I think he's already served his only real purpose [[to help bring the Pistons back downtown and rid us of the boondoggle in Auburn Hills).

At this point, if he goes, he goes.

**401don** · December-20-20, 11:25 AM

There is a lot more detail missing before we can comment intelligently on this. Private Equity companies, like all companies, can do good or bad. Gores company, Platinum Equity, actually has a pretty good reputation for investing in companies and turning them around rather than gutting or flipping them. How long has he owned this company? Do they have actual plans to make changes as he states? Should everything related to prisons be public? I assume private companies supply everything - clothing, linens, etc. to prisons whether they are private or public.
Needless to say Gores has not been a great owner at putting a quality product on the court but as far as spending money, investing in the product - look at the new practice facility downtown - charitable work, etc. I think he's been a model owner.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · December-20-20, 11:53 AM

He's no Mark Cuban, that's for sure.

**Lowell** · December-20-20, 12:50 PM

BTW, just to be clear, at issue is...

"Calls for billionaire Tom Gores to cut ties with a controversial prison phone company have reached the National Basketball Association, days before the start of the new season.

"In a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and in a full-page ad published in Sunday's New York Times, criminal justice advocates are calling on the league to force Gores to sell the Detroit Pistons and step down from the NBA board because of his ties to Securus Technologies Inc."

Meanwhile the Pistons are picked to finish last in their division.

**Danny** · December-20-20, 04:24 PM

Tom Gores is not going anywhere!

**softailrider** · December-20-20, 06:45 PM

It was a sad day when the Davidson family sold the Pistons to Mr. Gores. I remember exciting times at Pistons games when they played at the Silverdome and the Palace. There has been none of the above at JLA.

**stasu1213** · December-20-20, 07:12 PM

My prediction for the new year is Gilbert sell the Cleveland Cavaliers and then purchase the Pistons from Gores

**Gistok** · December-20-20, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

It was a sad day when the Davidson family sold the Pistons to Mr. Gores. I remember exciting times at Pistons games when they played at the Silverdome and the Palace. There has been none of the above at JLA.

Don't like the drive? Well your loss is everyone else's gain...

**softailrider** · December-20-20, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Don't like the drive? Well your loss is everyone else's gain...

Except those that want a competitive basketball team to watch.

**Gistok** · December-20-20, 10:39 PM

^^ Lucky that you're not a football fan then....

**sirrealone** · December-21-20, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by softailrider

It was a sad day when the Davidson family sold the Pistons to Mr. Gores.

The sad day was when Mr. Davidson passed away. After that, though, his wretch of a wife did everything she could to destroy the team. She didn't care one bit about it and saw it only as a meal ticket out of town.

As far as Gores, I would see a better chance that he'd move the team to Las Vegas over him selling, at least at this point.

**hybridy** · December-21-20, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

My prediction for the new year is Gilbert sell the Cleveland Cavaliers and then purchase the Pistons from Gores

Gilbert has some larger holdings in the CLE market including the Higbee and the May buildings. When Sherwin Williams was shopping land for an new HQ tower, Bedrock was one of the major players courting them. I don't think Dan is getting out of that market unless he can flip those assets for a handsome profit.

**Satiricalivory** · December-21-20, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by hybridy

Gilbert has some larger holdings in the CLE market including the Higbee and the May buildings. When Sherwin Williams was shopping land for an new HQ tower, Bedrock was one of the major players courting them. I don't think Dan is getting out of that market unless he can flip those assets for a handsome profit.

What does this have to do with sports teams though?

There is no way Gores would take the Piston's anywhere, they just spent serious money on that practice facility in New Center.

Also I agree that his prison business is shameful and disgusting.

**hybridy** · December-21-20, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

What does this have to do with sports teams though?

There is no way Gores would take the Piston's anywhere, they just spent serious money on that practice facility in New Center.

Also I agree that his prison business is shameful and disgusting.

