Front, Center

California investor Jim Goldstein has attended thousands of NBA games -- many of which sitting courtside -- during his life.

By Cammy Clark
cclark@MiamiHerald.com

DALLAS - As his news conference ended Friday in American Airlines Center, Shaquille O'Neal looked at the old guy sitting in the front row wearing a bright orange jersey and a matching bright orange baseball cap and said with his trademark grin: ``Nice World Cup outfit.''

O'Neal is friendly with the fan who sports frizzy, shoulder-length gray hair and looks a tad like Tom Petty. Over the years, California investor Jim Goldstein has become the NBA's ``Superfan.''

Fans usually are not allowed at an NBA Finals news conference.

But Goldstein is an exception.

NBA commissioner David Stern said last year: ``He probably has the largest investment of any fan in America in the NBA, so we get a kick out of him.''

Goldstein's love of the NBA began in the 1950s when he kept statistics for radio broadcasts of the now-defunct Milwaukee Hawks. He has been attending NBA games before any of the current players were born.

In the 1990s, he was the ''adopted good luck charm'' of the Houston Rockets, attending practices and shooting with the players.

''I was even told [then-coach] Rudy Tomjanovich would be upset if I didn't show up at practice,'' Goldstein said.

BIG SPENDER

This year, the enigmatic millionaire who lives in an ''architectural marvel'' in the Hollywood Hills said he will spend ''at least $100,000'' traveling around the country to watch playoff games.

During the first two rounds, he saw 27 games in 28 days. The only reason it wasn't 28 for 28? There weren't any games on the day he missed. The one area he's frugal is flying -- he goes commercial in coach, albeit nonstop. Connections are too risky to make tipoffs.
Just like in the news conference, Goldstein likes unobstructed views. He almost always sits courtside.

''Over the years I've developed sources in each city,'' he said Friday. ``Although I must say, since you're from Miami, that my Miami sources haven't come through as of yet.

``I'm still facing the possibility of not sitting courtside in Miami.''

For him, that's almost unheard of. He has courtside season tickets for the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and of the 36 NBA playoff games he has been to this year, only once has he failed to land the premiere tickets.

''The only time I didn't sit courtside this year was in the first round,'' he said. ``I invited one of the visiting owners [of the Denver Nuggets] to sit with me courtside in Los Angeles, figuring he'd reciprocate in his city. Instead I was behind the team's bench, looking at the back of another player's head. After a few minutes, I moved into the stands.''

Goldstein won't tell you his age or how he makes his money, saying only he needs to spend just a few hours a week on his ''investments'' that are ``legal, very legal.''

Goldstein hands out over-sized business cards. Under his name his occupation is listed: Fashion. Architecture. Basketball.

CAN'T MISS HIM

It's not hard to pick him out at games, at which he has attended thousands over the years and now averages about 120 a season. In addition to his frizzy gray hair, he wears head-turning outfits that he buys in Europe twice a year.

He has worn ostrich leather jackets, designer jeans, exotic leather boots and wide-brimmed hats. One time during a game, Shaq snatched Goldstein's python leather hat from his head and put it on. Shaq also appreciates fashionable headwear.

When Goldstein, who's attending his 15th consecutive NBA Finals and 30th-plus overall, was told that perhaps he would be sitting next to recording star Usher, who has sat courtside in Miami, Goldstein wasn't impressed.

''Since you mentioned Usher, a few years ago he was photographed at my house for an album cover,'' Goldstein said. ``I know Usher. I'm glad to see that he did so well.''

Goldstein is a true fan, attending many bad midseason Clippers games.

He said he would not be thrilled about sitting next to an entertainment celebrity.

''I would rather sit next to a former basketball star and be able to talk in depth about the game,'' Goldstein said. ``I just love the NBA.''