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| 41 |
WAYNE COOPER, 46
Vice President of Basketball Operations, Sacramento Kings |
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A former journeyman center who played 14 seasons in the NBA, Cooper is a major reason the talented Kings have such an international flavor. He oversees day-to-day business, including all scouting. One key move: drafting little-known Serb Peja Stojakovic in 1996, which helped set off the NBA's current influx of foreign players. |
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| 42-43 |
BILL STRICKLAND, 54, and MASON ASHE, 39
Agents
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| They've created one of the largest black-owned sports management agencies, with 30 to 40 clients in professional sports and entertainment including Rasheed Wallace, Allan Houston, Daunte Culpepper and Levon Kirkland. Before forming their company, both cut their teeth at IMG. Strickland was the first black president of the basketball division (he was also at ProServ for eight years) and Ashe was a VP for team sports, representing football and basketball players domestically and abroad. Among their latest projects: launching an ice tour featuring black skaters. Ashe has partnered with Robert Johnson (No. 1) away from the game. Ashe serves on a national subcommittee chaired by Johnson to solicit donations on behalf of the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. |
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| 44 |
MAGIC JOHNSON, 43
Founder and CEO, Magic Johnson Enterprises; VP, Los Angeles Lakers
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| Forget the five championships and three MVP awards. Johnson, a vice president with the Lakers, has been just as successful in his postbasketball life, bringing several businesses to 65 sites in primarily lower-income areas. Magic, who owns 5% of the Lakers, aspires to buy his own team and raise $1 billion for affordable housing. |
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| 45 |
EUGENE PARKER, 47
Agent
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| While most top agents are based in a major city -- generally on one coast or the other -- Parker works out of tiny Roanoke, Ind. He specializes in NFL players and has more than 40 clients, including Emmitt Smith, Ray Lewis, Curtis Martin and Rod Woodson. According to Woodson, players trust the deeply religious Parker because of his values. |
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| 46 |
Craig Littlepage, 51
Athletic Director, Virginia
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| Littlepage became the first African-American athletic director in Atlantic Coast Conference history in August 2001 and quickly established himself as a prominent and respected figure in college athletics. Most significantly, he was named in March 2002 to the NCAA's prestigious men's basketball committee. At Virginia, Littlepage oversees a $32 million budget and has implemented an ambitious five-year plan to consolidate the department's fund-raising efforts and increase donations. He has also created a lofty mission statement for the department, including graduating 100% of all student-athletes. |
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| 47 |
STU JACKSON, 47
Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, NBA
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| Call him the NBA's Dean of Discipline, though some lighter-in-the-wallet players and coaches surely have their own pet names for this former coach and G.M. He has significant influence within David Stern's cozy inner circle and chairs the league's competition committee, which recommends rule changes to the Board of Governors. |
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| 48 |
ALLEN IVERSON, 27
Guard, Philadelphia 76ers
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| Revered for staying true to his roots -- and for playing bigger than his 6-foot frame -- Iverson may have more street cred than any other professional athlete, and that translates into big bucks. The 2000-01 MVP, Iverson has a lifetime contract with Reebok, which produces a top-selling Answer 6 sneaker, worth more than $7 million a year. |
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| 49 |
MIKE GARRETT, 59
Athletic Director, USC
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| One of the most prominent minority ADs in Division I athletics, the 1965 Heisman Trophy winner oversees a department with a $34 million budget at the school where he ran for glory as a tailback. In 10 years at USC, Garrett has added 42 women's scholarships and boosted athletic fund-raising to record levels. |
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| 50 |
C. LAMONT SMITH, 45
Agent
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| In the mid-1980s Smith was one of the first black sports agents to achieve a modicum of success in the NFL. Now, with more than 50 clients, he's one of the most respected agents. In 2000 he negotiated the deal that made Eddie George the highest-paid running back, and a year later, he helped make Trevor Pryce the highest-paid defensive player. |
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| 51 |
TUBBY SMITH, 51
Basketball Coach, Kentucky
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| Since taking over a storied program that didn't take a black player until 1969, Smith has gone 164-47 and won an NCAA title. A mentor for young African-American coaches, he recently signed an eight-year, $20.25 million extension. |
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| 52 |
ISIAH THOMAS, 42
Coach, Indiana Pacers
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| Whether or not you doubt this Thomas, he's a dynamo who has worked in nearly every facet of the business. Now, the former All-Star and world champion is trying to lead the Pacers to their first title since a '73 ABA crown. |
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| 53 |
BOB WATSON, 57
Vice President, Major League Baseball
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| Although he's no longer in the limelight -- he was the Yankees' G.M. from October 1995 to February '98, a tenure that included one world championship -- Watson maintains a vital presence as baseball's discipline czar. |
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| 54 |
ICHIRO SUZUKI, 29
Outfielder, Seattle Mariners
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| This Japanese star became the face of globalization in 2001, when he won the AL MVP. He dispelled the long-held notion that only pitchers, not position players, could make the jump from Japan to the major leagues. |
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| 55 |
FELIPE ALOU, 67
Manager, San Francisco Giants
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| Alou has been a mentor for Latinos since becoming a skipper in '92. He says he hasn't retired because he believes his departure would hinder the progress of other Latinos seeking to become managers. |
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| 56 |
ED TAPSCOTT, 49
Executive Vice President and COO, Charlotte NBA franchise
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| The architect of Charlotte's new team, Tapscott will hire the coach and G.M. and even pick the team's name. With owner Robert Johnson's aim to nurture minorities, Tapscott will have the chance to make a significant impact. |
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| 57 |
GENE SMITH, 47
Athletic Director, Arizona State |
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| After a solid seven-year run as Iowa State AD, Smith didn't waste any time upon arriving in Tempe in 2000. He replaced the football coach and reduced the athletic department's deficit from $3.6 million to $1 million. |
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| 58 |
RAY ANDERSON, 49
Executive VP and Chief Administrative Officer, Atlanta Falcons |
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A former labor lawyer, Anderson entered the sports arena in 1980 when he launched the West Coast office for the now-defunct Sports Advisers Group. In 1987 he formed his own agency, AR Sports. Fourteen years later Anderson sold his lucrative business to Octagon, where he stayed as director of the company's coaches division until last June, when Arthur Blank, the Falcons' new owner, came calling. |
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| 59 |
HERMAN FRAZIER, 48
Athletic Director, Hawaii |
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| In addition to overseeing a $16 million budget at Hawaii, Frazier, an Olympic track gold medalist in '76, was recently named chef de mission for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. He'll oversee logistical details for the U.S. team. |
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| 60 |
HERMAN EDWARDS, 49
Coach, New York Jets |
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| With his impassioned intensity and back-to-back playoff appearances, he has won over Jets fans and the media. In 2001 Edwards became the first alumnus of the NFL's Minority Coaching Fellowship program to land a top job. |
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