Meaning he's not selling the CAV's. He's in the CLE market for now.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · December-21-20, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by sirrealone

The sad day was when Mr. Davidson passed away. After that, though, his wretch of a wife did everything she could to destroy the team. She didn't care one bit about it and saw it only as a meal ticket out of town.

As far as Gores, I would see a better chance that he'd move the team to Las Vegas over him selling, at least at this point.

Truth spoken here. She just took the money and ran. She didn't give a flying f... about the team.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · December-21-20, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by hybridy

Gilbert has some larger holdings in the CLE market including the Higbee and the May buildings. When Sherwin Williams was shopping land for an new HQ tower, Bedrock was one of the major players courting them. I don't think Dan is getting out of that market unless he can flip those assets for a handsome profit.

Sherwin Williams is plastered on both ends of the Cavs new court. Guess that's part of the deal.

**softailrider** · December-21-20, 06:17 PM

None of the area's 4 sports teams are going anywhere. The Detroit area is still a huge market. Put competitive teams on the fields and in the arenas and fans will come. They're not drawing now [[pre cornavirus) because the product offered is terrible.

As an aside, Detroit was always a Baseball and Hockey centric city. Basketball and Football not so much. When the Pistons became good and won those titles that changed. As far as the Lions go, I have no explanation for their popularity.

**313WX** · December-21-20, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

As far as the Lions go, I have no explanation for their popularity.

Gluttons for punishment.

**Ray1936** · December-21-20, 08:34 PM

I think professional sports -- especially basketball -- are going to be in financial trouble in a few years. Lot of people fed up with these millionaire athletes who couldn't get a real job if they had to. Just sayin'.

**p1acebo** · December-22-20, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by softailrider

None of the area's 4 sports teams are going anywhere. The Detroit area is still a huge market. Put competitive teams on the fields and in the arenas and fans will come. They're not drawing now [[pre cornavirus) because the product offered is terrible.

As an aside, Detroit was always a Baseball and Hockey centric city. Basketball and Football not so much. When the Pistons became good and won those titles that changed. As far as the Lions go, I have no explanation for their popularity.

I've never heard anyone say this. I think most would argue Detroit is a football town given the ridiculous amount of popularity the Lions have. Think about it, what would create more excitement, the Lions winning the Superbowl or any other the other professional teams winning their respected title? I think we all know the answer.

Not to mention college football is pretty huge in Detroit too, not many metro areas share a similar scenario.

**JonWylie** · December-22-20, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

I think professional sports -- especially basketball -- are going to be in financial trouble in a few years. Lot of people fed up with these millionaire athletes who couldn't get a real job if they had to. Just sayin'.

Basketball has been one of the fastest growing sports for the past decade. Maybe sports like baseball are in trouble, but basketball is getting more and more revenue abroad without needing to focus as much on domestic revenue.

**401don** · December-22-20, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by JonWylie

Basketball has been one of the fastest growing sports for the past decade. Maybe sports like baseball are in trouble, but basketball is getting more and more revenue abroad without needing to focus as much on domestic revenue.

Baseball is no more trouble than any of the other sports. Teams are signing record local tv contracts. Ray, for some reason, has been trolling the sports threads for a while now.

**softailrider** · December-22-20, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by p1acebo

I've never heard anyone say this. I think most would argue Detroit is a football town given the ridiculous amount of popularity the Lions have. Think about it, what would create more excitement, the Lions winning the Superbowl or any other the other professional teams winning their respected title? I think we all know the answer.

Not to mention college football is pretty huge in Detroit too, not many metro areas share a similar scenario.

Back in the 90's, when the Lions were still playing in the Silverdome [[an 80,000 + seat venue) The Lions regularly did not sell out their home games. Back then the NFL operated under a "blackout" rule for televising home games [[sellout within 72 hours of kickoff or no local broadcast) It was very common for their home games to NOT be televised. There was at least one occasion I'm sure of, but I think two occasions where the Lions made the playoffs, had a home playoff game and it was not a sellout and not televised in the local area.