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Steve Ballmer steps down from Microsoft’s Board of Directors

steve ballmer wants clippers switch ipads windows
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has resigned from his position as a member of Microsoft’s Board of Directors, completing the process of his departure from the company where he made his name and fortune.

Ballmer penned a letter that was posted on this official Microsoft page on Wednesday in which he announced his decision. The letter was addressed to current Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who took over for Ballmer earlier this year. In the letter, Ballmer cited his new role as owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, among other reasons and commitments, for his decision to step down from the board.

Related: 5 ways Satya Nadella could fix Microsoft

“The fall will be hectic between teaching a new class and the start of the NBA season, so my departure from the board is effective immediately,” Ballmer wrote.

Ballmer praised the company that he helped to mold and shape — he was employee number 30, after all, having worked at Microsoft for 34 years. In his resignation letter, he described what he thinks is next for the company, while also commending Nadella for the work he has done so far.

“There are challenges ahead but the opportunities are even larger,” Ballmer said. “No company in the world has the mix of software skills, cloud skills, and hardware skills we have assembled. You’re off to a bold and exciting start.”

Ballmer also gave his two cents on what he thinks Microsoft must do in order to be even more successful.

Related: 10 reasons why Steve Ballmer will be the best sports team owner ever

“In the mobile-first, cloud-first world, software development is a key skill, but success requires moving to monetization through enterprise subscriptions, hardware gross margins, and advertising revenues,” Ballmer said. “Making that change while also managing the existing software business well requires a boldness and fearlessness that I believe the management team has.”

During his tenure as Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer had his ups and downs. Microsoft experienced great successes with Ballmer at the helm, including Windows XP, Windows 7, and Xbox. Microsoft also suffered through tremendous failures under Ballmer’s direction. Notable among them are the Zune MP3 player and Windows 8, among others.

Steve Ballmer was introduced as the new owner of the Clippers earlier this week during a fan rally. You can watch a full clip of his appearance at the event below, courtesy of YouTube. Then weigh in in our comment section: Do you think the company is stronger without him? Or has Microsoft lost its greatest champion?

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Konrad Krawczyk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…
Former Ford CEO Alan Mulally joins Google’s Board of Directors
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Former Ford CEO Alan Mulally has come out of retirement to join Google's Board of Directors, according to this official blog post. Mulally will work with the tech giant's Audit Comittee.

“Alan brings a wealth of proven business and technology leadership experience,” Google CEO Larry Page said. “I am so pleased that Alan is now joining Google’s board!”

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10 reasons why ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will be the best team owner ever
10 reasons ex microsoft ceo steve ballmer best sports owner ever clippers buys thumb

Reports indicate that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who is a legend for his zany antics during his tenure with the company, has had his $2 billion bid for the rights to the LA Clippers, a top-tier NBA franchise, accepted by Shelly Sterling. Sterling is the wife of disgraced team owner Donald Sterling, who is infamous for making racist comments that were recorded by his former girlfriend, V. Stiviano.
As both a tech head and a rabid sports fan, I think this is tremendous news for both the NBA and the world of tech. Though the average sports fan may not know it just by looking at him, tech geeks know all too well that Ballmer is an absolute wild man when it comes to stuff that he's passionate about. For that, and other reasons as well, we think Steve Ballmer is the perfect guy to take over the Clippers. Moreover, the man simply belongs in the world of sports.
With that in mind, here are 10 reasons why Steve Ballmer will be the best sports team owner ever.
10. Ballmer is crazier than the craziest sports team mascot
We're all aware of nutty sports team mascots, whether it's the Philly Phanatic, or Bernie Brewer and the Famous Racing Sausages. But if Ballmer can go crazy passionate in public about something as dry (to most sports fans, that is) as software developers, can you imagine how freakin' nuts he'll get the first time he's sitting courtside as the owner of the Clippers and witnesses one of Blake Griffin's trademark monster dunks?
He'll definitely be doing one of these, that's for damn sure.

9. Steve Ballmer is more passionate than the most die-hard sports fan
When you think of sports fans, you think of people who love their squads so much, that they're willing to go to games naked in sub zero weather wearing nothing but an empty barrel. Thankfully, NBA is an indoor sport, so we don't have to worry about Steve donning his birthday suit after making the (inevitable) playoff victory guarantees he'll soon spout about. That's beside the point though: every sports team has crazy fans that love them no matter what, whether it's the aforementioned (and infamous) Barrel Man, New York Jets uber-fan Fireman Ed, or the Hogettes, a group of dudes who love the Washington Redskins so much, that they cross-dress and wear pig masks to every 'skins game. In case you don't know, they do so in honor of the Hogs; the Redskins' offensive line unit of the 1980s and 1990s that helped propel the team to three Super Bowl victories within a roughly 10-year time span.
Anyway, it's the sort of passion that Ballmer regularly displayed during his tenure his Microsoft that makes him a perfect fit to be a sports team owner.  Win or lose, the guy will go absolutely nuts, and make loopy sports fans seem vanilla by comparison. Just check out the below clip if you don't believe me.

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Ballmer goes ballin’: Former Microsoft CEO buys LA Clippers for $2B
steve ballmer wants clippers switch ipads windows

Life for both former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and sports fans is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Ballmer, who is legendary in the tech world for his over-the-top public appearances, has reportedly purchased the LA Clippers for the lofty sum of $2 billion from Shelly Sterling. Mrs. Sterling is the wife of Donald Sterling, the disgraced Clippers owner who has been swirling in controversy ever since audio tapes of the 80 year old attorney making racist comments surfaced. The tapes were recorded by V. Stiviano, Sterling's former girlfriend.
Mrs. Sterling issued the following statement, confirming the sale of the Clippers to Ballmer.
"I am delighted that we are selling the team to Steve, who will be a terrific owner. We have worked for 33 years to build the Clippers into a premiere NBA franchise. I am confident that Steve will take the team to new levels of success."
To this point, conflicting reports painted a murky picture regarding Donald Sterling's intentions pertaining to his ownership of the Clippers. Earlier this week, reports indicated that Sterling gave his estranged wife approval to sell the team. However, another report indicated that he rescinded the permission he granted to his wife to sell the Clippers. 
The situation reportedly turned when medical experts found that the 80-year-old Sterling was "mentally incapacitated," granting Shelly Sterling status as the single trustee of the Clippers. This also gave her the right to sell the franchise. This opened the door for Steve Ballmer pounce and become a sports team owner.
"I love basketball," Ballmer said in a statement. "And I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that the Clippers continue to win -- and win big -- in Los Angeles. L.A. is one of the world’s great cities -- a city that embraces inclusiveness, in exactly the same way that the NBA and I embrace inclusiveness. I am confident that the Clippers will in the coming years become an even bigger part of the community."
The sale has to be approved by the NBA and other NBA team owners, but we fully expect Ballmer's purchase to go through. However, it'll be interesting to see whether Donald Sterling mounts a legal challenge to the sale.
For a taste of Ballmer's brand of..eccentricity, check out the clip of him below, courtesy of YouTube.
 
Bottom line: the guy definitely belongs in sports.

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