The Mike Budenholzer Problem

[JeremyG]

He pressured brokers to violate their fiduciary duties to their clients to get them the best deals, costing borrowers hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.

Would you be happy about that if you were the one getting cheated by the broker you trusted to find you the best deal for your mortgage?

[Kryptonic]

There have been many. I guess you’re proof that they haven’t stuck, like I said.

The rich and powerful are always going to have people going for a piece of their wealth. Show me some facts and then we'll talk. Sarver was a proven scum. There is no proof for Ishbia. By all accounts, he's a solid family man. To throw that phrase out like you did is ugly and TMZ-like.

From Grok:

In April 2024, Hunterbrook Media, a newly launched outlet tied to a hedge fund, published an investigative report alleging that Mat Ishbia, CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and owner of the Phoenix Suns, engaged in questionable business practices. The report claimed UWM pressured independent mortgage brokers to steer clients exclusively to UWM, potentially costing borrowers hundreds of millions to billions in excess fees and closing costs, despite the brokers’ role to secure the best deals. It highlighted a 2021 "All In" ultimatum from Ishbia, demanding brokers commit solely to UWM or lose partnership, with data showing a significant increase in brokers sending over 99% of their business to UWM afterward—$39 billion in mortgages by 2023.

The report also featured a leaked, profanity-laced voicemail allegedly from Ishbia to Anthony Casa, celebrating UWM surpassing rival Rocket Mortgage (owned by Dan Gilbert) in 2022, using an antigay slur and aggressive language, which drew condemnation from LGBTQ+ groups like Athlete Ally for fostering a hostile environment. A class-action lawsuit filed the same day in Detroit federal court echoed these allegations, accusing UWM and Ishbia of racketeering and fraud.

**Toxic Workplace Allegations at UWM (2023)**: Over two dozen former and current UWM employees accused the company of fostering a "hostile" environment marked by racial disparities, sexual harassment, bullying by managers, and drug use, though Ishbia himself was not directly accused of these acts.

**Business Disputes (2021)**: Ishbia’s decision to cut ties with brokers working with competitors like Rocket Mortgage sparked legal challenges and a class-action lawsuit against UWM.

**Shareholder Lawsuit (2023)**: Following UWM’s 2021 merger with a SPAC, shareholders filed a lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duties.

You don’t become a billionaire by being nice to everyone.

Hold my beer.

Being nice to everyone means giving every draft partner extra draft picks… evidently.

[Kryptonic]

He pressured brokers to violate their fiduciary duties to their clients to get them the best deals, costing borrowers hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.

Would you be happy about that if you were the one getting cheated by the broker you trusted to find you the best deal for your mortgage?

You did see it said “allegedly” right?

[Cap]

The rich and powerful are always going to have people going for a piece of their wealth. Show me some facts and then we'll talk. Sarver was a proven scum. There is no proof for Ishbia. By all accounts, he's a solid family man. To throw that phrase out like you did is ugly and TMZ-like.

From Grok:

In April 2024, Hunterbrook Media, a newly launched outlet tied to a hedge fund, published an investigative report alleging that Mat Ishbia, CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and owner of the Phoenix Suns, engaged in questionable business practices. The report claimed UWM pressured independent mortgage brokers to steer clients exclusively to UWM, potentially costing borrowers hundreds of millions to billions in excess fees and closing costs, despite the brokers’ role to secure the best deals. It highlighted a 2021 "All In" ultimatum from Ishbia, demanding brokers commit solely to UWM or lose partnership, with data showing a significant increase in brokers sending over 99% of their business to UWM afterward—$39 billion in mortgages by 2023.

The report also featured a leaked, profanity-laced voicemail allegedly from Ishbia to Anthony Casa, celebrating UWM surpassing rival Rocket Mortgage (owned by Dan Gilbert) in 2022, using an antigay slur and aggressive language, which drew condemnation from LGBTQ+ groups like Athlete Ally for fostering a hostile environment. A class-action lawsuit filed the same day in Detroit federal court echoed these allegations, accusing UWM and Ishbia of racketeering and fraud.

**Toxic Workplace Allegations at UWM (2023)**: Over two dozen former and current UWM employees accused the company of fostering a "hostile" environment marked by racial disparities, sexual harassment, bullying by managers, and drug use, though Ishbia himself was not directly accused of these acts.

**Business Disputes (2021)**: Ishbia’s decision to cut ties with brokers working with competitors like Rocket Mortgage sparked legal challenges and a class-action lawsuit against UWM.

**Shareholder Lawsuit (2023)**: Following UWM’s 2021 merger with a SPAC, shareholders filed a lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duties.

You don’t become a billionaire by being nice to everyone.

Hold my beer.

Being nice to everyone means giving every draft partner extra draft picks… evidently.

I do buy other people draughts from time to time, but it hasn’t made me a billionaire… yet.

[Split T]

He pressured brokers to violate their fiduciary duties to their clients to get them the best deals, costing borrowers hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.

Would you be happy about that if you were the one getting cheated by the broker you trusted to find you the best deal for your mortgage?

He’s a billionaire businessman…there was like a 95% chance he did some shady money stuff like that. It sucks, but I Sarver was much worse and I doubt it’s anything out of the ordinary when it comes to nba owners. I don’t root for a team because of the owner.

Also I’d be more upset by the broker selling me out.

[Wally_West]

Jared Dudley? Yay or nay?

[ShelC]

I'd be open to Dudley. He was a really smart player and has spent time on the bench.

