The current ownership structure of the New York Knicks is quite chaotic. There are over a dozen shareholders, each with a small stake. The largest shareholders are two companies: the American Cable TV System Company, led by Charles Dolan, and the ITT Group, overseen by CEO Rand Araskog.
Acquiring the New York Knicks is a challenging endeavor, as Lamb pointed out, "It's not just difficult; it's also very expensive—more than you might think."
"How expensive?" Sean asked, frowning. "It's only 1985! Jordan hasn't made his mark yet, and the NBA isn't exactly raking in profits. NBA teams should be cheap."
He recalled that in 1979, the Bass family purchased the Los Angeles Lakers for $67 million. While the Lakers are a prestigious franchise, they still fall short of the Knicks in commercial value. Given this, the Knicks' valuation should be approximately $120 million.
"Seriously?" Sean couldn't help but scoff. "You're telling me they're worth $120 million now? That's a joke!"
"That's just how it is," Lamb said, shrugging. "For context, just over a year ago, the Indiana Pacers sold for $4.5 million. The team's standing and commercial value are vastly different."
Lamb continued, "And keep in mind that Madison Square Garden isn't owned by the Knicks. The arena belongs to Gulf Corporation and Occidental Petroleum, with the land and venue valued at around $400 million."
Sean shuddered at that figure, recalling that the Dolan family had bought the Knicks for just $30 million in 1997. But the location of Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan, above the largest train station in the U.S., explains its high value.
"Okay, I get it," Sean said, raising his hand to stop Lamb. Feeling a mix of frustration and determination, he added, "Just keep an eye on the smaller shareholders of the Knicks. I might consider buying their shares."
As for the Dolan family and the ITT Group, Sean wasn't ready to approach them; their stakes were too significant.
After Lamb left, Sean thought about another team that was considerably cheaper: the New Jersey Nets, located just over ten kilometers north of Newark. However, his interest in basketball was more about prestige than financial investment, so the Nets didn't appeal to him.
For now, the Knicks were his focus, but he decided to table the matter for the future.
Putting those thoughts aside, Sean left his office, realizing it was almost time to meet Wells and pick up Diane Lane.
John had brought the entire crew to Newark two days earlier to begin filming. Sean had been preoccupied with Dimio's issues and hadn't been able to join them. Now that those matters were settled, he was eager to see Diane.
He missed her youthful energy, and with filming ramping up, he wanted to dedicate his attention to the project—at least on the surface.
Upon arriving on set, he found them filming a scene from the previous episode. Diane, portraying a female gangster, was dressed in a form-fitting outfit reminiscent of an urban white-collar worker. The attire accentuated her figure, giving her an air of innocence mixed with allure that seemed at odds with her character.
This creative choice wasn't Sean's idea; it was John's decision to include a female character in a traditionally male role, emphasizing a striking contrast.
According to John, many films portrayed gangsters as purely sinister while depicting heroes as uniformly virtuous. He believed this lack of distinction made for uninspired storytelling, a principle that would later influence his work on Die Hard.
Sean had no objections to John's vision and refrained from interfering as long as it aligned with his goals for the film.
As Sean entered the set, many crew members acknowledged him, but John merely nodded from behind the monitor, focused on directing the scene.
After learning that Diane Lane's shoot for the day was over, Sean took her away, while Elizabeth McGovern watched, biting her lower lip in frustration at the scene unfolding before her.
When Diane emerged from changing clothes, she immediately hugged Sean and kissed him deeply as soon as she got into the car. It had been a week since they last saw each other, and she missed him dearly, feeling a rush of warmth upon their reunion.
In the back seat, Diane settled onto Sean's lap, tilting her head to look up at him with playful, innocent eyes, her small hands mischievously rubbing against him.
"What's going on here?" Sean wondered.
Meanwhile, in the front and rear cars, a group from the security detail exchanged bets, their excitement palpable.
As time wore on, they initially checked their watches frequently, but after ten minutes passed in silence, a strange tension filled the air.
"Hey, this can't be an act…" a timid voice crackled over the intercom, prompting a few nervous coughs from the group.
Another long day dragged on.
Sean sighed, staring at the ceiling of the car, realizing that he needed a vehicle with more space and height. It would make things more comfortable and avoid any awkward pauses on the road.
On the other hand, the mood among the crew was mixed. Those who lost were visibly upset, while the winners didn't seem too thrilled either. Eventually, someone broke the silence, boasting, "I knew I'd win! With a head and body like that, it has to last!"
"Stop bragging, kid," another chimed in.
"Damn it, she's just lying to make you feel better! Jenny told me you couldn't keep it up," someone shot back.
"Can't you?" another voice teased.
"Just you wait!" the banter continued, growing more animated.
At that moment, a stark contrast unfolded elsewhere. Tony, covered in blood, burst into his house, fleeing Trenton with his wife and children. He had just received the devastating news that his uncle and another family member had been shot—everyone was dead.
"Akomo Apple!" Tony roared in anguish, his voice filled with fury as he sped away.