La
Gazzetta dellio Sport - NBA Playoffs Special
(May
21, 2003)
GOLDSTEIN: THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT
FAN IN THE WORLD LIVES IN LA
The
name Jim Goldstein won't say much to NBA fans. But this unique
guy from Los Angeles has now become an integral part professional
basketball just as much as the most famous actors or singers
that can be seen courtside at Lakers games. And perhaps even
more.
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is arguably the #1 NBA fan. He's quite at an advantage to begin
with, being a millionaire; he can afford to do it full-time.
Yet his presence in the NBA has by now reached mythic proportions.
"I've been in the league since 1981", says Bryan McIntyre,
NBA executive, "I've seen him at every game since then."
Goldstein lives in a beautiful mansion in Los Angeles, but he's
originally from Milwaukee. Ever since he was a teen, he's been
obsessed with basketball. He played in high school. Then, at
15, he snatched up a gig with the then Milwaukee Hawks. He was
the stat guy for the local radio station. "When the Hawks
relocated in Atlanta, and the world crumbled upon me" says
Goldstein, who is easily spotted thanks to his very extravagant,
at the very least, clothes and headgear. He then moved to California
to study at Stanford. He bought his first tickets for a Lakers
game in 1962, $15 for courtside seats (now they sell for about
$2000). He's missed very few games since, including Clippers
games. "I watch about 100 games each year," he says,
and does so in every arena, thanks to teams, or league passes.
How does he manage it? Goldstein isn't too clear about it. "I've
made some very profitable investments in Southern California,
so I can follow basketball full-time. I've got lots of connections." |
Goldstein
isn't just a fan of Los Angeles teams. He now has friends in
each team, and he's close with Commissioner Stern. "My
dream?" Jim asks, "to be the owner of an NBA franchise."
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 jim@jamesfgoldstein.com |
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