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The New Yorker profiles Pens owner Ron Burkle

The New Yorker profiles Pens co-owner Ron Burkle, who says at one point "I always thought, Don’t be in a union business unless you’re committed to having the best relationship. You’ll live longer for less stress, and you’ll probably make more money.”

By Hooks Orpik
Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

The New Yorker has a (really) long piece on Pens co-owner Ron Burkle. But it's very interesting- the California businessman has definitely been content to be far on the sidelines and allow his higher profile partner in Mario Lemieux to be the visible day-to-day frontman of Penguins ownership. Burkle doesn't do a lot of media interviews, so this is a treasure trove of information into his relationships with Bill Clinton, Novak Djokovic, Diddy and Leonardo DiCaprio, among others.

But, one quote that really stood out from Burkle, who made his fortune dealing with unions and the supermarket industry was definitely this:

"I always thought, Don’t be in a union business unless you’re committed to having the best relationship. You’ll live longer for less stress, and you’ll probably make more money."
Given the turmoil between the NHL and the player's association, those words would go a long way if both sides read and took them to heart. It's a shame it won't happen.

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