Awkward. Larry Ellison's Oracle Racing Now Supported by Rival, Microsoft

In an ironic twist of fate, one of billionaire Larry Ellison's most prized possessions is now being supported by his most bitter nemesis. In June, Microsoft announced plans to buy enterprise social networking company, Yammer. In and of itself, this has nothing to do with sponsorship unless you know that Yammer is one of the official suppliers to Larry Ellison's Oracle Team USA and their defense of the 34th America's Cup, meaning through the acquisition Microsoft is now essentially supporting Oracle Racing. The Oracle co-founder and CEO's fondness for Microsoft is well-documented. Oracle, at one point, even hired a private investigator to dig through the company's garbage!

So as a sideshow for the race, things might get equally interesting in the America's Cup hospitality suites next Fall.

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