The Most Controversial NBA Club Owner Story: Having A Cheerleader Team Casting In A Strip Club

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JAKARTA - The NBA has a long history of unique characters and strange franchise owners. However, few have ever leveled with former Cleveland Cavaliers owner Ted Stepien.

The Pennsylvania businessman took over the Cavaliers for just two million U.S. dollars in an adventure that lasted only three seasons. However, those years were full of some amazing stories.

Zoomin' past the defense 💨 pic.twitter.com/cr13ZyGVhc

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 11, 2021

This proved to be more than enough time to be declared persona non grata in the state of Ohio and is considered one of the worst owners in the history of American sport, as athletics has said.

Persona non grata is a Latin term used in international political and diplomatic affairs. The literal meaning is undesirable. People who are persona non grata-kan usually should not be present in a place or country.

One of Stepien's most controversial decisions was the formation of the Teddi-Bears, a cheerleader team born under the spotlight of controversy.

Sheldon Ocker, a journalist for the Akron Beacon Journal, once asked Stepien for an interview after taking over the Cavaliers.

"Come to my place on the Sunday after mass. We would sit by the pool and watch porn," Stepien replied.

One of Ted Stepien's first acts as Cavs owner was to start a dance troupe and call it the "Teddi-Bears." He hired a vaudevillian as coach and put his own daughter in the risque calendar. It, uh, didn't go well.✍️ @joevardon & @ByJasonLloyd https://t.co/v7BJGoBzVw

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 1, 2021

However, the story doesn't stop there. The meeting between the journalist and Stepien did not take place at his home, but at the Cleveland strip club where the businessman was casting for his cheerleading team.

The team was led by his wife, and his own 19-year-old daughter was also part of the team.