2011 Asnj Summer Issue

NBA remains leaderin sports diversity

Sepp Blatter

President of FifaWins re-election as

The NFL wants

Europe But The

Talent Is In Africa

African Baseball

Network

Envoy Coach Program

African Football

• Passion of the game

Ndamukong Suhis NFL rookieof the year

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TS NBA remains leader in sports

diversity

Ndamukong Suh is NFL rookie of the

year

Sepp Blatter wins re-election as

president of Fifa

African Baseball on the Rise

African Football

The NFL wants Europe But The Talent

Is In Africa

• Envoy Coach Program

• Levels of Sponsorship

• Passion of the game

• Football ambassadors

• Challenging the World

• The Confederation of African Football

• Africa's time has come!

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STAFF

CHAIRMAN & PUBLISHERAwasum Junior

EDITORIALTeclaire NgieAlan AchiriAwasum Junior

ART & DESIGNRichmond AgyeiTerrance MokomHugues T. Ngassam

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candidates, and I think that's helped more than anything else," said Lapchick, chair of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF and director of The Institute for Diversity of Ethics in Sport.

The study found that 83 percent of the league's players were people of color this season, with the percen-tage of African-American players increasing one point to 78 percent. The percentage of Asians remained 1 percent, the percentage of Latinos rose slightly to 4 percent and percentage classified as "other" was under 1 percent.

There were five African-American chief executive officers/presidents of teams, including Terdema Ussery, who held both titles for the Dallas Mavericks. Two women held ORLANDO, Fla. — The NBA isn't worked well for us, and we will positions of presidents — the first resting on its laurels as a pacesetter continue to do that," NBA spokes-female in such roles since the 2006-in sports diversity. man Mike Bass said.07 season — and Charlotte Bobcats

The league has again earned an A The NBA had nine African-American owner Michael Jordan joined Ussery grade in a study of the diversity of its and one Asian head coach at the as the only African-Americans leadership in its front office and its 30 beginning of the 2010-11 season, an serving as CEOs.teams. increase of three percent over 2009-

Detroit's Joe Dumars, meanwhile, 10, when minorities comprised 30 The Institute for Diversity and Ethics was the lone African-American team percent of the league's head in Sport at the University of Central president of basketball operations.coaches. The percentage of minori-Florida released its annual report on ties serving as general manager There were 33 women in vice the league Thursday. The NBA doubled to 26 percent, highest president positions in the league received an A-plus for race and an A-among any of the men's pro leagues. office, down one from the previous minus for gender. It is the only men's

season. The percentage of minori-pro league to be awarded an overall In addition, 45 percent of the ties in senior administrative posi-A. league's assistant coaches were tions among NBA teams increased minorities.Using data from the 2010-11 one percentage point to 22 percent,

season, the study found that for "They've consistently had a record and women held 27 percent, up two professional positions at the league of opening up the search process so percentage points over 2009-10.office, 36 percent were held by it includes a diverse group of

"The other leagues do pretty well in people of color and 42 percent by the category of professional posi-women.tions in front offices, but the NBA has

At the beginning of the season, 33 done a much better job of getting percent of head coaches and 45 women and people of color into percent of assistants were people of those more senior positions," color. The percentage for general Lapchick said. "I think that's an managers or executives with important thing for any organization equivalent responsibilities was 26 because obviously those become percent. the leaders of the organization."There were five African-American CEOs/presidents for teams and two Seattle PIwomen who were presidents.

"Our goal has always been to hire the best people available, which has

NBA remains leader in sports diversity

Dallas Mavericks players Dirk Nowitzki, center, of Germany,, Jason Kidd, right,and Jason Terry wave to fans during the team's victory parade in downtown Dallas,

Thursday, June 16, 2011. The Mavericks beat the Miami Heat to win the NBA championship.

Charlotte Bobcats general manager Rich Cho, left, talks with head coach Paul Silas, right,

Rod Higgins, president of basketball operations, back center, and Fred Glover, front center,

during a pre-draft workout for the NBA team in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, June 15, 2011.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh became the first defensive player to win the NFL rookie of the year award Thursday. The second overall pick in last year's draft, Suh is the second rookie ever to register 10 sacks.

"It's truly an honor, it's the NFL," said Suh, a Pro Bowl starter who also had 66 tackles, one forced fumble, an interception and one f u m b l e r e t u r n e d f o r a touchdown. "I'm glad I can take this home to Detroit."

Suh beat out four other finalists, including St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, who was the top draft pick overall and set a rookie record for pass attempts and completions.

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Ndamukong Suhis NFL rookie of the year

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Sepp Blatter

president of Fifawins re-election as

Blatter has been president of Fifa "I thank you for your trust and me, and I accept it."since 1998 and will now continue confidence from the bottom of my Later in the day, in his closing until 2015 heart," said Blatter, who was statements, Blatter said the

applauded back into the audito- congress's resolutions had given rium by the rest of Fifa congress him "the instruments needed to after his unchallenged victory in restart the credibility of Fifa".Zurich.

The 75-year-old Swiss was the He also spoke of the need to make "Our pyramid is intact, the base, only candidate in Wednesday's amends for all the negative the foundation is strong and election, with the English and publicity the organisation had together we have four years to Scottish Football Associations generated.continue on our path and do our failing to delay the vote.job.