[specialsauce]

I'm not firing the coach unless the plan is to keep Booker. In which case I am only firing Bud if Book is wanting it after KD is shipped out. I'm not taking any other player's thoughts in mind. My hope this time next year is that Booker, Dunn, Oso and maybe Bol are the only players left from this years team.

[Superbone]

I'm not firing the coach unless the plan is to keep Booker. In which case I am only firing Bud if Book is wanting it after KD is shipped out. I'm not taking any other player's thoughts in mind. My hope this time next year is that Booker, Dunn, Oso and maybe Bol are the only players left from this years team.

Oops. You forgot O'Neale.

[Mori Chu]

I'd be open to Dudley. He was a really smart player and has spent time on the bench.

I don't think Dudley is the right coach for us. We need somebody with a bit more bark. Dudley seems too laid back to me for what we need.

[ShelC]

I think he's more serious as a coach than he was a player.

And it might seem hypocritical given we've hired two coaches with championship experience but I'd like a coach with some experience from a winning org. Even tho the Blazers have been better of late, the thought of Billups is a little scary given his lack of experience. And Blazers fans can't seem to wait to get rid of him.

[virtual9mm]

I'm not firing the coach unless the plan is to keep Booker. In which case I am only firing Bud if Book is wanting it after KD is shipped out. I'm not taking any other player's thoughts in mind. My hope this time next year is that Booker, Dunn, Oso and maybe Bol are the only players left from this years team.

I'm with you. The entire culture got ruined by Durant refusing to play team ball. This isn't a Bud issue.

[specialsauce]

I'm not firing the coach unless the plan is to keep Booker. In which case I am only firing Bud if Book is wanting it after KD is shipped out. I'm not taking any other player's thoughts in mind. My hope this time next year is that Booker, Dunn, Oso and maybe Bol are the only players left from this years team.

I'm with you. The entire culture got ruined by Durant refusing to play team ball. This isn't a Bud issue.

Yeah I don't really care what this current roster thinks of Bud aside from Book, because I can't wait to get rid of this sad sack of heartless losers.

[1tinsoldier]

What scandals?

There have been many. I guess you’re proof that they haven’t stuck, like I said.

The rich and powerful are always going to have people going for a piece of their wealth. Show me some facts and then we'll talk. Sarver was a proven scum. There is no proof for Ishbia. By all accounts, he's a solid family man. To throw that phrase out like you did is ugly and TMZ-like.

From Grok:

In April 2024, Hunterbrook Media, a newly launched outlet tied to a hedge fund, published an investigative report alleging that Mat Ishbia, CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and owner of the Phoenix Suns, engaged in questionable business practices. The report claimed UWM pressured independent mortgage brokers to steer clients exclusively to UWM, potentially costing borrowers hundreds of millions to billions in excess fees and closing costs, despite the brokers’ role to secure the best deals. It highlighted a 2021 "All In" ultimatum from Ishbia, demanding brokers commit solely to UWM or lose partnership, with data showing a significant increase in brokers sending over 99% of their business to UWM afterward—$39 billion in mortgages by 2023.

The report also featured a leaked, profanity-laced voicemail allegedly from Ishbia to Anthony Casa, celebrating UWM surpassing rival Rocket Mortgage (owned by Dan Gilbert) in 2022, using an antigay slur and aggressive language, which drew condemnation from LGBTQ+ groups like Athlete Ally for fostering a hostile environment. A class-action lawsuit filed the same day in Detroit federal court echoed these allegations, accusing UWM and Ishbia of racketeering and fraud.

**Toxic Workplace Allegations at UWM (2023)**: Over two dozen former and current UWM employees accused the company of fostering a "hostile" environment marked by racial disparities, sexual harassment, bullying by managers, and drug use, though Ishbia himself was not directly accused of these acts.

**Business Disputes (2021)**: Ishbia’s decision to cut ties with brokers working with competitors like Rocket Mortgage sparked legal challenges and a class-action lawsuit against UWM.

**Shareholder Lawsuit (2023)**: Following UWM’s 2021 merger with a SPAC, shareholders filed a lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duties.

You don’t become a billionaire by being nice to everyone.

i'll do you one better.
it's very rare to find a billionaire who is a mentally healthy, balanced human being.
you either get started by being raised under the pretense of privilege by parents who prioritized material wealth
or you're even more compulsive and obsessed with material wealth if you're self-driven to crush your competition, hoard and have more than any one person would ever need for security.

i love that Ishbia has a true community focus that he demonstrated by returning the Suns games to free broadcast tv. But if i could, i'd fire him in a second if he's guilty of unethical business practice. Period.

[Wally_West]

Diana Taurasi. Phoenix Suns head coach. LFG!

[JeremyG]

He pressured brokers to violate their fiduciary duties to their clients to get them the best deals, costing borrowers hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.

Would you be happy about that if you were the one getting cheated by the broker you trusted to find you the best deal for your mortgage?

And now he is having to face the legal consequences, with the Ohio Attorney General suing UWM:
https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Med ... -Deceptive

[Kryptonic]

He pressured brokers to violate their fiduciary duties to their clients to get them the best deals, costing borrowers hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.

Would you be happy about that if you were the one getting cheated by the broker you trusted to find you the best deal for your mortgage?

And now he is having to face the legal consequences, with the Ohio Attorney General suing UWM:
https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Med ... -Deceptive

Gotta pay that 2nd apron some how.