Ernesto Bertarelli

The 33rd America's Cup taking place this week in Valencia, Spain, already seems destined to be remembered as one of the most vicious and brutal sporting events in history, as rival billionaires Ernesto Bertarelli and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison duke it out in the courts and the media -- and drive away fans and advertisers.

Oracle founder Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli have a lot in common. They are both billionaires, racing sailors, and, oh yeah, they both want to control where the America's Cup is held when it begins in February 2010. Ellison's Golden Gate Yacht Club scored a small victory over Bertarelli's...