The WSJ.com has an interesting article about Michael Jordan stepping into some new shoes — that of an owner/promoter of a struggling NBA franchise — the N. Carolina Bobcats.

To buy 80% of the NBA’s struggling Charlotte Bobcats in February, Mr. Jordan had to do something he wasn’t accustomed to doing in his many years of endorsing products: put some of his own money on the line. To complete the purchase, two people familiar with the matter said he assumed interest payments on about $185 million in debt and had to raise about $55 million to cover payments to the team’s other owners. Given the team’s current liabilities, two people familiar with the team’s finances said Mr. Jordan will have to personally cover at least $20 million in losses this year.

Compared to Billionaire sports owners, Heir Jordan is a firm “middle class,” as he only makes about 50 Million a year according to the WSJ article. As the WSJ article explains, that puts Jordan on the hook for 20MM in losses and might also explain his interest in promoting the team

The NyTimes has managed to produce an awful “article” — read more of an opinion piece by Rob Hughes on the Ghana v. Germany match in the World Cup on June 23, 2010.

Misguided or not, Ghanaians, like a lot of Africans, put English players on false pedestals. They grow up watching English soccer on TV and wanting to emulate the players there.

The Ghanaian players, however, dismissed any thought of settling for second. “It was a very difficult match,” Andre Ayew said. “We fought and we also had opportunities, but the important thing is that we went through.”

NYTimes B.S.

Unfortunately, this is an absurd bit analysis that is borderline neo-colonial over-think. Ghanaians definitely grow-up watching English and European (German, Italian, French, Spanish); however, there is an incredibly strong affinity for the Ghanaian (Essien, Appaih) and African (Eto’o, Drogba) players. However, Hughes misses the fact that almost anywhere you go children wish to both emulate their national sides best players and the best players in the English Premiership League — EPL is simply the best Football League on the planet for Anglophone countries. Therefore it is obvious children — and even young adults will wish to emulate the best competition they watch on television. In Ghana, I would say it is of particular importance because of the gap in salary and acclaim between the domestic league and the EPL.

Do you think kids in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc. grow up wanting to play for MLS (over EPL)?

This is the fight Mayweather vs. Mosley!!

I”m not sure live streams are legal or available, but there are a few live blogs out there that help you stay abbreast of the action between the two boxers.

Here are some live blogs of the event:

Sportsblogger.com

Sports Illustrated.com

So, enjoy!!

Time magazine has come out with their annual 100 “people who most affect our world.” The Time Magazine list is always interesting because it helps to reflect how the media views who influences their thinking; however, I do not view the list as any indication of the people who actually affect the majority of the world. For instance, the list tends to skew heavily towards people who captivate the imagination of a section of the media as opposed to those who actually affect real policy, politics, economics, or scientific discoveries that are known in their field but not the popular media at large.

Anyway, I take the list with a grain of salt… but I did try to pick out African-Americans on the Time 100 list.

1.) Barack Obama (naturally), written up by DAVID REMNICK.

2.) Serena Williams By BILLIE JEAN KING

3.) Oprah Winfrey By PHIL DONAHUE

4.) Prince By USHER

This list may not be exhaustive, but it is definitely interesting. I think the most interesting part of the Time Magazine list, is that the words are supposedly penned by peers.

Interestingly enough, Glenn Beck’s write-up was penned by Sarah Palin…

Michael Jordan has made his first (of I assume many) franchise moves and chosen to become the controlling owner of the Charolette Bobcats NBA franchise.

M.J’s purchase is significant for a few reasons:

1.) Jordan becomse the second black majority owner of an NBA franchise, Bob Johnson the previous owner of the Bobcats as the first.

2.) The Bobcats are hugely in debt — with about 150 MM in the hole.

So, M.J’s purchase will really show if he has the business savvy to make it!

ESPN

Shani Davis struck Olympic gold earlier this week with a win in the 1000 meter men’s long track speed ice skating. It was an amazing feat for Davis, who in the Turn 2006 Winter Olympics became the first Black / African Diaspora athlete to win an individual gold medal. He doubled up by becoming the first speed skater to defend his gold medal in the 1000 meter long track event.

Today in the 1500 men’s long track speed skating Davis came up slightly short — .53 seconds to be exact and took his second silver in the event.