David Stern informed the NBA’s Board of Governors today that he will step down as NBA Commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014 - NBA photo Adam Silver will become the NBA Commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014 - NBA photo

Hakeem Olajuwan - Maxi Basket photo Toni Kukoc - Maxi Basket photo

SPORTS NOTES - NBA's DAVID STERN TO STEP DOWN AS COMMISSIONER

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Board of Governors Unanimously Chooses Adam Silver as Stern’s Successor – THE GROWTH OF INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS in the NBA - MORE NBA NEWS - Spurs Sports and Entertainment Chairman and CEO Peter Holt has been elected Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors - NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES SALE OF MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TO ROBERT PERA

Saturday October 27, 2012

THE EMPEROR WEARS CLOTHES

If its job security you're looking for then become a commissioner of a sports league or organization. Look at the position as the head of FIFA. The organization's president Sepp Blatter has been in charge since the late 90's and under much scrutiny. People want him out but he has too much power for that to happen. Blatter is a novice when it comes to job security. A leader that is perceived as a good guy is stepping down after a tenure that preceded the birth of Miley Cirus, the World Wide Web, the I-Phone and American Idol. That is the case of an Emperor who will soon take off his emperor's clothes for that of a civilian...ahhh lawyer?

David Stern informed the NBA’s Board of Governors that he will step down as NBA Commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014, 30 years to the date he took over the position. Stern will be 72 years old when he departs. Stern also announced that the Board of Governors voted unanimously to accept his recommendation that Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver succeed him as Commissioner.

“Adam is a world-class business executive who has influenced so many areas of our business during his tenure with the NBA,” Stern said. “I am pleased that the Board has chosen him as my successor and I know the NBA will be in very good hands.”

During his over 28-plus years as Commissioner, Stern has built the model for professional sports in league operations, public service, global marketing and digital technology. He has overseen the league’s growth with seven new franchises, a 30-fold increase in revenues, a dramatic expansion of national television exposure and the launch of two leagues, the Women’s National Basketball Association and the NBA Development League.

The master move was Stern making an agreement with CNN founder Ted Turner who also owned Super Station WTBS based in Atlanta, Georgia. At that time Turner was the owner of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the MLB's (Major League Baseball) Atlanta Braves. It was during the early stages of the cable TV industry and Turner telecast his Hawks and Braves to a national TV audience that WTBS could provide as it was delivered via satellite and could be accessed throughout America. The then over the air TV network powers ABC, CBS and NBC weren't delivering the NBA on a national basis.

The NBA lacked appeal and was televised regionally with the exception being the Hawks. Turner's Hawks and Braves became known as America's teams. During Sterns first year in office Turner presented him at a press conference at the NCTA conference (National Cable Television Association) in Las Vegas. Had that deal not been made the NBA would not have achieved the success it has today. It was a master stroke and a master deal. From that point teams and players from all regions became known to all of America and eventually to the world stage. Stern was wise enough to team up with Turner the genius of cable television. It was a win, win situation as Turner needed programming and the NBA needed exposure.

According to a report on the ESPN International Sports Network in 1992 there were only 21 International players in the league. Currently 20 % of the players in the league are from other countries aka International players. To put this International player issue into perspective when we started to cover International players in the NBA in 1989 there were very few with Hakeem Olajuwan of the Houston Rockets being the most dominate. We sought out International players at the university level with Dadinko Dobrish of Southern Florida International being our first subject at the 1990 NCAA regional in Long Beach, California. The second was Loyola University's Pier Stumer whose team was also in that NCAA regional.

That was the year Loyola's Hank Gathers passed away and his close friend Bo Kimble shot his free throws with his left hand in Gathers honor. Both players attended high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and had that Philadelphia Connection.

Loyola also defeated defending champion Michigan in that regional. We interviewed several NBA legends about the quality of International player's skills in relationship to playing in the league. Former Boston Celtic grates Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn agreed foreign players had offensive skills capable of being in the league but their defensive skills were lacking.

ESPN also reported that when Stern became commissioner the average NBA player's salary was $250,000 and is currently $4 million. When the Chicago Bulls signed Croatian Toni Kukoc for $4 million for the 1993-94 season his salary was more than Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

Interest generated by the leagues' growing international initiatives has led to the opening of offices in 15 global markets, the televising of games in 215 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, and the creation of 13 language-specific Web destinations. The leagues' digital assets, including NBA.com, WNBA.com, and NBADLeague.com; social media platforms; NBA LEAGUE PASS; NBA TV, which is available in nearly 60 million U.S. homes; and mobile applications reach hundreds of millions of fans every day.

