Magazine Chooses 50 Most Powerful Blacks In Sports

Former NBAsuperstar Michael Jordan

Black Enterprise (BE) Magazine last week announced its list of the 50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports, as featured in its March 2005 cover story.

“Although many superstar black athletes dominate their chosen playing fields, the true power in sports lies with the executives who work behind the scenes,” says Features Editor Alan Hughes. “We approached this list from a business perspective, citing those who control revenue, sign athletes and have the authority to hire or fire coaches.”

While there remains a gross disparity between blacks and non-blacks at the pinnacle of the sports industry, editors at the magazines selected and recognized those who have broken through to the highest ranks to achieve true clout within the sports industry.

Pro Tennis star Serena Williams

The list of the 50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports is divided into eight categories: agents/promoters (6); athletes (3); collegiate decision makes (8); corporate executives (6); front-office leagues executives (8); front office team executives (14); industry association heads (4); and owners (1).

Among those selected are: athletes Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, boxing promoter Don King, NBA Senior VP of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson, NFL senior VP of Football Operations and Development Art Schell, NFL Director of Football Operations Gene Washington, Major League Baseball VP of On-Field Operations Bob Watson, and such front office executives as Elgin Baylor (Los Angeles Clippers), Joe Dumars (Sacramento Kings), Ozzie Newsome (Baltimore Ravens) and New York Knicks president of Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas.

Black Enterprise worked with various professional and collegiate sports organizations, industry insiders and experts to determine the final list Profiles of the fifty are available in the magazine’s March issue now on newsstands.