Filed under: Celebrity News
After unsuccessful runs in the basketball operations department of the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan didn't appear to be cut out for the life of an executive
The same commitment to winning that made him so successful off the court, seemed to be sorely lacking in the stadium suites.
So when MJ purchased the Charlotte Bobcats in March, and became the first former player with a majority stake in an NBA team, questions immediately arose as to whether he would make a good owner.
The financially unstable franchise needed a complete overhaul. In its first six years, the Bobcats had lost a reported $80-$100 million.So far, Jordan has made it very clear he's committed to his new role, the SportsBusiness Journal reports. Sure, he bought a pair of courtside seats, on David Stern's recommendation, to increase visibility, but Jordan's commitment goes beyond making appearances. His Airness also secured new corporate sponsors and negotiated a better TV deal for his team.
Please read the rest on BusinessInsider.com.
With this type of renewed commitment, might Mr. Jordan be poised to excel in the exciting role of a championship-winning NBA businessman? Only time will tell, but he has a great start and years of experience to draw from in his burgeoning career.
Dr. Boyce Watkins has often written in this blog about the importance of ownership for all African Americans, and the fact that black athletes in particular are often exploited for their talents by the sports industry without enjoying the benefits of ownership. It is a wonderful thing that Michael Jordan has been able to transform himself from an employee of the NBA into a stakeholder in the game after many years of hard work and unparalleled service. Jordan is setting a fine example of what the power of ownership means, as he experiences the hard lessons of executive responsibility that go along with it.
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Being the leader that Michael Jordan is, on the court and now off, let's hope that more players in the NBA soon follow.