Gary Cavalli, who runs the show at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (formerly Emerald Bowl), was kind enough to share his thoughts on Joe Lacob, who recently bought the Warriors. Cavalli and Lacob worked together at the American Basketball League (ABL). Here is Gary on Lacob:

Lowell,

I can’t say enough good things about Joe Lacob.

Joe was the primary investor in the ABL. I was the co-founder and CEO of the league, so I met or talked with Joe pretty much on a daily basis throughout the league’s existence (almost 3 years). In addition to his investments, Joe helped the league in many other ways–using his contacts, setting up meetings with TV network executives and marketing experts, sharing his insight and his perspective. He bailed me out of a lot of jams and always acted in the best interests of the league.

Joe’s a great guy. He’s incredibly smart, very fair, a straight shooter. Unlike some successful business types I know, Joe actually listens. He’s got a very curious, inquisitive mind. When he delves into something, he wants to understand it fully. He’s also extremely competitive. Whether it’s on the basketball court or in the business world, he wants to win, and he usually does.

He’s very astute about basketball. He plays the game regularly and has been a season ticket holder of both the Warriors and Stanford. I often see him sitting in the front row at Stanford games right next to the on-court broadcast table. When we were working on the ABL, it was clear to me that he had a great deal of knowledge of the game and understood its nuances very well. He had a sharp eye for both playing and coaching talent.

Warrior fans should be celebrating. Their new owner is a good guy, a fantastic businessman, and very knowledgeable about basketball. He’s not a self promoter or a guy who will hunger for publicity, but he’ll be open and accessible. Most importantly, he wants to win.

Hope this helps,
gc