They wanted a delay amid corrup-England have once again been "We will put Fifa's ship back on the tion allegations within the sport's marginalised on Fifa's world right course in clear, transparent world governing body, but were stage. After making his lone waters. We need some time to do only supported by 17 member appeal to postpone the re-election it, but we shall do it.associations.of Sepp Blatter, FA chairman

"Today something marvellous Blatter was re-elected after David Bernstein could only watch happened and I'd simply like to tell receiving 186 of the 203 votes cast as, one by one, delegates from the you I'm deeply moved and honou-to remain in charge until 2015. rest of the world took it in turn to red. It's a challenge, a new one for attack the FA's last-minute move.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has been voted in for a fourth term in office.

Analysis


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"From the beginning I wanted this England's FA, David Bernstein, congress to know and understand had put a proposal to congress to we are in a situation which needs delay the vote but 172 of 206 not only words but action in order voters [the associations of Brunei to counteract all these attacks." Darussalam and Democratic

Republic of Sao Tome and Prin-Blatter conceded the decision to cipe were not eligible] opted have the bidding processes for against a delay.two World Cups at the same time

had been "a mistake" but said the Blatter was unopposed because move to have the 208 congress his rival Mohamed Bin Hammam, delegates vote on future World president of the Asian Football Cups, rather than the 24-man Federation, pulled out after being executive committee making the suspended over bribery allega-decision, was a step forward as it tions.gave more power to individual The English and Scottish FAs football associations. needed three-quarters of Fifa's "I'm happy with this - it reinforces congress to back their proposal Fifa's pyramid, it will no longer be but received little support, with but the rest sitting in silence.shaking." Wales and Northern Ireland both

The lack of support became even choosing not to back a delay.The two-day congress in Zurich clearer when several Fifa mem-has seen plenty of public disputes In an address to Fifa's congress on bers who followed Bernstein to the and generated negative publicity Wednesday, Bernstein asked for a podium voiced strong criticism of for Fifa, but Blatter said it had delay "to allow time for an additio- the FA's stance.ended with real achievement. nal candidate or candidates to

"We are ill at ease with people who stand and compete in an open and "We are very happy we have come wield unfounded accusations - he fair election".to the unity of Fifa - at the begin- who accuses must provide ning of congress we had doubts He added: "Only by doing so will evidence," said Selemani Omari, unity could be maintained," he the winner have proper credibility president of the Democratic said. over the next four years." Republic of the Congo's football

federation.

"Fifa belongs to 208 national associations and not to one association, we must not seek solutions through the media or a Parliament in any third country."

Representatives of Haiti, Benin, Fiji and Cyprus also expressed their disapproval to more enthu-siastic applause.

Fifa senior vice-president Julio Grondona, also president of the Argentina FA, delivered a stinging riposte to his English counter-parts.

"We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth," said the Argentine. "This upsets and disturbs the Fifa family."Everyone was waiting for solu- The conclusion to his speech

tions - now we will apply them." received a noticeably cool recep-tion from the Fifa members in Earlier in the day, the chairman of Zurich, with one or two applauding


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Blatter looks on as FA chairman "We agree with the FA that Fifa storm, this is a difficult period for Bernstein walks off the stage should have suspended the Fifa and I admit that readily. Not

presidential election until the only is the pyramid shaking but our "It looks like England is always investigations had been comple- ship has drawn some water.complaining so please I say will ted," said a spokesman for Dow-you leave the Fifa family alone, "We need someone who will ning Street.and when you speak, speak with accept this responsibility. I'm

truth." "The most important thing is for the willing to do this. And reforms will public to have confidence in Fifa be made not just touch-ups but But Bernstein later released a and for that to happen we need to radical decisions, the necessary statement which defended the have Fifa reform." reforms.FA's stance and said they were

encouraged by the support they Blatter, who has held his post "We must do something because I received from other member since 1998, has promised to do not want ever again that we associations as well as Blatter's implement changes at Fifa in the face this undignified situation."speech which followed on from wake of the allegations of corrup- Original presidential candidate Bin Bernstein's in which he promised tion as he told the congress he was Hammam, along with Concacaf to implement changes. determined to guide the organisa- president Jack Warner, was

tion out of its current troubles."After hearing the speech from provisionally suspended by Fifa's ethics committee over allegations that financial incentives were offered to Caribbean Football Union (CFU) members. Both have denied any wrongdoing.

Bin Hammam has appealed against his ban but was denied entry into the Fifa congress meeting on Wednesday.

The controversy over his withdra-wal resulted in the English and Scottish FA's action, with allega-tions of bribery concerning the World Cup bidding process also undermining Fifa.

Major sponsors expressed their Sepp Blatter, we believe the calls concern over the damage being

"We have been hit and I personally we have made for greater transpa- done by these allegations, while have been slapped," said the rency and better governance have the president of the German Swiss, who continues to receive been worthwhile," said Bernstein. Football Federation, Theo Zwanzi-plenty of support despite the

ger, has called upon the organisa-"While we did not succeed in controversy which has surrounded tion to re-examine the award of the deferring the presidential election, Fifa. 2022 World Cup to Qatar.it was positive to be joined by 16

other nations in supporting our Please turn on JavaScript. Media democratic request for the vote to

BBC SPORTSrequires JavaScript to play.be delayed, while a further 17 nations abstaining clearly shows I am the ship's captain - Sepp that we are not alone or isolated in Blatterour views in relation to the current "We have made mistakes and we situation Fifa finds itself in. " will learn from this. I can say to a The FA had announced before the certain extent that this is a good congress that it would be abstai- warning, not just to look into our ning from the presidential vote problems and I am willing to face and, even though their actions the public anger in order to serve unsettled many Fifa members, football.they did receive the backing of the "I am the captain weathering the UK government.


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2011 Asnj Summer Issue