New SBS NBA Business Blog!

The business of the NBA's covered in our new blog! Just click on the title of this post to see it.

The Decline Of The Black Athlete - Dr. Harry Edwards in 2001

If you click on the title of this post, you can read a classic interview with UC Berkeley Sports Sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards. In this 2001 talk, Edwards predicted many of the problems blacks in sports face today. He also correctly saw that social diversity would become a major concern for some and objective for the world.

Yahoo! And FIFA Launch Official 2006 FIFA World Cup Site

From IEG Sponsorship:
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- With soccer fans around the globe anxiously awaiting the Final Draw on Friday, December 9 in Leipzig, Germany, Yahoo! and FIFA have teamed up to deliver the Web's most dynamic football experience at FIFAworldcup.com.

The newly re-launched official Web site of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany offers an unparalleled one-stop shop for fans of the world's biggest sporting event, and will include real-time coverage of both the Final Draw and the 64 matches of the Tournament; exclusive vintage video highlights; and a wealth of information about Germany and the specific host cities. In addition, FIFAworldcup.com has added three new language versions this week -- Portuguese, Italian and Korean -- and is now available in a total of seven languages.

On December 9, fans around the world will be able to follow the draw and comment on the results through a live and interactive chat application, which is sponsored by Emirates Airlines. Not only will fans find out where and against whom their favorite team will play next summer, but they will also be able to read reactions, quotes and analysis from experts in any one of FIFAworldcup.com's seven language versions. For coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the site will be available in Portuguese, Italian, Korean, English, French, German and Spanish.

According to ESPN's Michael Lewis, NFL's Top Three Coaches in 2005 Are African American - A Historic First

There's also a study floating around that reports black coaches in the NFL are statistically more likely to win. To read Lewis' full column, click on the post title link
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While acknowledging the jobs Mike Tice, Mike Holmgren and Jon Gruden have done coaching their respective teams, a convincing case can be made that the three leading candidates for NFL Coach of the Year are (in order) Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith and Marvin Lewis.

Dungy's Colts are four wins shy of becoming the first team to go through the regular season unbeaten in more than three decades and the first since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. If Indy makes history, I'd have to think Dungy would be a lock for Coach of the Year.

In just his second year in Chicago, Smith's Bears are tied for the NFC's second-best record behind a defense that is second to none and a quarterback who is in his first season. In any other year, Smith would be the guy.

Lewis has coached the Bengals to their first winning season in 15 years and has them on track to win the AFC North. In just two-plus seasons, he's succeeded in changing the losing culture in Cincinnati, a transformation evident in Chad Johnson's recent comments regarding the Bengals' chances in the AFC title game at Indianapolis (good, according to Johnson). For turning that franchise around, and so quickly, Lewis might be the coach of the decade.

All so deserving, and … oh, by the way, have I mentioned that Dungy, Smith and Lewis all are African-American?

No, I hadn't. Because you know what? The fact that arguably the three best head coaches in 2005 are minorities is, while historically significant, purely coincidental. Just as (news flash!) race with regard to performance is totally inconsequential.

At this point, frankly, anyone who isn't completely color-blind is blind, deaf and dumb.

Look at what Romeo Crennel is doing with the Browns, what Dennis Green will (eventually, let's hope) do in Arizona. His team has struggled this year, but Herman Edwards remains the only coach in Jets history to take them to the playoffs three out of four years. Is their complexion the reason why these coaches have the magic touch? Absolutely not. They're good coaches. Not qualified or capable minority coaches. Just good coaches. Period. Dungy likely will make history this year by becoming the first black head coach to guide a team to the Super Bowl. Huge. But Dungy doesn't need to reach the Super Bowl to validate himself or his African-American peers as quality coaches.

By now, even with the bottom-line numbers still skewed (six out of 32) you'd like to think that the concept of a "black coach" is going the way of that of a "black quarterback." The latter is something we don't even notice anymore, it's so common. As one executive who likely will be interviewing head-coaching candidates this offseason said, "When you're in the position I'm in, you don't look at black or white. You look at, 'Can the guy coach?'"

2005 NFL Ticket Sales Leaders (Through Nov. 26th)

NFL TICKET SALES (THROUGH Nov. 28)

TOTAL TICKET SALES
Washington Redskins
535,934
New York Giants
471,249
Denver Broncos
456,927


AVERAGE PER GAME
Washington Redskins
89,322
New York Giants
78,542
Kansas City Chiefs
78,379

USC v. Texas for the BCS Championship

I actually believed UCLA would give USC a better game, and win. But UCLA made a basic error in not developing a defensive game plan to take away one aspect of the USC offense -- and where the UCLA defense is weakest -- the running game. Meanwhile, tickets are already going for about $500 each.

Rose Bowl's Hype Balloon Could Burst on Game Day
Chris Dufresne - LA Times

People are saying USC versus Texas is like a heavyweight fight and it feels that way if only because they announced the contestants Sunday for an event that won't take place until next month.

College football, see, is the only sport that makes you wait for a playoff and the payoff.

Four weeks until the Jan. 4 Rose Bowl is way too much time between games for everyone except Texas Coach Mack Brown, who may ask the bowl championship series high court for more time to prepare his defense for V. Young vs. USC.

