Oracle's Ellison Expected at W's-Cavs Game

Jan. 8, 2010
Matt Steinmetz
CSNBayArea.com

The Warriors organization is expecting a very special guest on Monday when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit Oracle Arena.No not LeBron James.Were talking about Larry Ellison, a man long-rumored to be interested in buying the Warriors and the co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation, the franchises biggest corporate sponsor.Ellison, who has never been inside the building before, is expected to be sitting courtside, across from the Warriors bench, with his nephew.Warriors team president Robert Rowell confirmed that Ellison is expected on Monday, but he also said that Ellison had planned to see games twice before in the past three years but each time had a change of plans.Rowell, who has never met Ellison, said he cancelled a trip to New York for league meetings this weekend in order to be at Mondays game.Ellisons visit is likely to fuel speculation about the possibility of Warriors owner Chris Cohan selling the team, but Rowell said: I wouldnt read anything into it. Hes the CEO of the company that is our biggest corporate sponsor. Of course were going to roll out the red carpet for him.Ellison, listed by Forbes as the fourth-richest person in the world, had been expected at Oracle twice beforeboth times for Warriors-Lakers games.In July, reports surfaced that Cohan and Ellison had talked of a possible sale, although the Warriors denied it. Shortly after the report, Rowell said the Warriors are not for sale.