LeBron James and the Williams Sisters join: Minority Ownership on the Rise

With all the mainstream media attention going towards the NCAA Tournaments and N.F.L free agency, business transactions by prominent athletes have taken place within this last month. Minority athletes have taken further steps, into acquiring Ownership within realms, unforeseen in the past. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena; have taken stakes within the Miami Dolphins. Lebron James also take a deeper step into his legacy, acquiring a piece of the coveted Fenway Sports Group that includes the: Boston Red Sox, franchise.

 

They join an elite group of Owners/Partners, within major franchises: Derek Jeter (Miami Marlins), Vivek Ranadive (Sacramento Kings), Michael Jordan (Charlotte Hornets), Kim Pegula (Buffalo Bills), Shahid Rafiq Khan (Jacksonville Jaguars), Arte Moreno (Los Angeles Angels), Marc Lasry (Milwaukee Bucks) to name a few of the major partner holders. Milla Henson for Sportscasting.com shares; “Of the three major Sports Leagues in the U.S., there’s only one outright black Owner, Michael Jordan”. 

 

Many enthusiasts in major outlets have displayed their opinions on the lack of diversity within Ownership. Most visibly known is Stephen A. Smith for E.S.P.N. With this recent move, the Williams Sisters become the first ever African American individuals to hold an ownership stake within the N.F.L. Both Venus and Serena have Hall of Fame careers within Professional Tennis. Coming ‘Straight Outta Compton’ the sisters have solidified themselves as not only prominent Athletes but Businesswomen as well. For a League that only carries 32 teams, this is a huge step towards minorities taking a step into the most lucrative sport in the U.S. 

 

Then there’s the ‘Kid from Akron’ LeBron James and Maverick Carter have become a powerhouse force within Sports and Entertainment. Gabriel Fernandez for C.B.S reports, James has taken a partial stake in the Fenway sports group. Which holds some the most coveted Sporting teams within their respected fields: Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club. LeBron has been the most talked about Athlete since he graced the Sports Illustrated Cover as ‘The Chosen One’ at 18 years of age. 18 years later, the Four-Time Champion, Executive Producer and now Partial Team Owner, LeBron continues to push the envelope and bringing ‘The Chosen One’ promise, into fruition. 

 

As the years pass, hopefully opportunity continues to arise within the Ownership realm. The majority of the leagues Star players and overall staff are built with minority talented individuals. However, there is little to no representation within Ownership boxes, high end Administrative positions and Head Coaching positions throughout all major sports, Why? This is a small win for all aspiring minority owners, but a win, nonetheless.