"I'm not sure there is enough time," Brown joked Sunday of the prospect of facing the Trojans' almost point-a-minute brigade.

Brown's primary concern is that the "619" tailback Reggie Bush has stenciled on his eye-glare patches might be his total yardage output Jan. 4.

Not trying to be a wet sock here, but nothing short of your wedding deserves a four-week buildup.

The temptation is going to be to hype USC-Texas into something more than what it really is: a really good Wednesday night game two days after the Rose Parade.

ABC analyst John Saunders started the hyperventilation Sunday when he asked USC Coach Pete Carroll if he could ever remember a game that was more anticipated.

"Last year was pretty close," he deadpanned.

Oh yeah, last season.

Remember that one?

USC versus Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl was hailed as one of the greatest games in college football history, a battle of 12-0 schools with storied traditions.

It was 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart versus 2003 winner Jason White.

It was Pete Carroll versus Bob Stoops.

It was over before Ashlee Simpson butchered the halftime show, with USC romping to a 55-19 win as Oklahoma fans receded from the stadium like a red sea at low tide.

So is this here we go again, with sort of the same setup: Big 12 champion to face USC in the biggest thing since sliced Bevo?

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For some reason, I don't think Texas will suffer the same outcome as Oklahoma. They're too fast.

The Case of Theo Epstein: It's Harder To Be A GM In Baseball, According to Wall Street Journal..Pointing At The Boston Red Sox

31-year-old Theo Epstein's departure from the Boston Red Sox seems to point to a new set of managerial problems for baseball general managers, as this article reveals. It seems the best GM is someone with the energy of a 20-year old and the manament experience of a 45-year old. I think more GM's will be hired from sport management programs in the future.

DHL Signs Three-Year Presenting Sponsorship Deal With Fox Pan American Sports For ``Premios Fox Sports'' Awards

LOS ANGELES -- Fox Pan American Sports announced today it has signed a three-year presenting sponsorship deal with DHL, the world's leading express delivery and logistics company, for its annual "Premios Fox Sports." The official "3rd Annual Premios Fox Sports presented by DHL" awards ceremony will be held December 5, 2005 at the Jackie Gleason Theater of Performing Arts in Miami Beach, Florida. The show will be televised on January 8, 2006 in the United States on Fox Sports en Espanol and throughout the Spanish-speaking Americas on Fox Sports Latin America.

"We're extremely pleased to welcome DHL as the first-ever presenting sponsor of `Premios Fox Sports,'" said David Sternberg, executive vice president and general manager of Fox Sports en Espanol. "This landmark deal is a testament to the growth of `Premios Fox Sports' over the past three years and its increasing viability as an innovative marketing platform for brands looking to reach and connect with the coveted Hispanic male demographic."

While the exact terms of the agreement were not disclosed, effective immediately, the deal grants DHL's logistics, transportation and freight services operations presenting sponsorship rights and category exclusivity through 2007.

About Fox Pan American Sports
Fox Pan American Sports LLC is an international sports programming and production entity jointly owned by Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst and News Corporation's Fox Sports International.

About DHL
With annual revenues over $32 billion in 2004, DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.
DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport and logistics solutions, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. Over 170,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations. Founded in San Francisco in 1969, DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. For more information on DHL, please visit www.dhl.com.

SOURCE: Fox Pan American Sports
for Fox Pan American Sports
H&M Communications
Etienne Hernandez-Medina, 310-849-3663
etienne@hm-com.com

ESPN's Jim Rome: Blind To The Issue Of Blacks In Sports

Radio and TV Commentator Jim Rome made his name by being beaten up by then-LA Rams Quarterback Chris Everett on Rome's TV show, after insulting Everrett to his face and ignoring his requests for Rome to stop. So, it comes as no surprise that Rome will continue to make outrageous statements to continue to gain viewers and listeners. But when Rome takes on subjects that do have a racist perspective, he not only falls short, but comes off as blind to matters of racism.

I write this because -- unfortunately -- Rome has a megaphone from which to issue his ideas. Let's take the matter of Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis' 10 - year contract extention. Everyone knows that former Notre Dame Head Coach Tyrone Willingham (who's only problem was offensive coordinator Bill Dietrick, or more to the point Willingham's loyalty to him) should have received a similar offer when he took the Fighting Irish to an 8-0 record during his first year. Rome said that Willingham didn't receive the same comments that he could jump for an NFL team -- actually, that wasn't true. It was a common speculation at the time -- Rome's memory's short.

Rome remarked that it wasn't an example of racism. And here's the problem, Rome's so much an appologist for the culture as it operates that to him it's OK for someone to think of a black person when another says "we need a running back" or to think of someone white when another person remarks "my team needs a new coach." In other words, he's brainwashed. So much so that he can't spot racism where it exists, and of course can't begin to see sexism.

But, I forgot, this is the guy who always talked against the WNBA, right?

Or let's focus on the Terrell Owens issue. Rome can't see that there still is a culture where blacks are not expected to raise their voices against authority. As long as blacks "know their place" they're just fine. That's the message Rome sends. It's rather hard to take and anti-intellectual. But Rome's not trying to be smart, that much is clear.

Now, I'm not saying that Owens was totally correct -- that's another post. But Rome's view -- that Owens should know his place -- is (what's the street term?) tired. Maybe Rome's style is too.