Jimmy and Dee Haslam talk publicly for first time about buying share of Milwaukee Bucks

Jimmy Haslam offered up the first public comments on his impeding purchase of a significant share of the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at the NFL owner’s meetings in Arizona.

Speaking to Ohio reporters, Jimmy and Dee Haslam — owners of the Cleveland Browns — said the purchase of Marc Lasry’s 25% is still weeks away from NBA approval so they didn’t want to get into specifics, but did say Wes Edens would assume governorship of the team while the Haslam Sports Group learns the NBA business.

Lasry is the current governor, which means he represents the Bucks in league matters. Edens was governor from 2014-19 after the pair purchased the Bucks.

"It's opportunistic," Jimmy Haslam said of the impending purchase. "I mean listen, we never thought we'd own 10% of the Steelers. Never thought we'd own the Browns. Dee and I had never been, beside watching (daughter) Whitney play high school soccer, had never been to a soccer game. So it's just opportunistic. It was straightened set of circumstances; we were called on this opportunity. Business, sports, you tend to be optimistic. I have no idea what will happen next. First thing's first, let's get this done and then let's get the Browns winning games."

Jimmy Haslam, 68, is a major University of Tennessee athletics donor and chairman of the board for the Pilot Company, based in Knoxville. He also owns the MLS' Columbus Crew.

“We’re used to moving around a lot and operating a lot of different places,” Jimmy said. “Knoxville’s our main office, but we’ve got six or seven other offices around the country, so that helps. But it’s all about right people, right place.”

Bill Haslam, Jimmy's brother, agreed last year to purchase a majority share of the NHL's Nashville Predators over a

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jimmy and Dee Haslam talk publicly about buying share of Milwaukee Bucks