Arison's Influence
Winning an NBA Championship can help boost your profile off the court, too.
Heat owner Micky Arison debuted at No. 38 on the SportsBusiness Journal’s list of “50 Most Influential People in Sport Business.” Arison, who is chairman of Carnival Corp., has been the chairman of the NBA Board of Governors since October 2005 and has gained the respect of fellow owners and is close with NBA Commissioner David Stern, who is No. 2 on the journal’s list.
“Few garner as much respect as Arison does within the league. His behind-the-scenes style and penchant for privacy as board of governors chairman plays well with his fellow owners, and especially does with Commissioner David Stern,” according to the journal article. “The Carnival Cruise Line chairman is seen as one of the shrewdest business minds in the league, and his expertise will be a valuable resource for Stern & Co. when it comes to many of the league’s upcoming issues, such as a new television agreement, the league’s digital media strategy and a revenue-sharing issue that’s beginning to surface as small-market owners look for their fair share.”
Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks who Arison’s team knocked off in the 2006 NBA Finals, is No. 35 -- down a spot from last year. Atop the list is ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE
The Miami Hoops Gear store at AmericanAirlines Arena is selling Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal wristbands for $3 each with the proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The two Heat stars are among 17 NBA players and legends featured in the program, which also includes Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James, New Jersey Nets Jason Kid and Vince Carter and Basketball Hall of Famers Jerry West and Kareem Abdul Jabaar.
CRAIG DAVIS In more than 33 years at the Sun Sentinel, Craig Davis has written about a wide variety of sports topics from baseball to yachting, fishing to triathlons, and also worked as a copy editor and page designer. Recently he reported on local sports, including running, swimming, cycling, equestrian and beach volleyball. He enjoys sports as a participant as well as a spectator, is active in the South Florida running scene plays in the curling club at Saveology Iceplex. This blog offers a glimpse at the business side of sports in the interest of enhancing enjoyment of the games and sporting options as a spectator as well as a participant.
