If Josh Harris didn’t exist, Tom Wolfe would have had to create him, then tweet about him. Harris is a thoroughly modern Master of the Universe, a man who made billions in private equity and who, like Gordon Gekko, creates next to nothing but aims to own everything. And in the 21st century, what billionaires aim to own are professional sports franchises.
As of Thursday, Harris owns three in this country, now that he and several co-investors — Magic Johnson among them — have reportedly paid a record $6.05 billion to purchase the Washington Commanders from Daniel Snyder. First the 76ers in 2011, then the New Jersey Devils in 2013, now the Commanders: At this rate, in a year’s time Harris may have to push aside Renato’s Pizzeria or Ardsley Auto Tags and take over sponsorship of an under-10 community softball team, just because there will be no other worlds left for him to conquer.
Such ambition, of course, comes with ramifications for the Sixers, for the NFL, and the Eagles, and for sports fans throughout the Philadelphia region. So let’s consider those ramifications.
