Clearly, Steve Ballmer did not lose any of his trademark intensity or excitement after leaving Microsoft earlier this year.
The former CEO attended his first Los Angeles Clippers regular season game as the team’s new owner on Thursday, watching his squad narrowly beat an injury-depleted Oklahoma City Thunder — yes, the former Seattle Supersonics — at the Staples Center.
TNT, which aired the game nationally, frequently showed Ballmer’s reaction to a variety of plays, both good and bad. It was entertaining to watch, with the commentators noting how exciting and energetic Ballmer was. This is not surprising to those of us that followed Ballmer’s reign at Microsoft, but to many around the NBA, it’s certainly unusual to see an NBA owner be so intense.
But the best Ballmer reaction came just seconds after the Clippers clinched the win, when the 58-year-old slapped his son on the back so hard that it scared him.
Ballmer, who has banned the use of iPads within the organization, was also apparently kissing babies:
Steve Ballmer is walking around shaking hands and kissing babies and getting a standing ovation from a few in the lower bowl.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) October 31, 2014
This is just Game 1 of 82, folks. It’s going to be fun watching Ballmer this season.