Stern’s intense commitment to social responsibility both in the United States and around the world has been a signature of his tenure as commissioner. In 2005, the league launched NBA Cares, through which the NBA, its players and teams have raised more than $205 million for charity, provided more than 2.1 million hours of hands-on service to communities around the world, and created more than 750 places where children and families can live, learn, or play. NBA Cares supports a host of community outreach initiatives, including a myriad of internationally recognized youth-serving programs that focus on education, youth and family development, and health and wellness.

Silver has served as the NBA’s Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer since July 2006, following more than eight years as President and COO, NBA Entertainment. Silver has been instrumental in many league accomplishments, including playing a key role in the negotiations of the league’s last two television agreements, the last three collective bargaining agreements with the National Basketball Players Association, the development of the WNBA and NBA Development League, the partnership with Turner Broadcasting to jointly manage the NBA’s digital assets, the formation of iHoops – a partnership with the NCAA focused on basketball development and the creation of NBA China as a separately incorporated operating entity.

During Silver's tenure, the NBA has seen rapid expansion of its digital activities as NBA Entertainment launched NBA TV – the league’s 24-hour television channel – and developed the NBA.com network, which consists of more than 60 unique websites, including NBA.com, WNBA.com, NBADLeague.com, team sites for the three leagues, and 13 international sections of NBA.com.

The NBA’s Global Merchandising Group – responsible for the product development, merchandising, licensing, sales development, e-commerce, retail, and direct-to-consumer initiatives of the NBA and WNBA – has seen record growth during Silver’s tenure, and sales of NBA and WNBA merchandise exceeded $3 billion at retail last year. Silver has consistently been named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports by BusinessWeek, the Sporting News and the SportsBusiness Journal.

Silver has also been recognized by Time Magazine and CNN on their list of Global Business Influentials, which features 20 of the world’s leading corporate executives. Silver joined the NBA in 1992 and previously served under Commissioner Stern as Special Assistant to the Commissioner; NBA Chief of Staff; Senior Vice President and COO, NBA Entertainment before his appointment as the President and COO, NBA Entertainment and his current role as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the NBA.

MORE NBA NEWS

HOLT ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that Spurs Sports and Entertainment Chairman and CEO Peter Holt has been elected Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors.

Holt replaces Minnesota Timberwolves majority owner Glen Taylor, who has served as Chairman since October 2008. Holt has been a member of the Board of Governors for 16 years and currently serves on five of the Board’s standing committees, including chairing the Audit & Compensation Committee and the Labor Relations Committee.

“Glen Taylor’s wisdom and counsel over the past four years have been invaluable,” Stern said. “Peter Holt’s extensive Board experience and committee leadership make him an ideal choice to succeed Glen. I thank Glen for his dedicated service and commend the Board of Governors on its laudable selection of Peter as chairman.”

Entering his 17th season as Chairman and CEO of the Spurs, Holt has overseen one of the most successful franchises in team sports. During Holt’s tenure, the Spurs have captured four NBA championships and have won 50-plus games in 14 consecutive seasons dating back to 1999-2000.

Holt spearheaded a successful campaign for a new arena, which opened in 2002, and two new San Antonio-based sports franchises. Thanks in part to the AT&T Center, Spurs Sports and Entertainment runs four professional sports franchises: the Spurs, the WNBA’s Silver Stars, the NBA Development League’s Austin Toros and the American Hockey League’s Rampage.

Additionally, Holt serves as the CEO of San Antonio-based HOLT CAT, the largest Caterpillar dealership in the United States. He was named to the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2004.

Having spent his childhood in both San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Holt served two years in the U.S. Army during which time he earned a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart from his one-year tour of duty in Vietnam.

NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES SALE OF MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TO ROBERT PERA

The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Memphis Grizzlies to an investor group led by Robert Pera.

“We are delighted that the NBA’s Board of Governors has approved Robert Pera’s purchase of the Grizzlies,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “Robert will no doubt bring great energy and passion to the franchise. He has assembled an ownership group with very strong local ties, and we anticipate that their commitment to the Memphis area will greatly benefit both the team and the community.”