Most Powerful African Americans in Sports


Ashe before dissolving the partnership and retaining the major
ity of the clients. There are shady characters among sports agents and this is something Strickland tries to combat. One thing I’ve always tried to remain mindful of is to be competent and to do things with integrity, he says. In this business that’s sometimes very difficult; sometimes it meant that I couldn’t get involved with some athletes that I hoped to be involved with because of what was going on with them.”

Martin Mayhew, Senior Vice President/Assistant General Manager, Detroit Lions, 39: “Mayhew is one of the few success stories to emerge from the ill-fated XFL. After his stint as director of football administration for the now-defunct football league, he became senior director of football administration/staff counsel for the Lions. Two years later, he was named senior vice president of football/legal affairs then made a quick move to his current post. Mayhew maintains salary cap objectives for the Lions, negotiates player contracts, and is responsible for all football operations. A former cornerback for the Bills, Redskins, and Buccaneers, Mayhew is a Georgetown Law School graduate and a member of the American Bar Association and the Sport Lawyers Association. Highlight Reel: Mayhew was a starter on the Redskin’s Super Bowl XXVI championship team.”

Ed Tapscott, President/Chief Operating Officer, Charlotte Bobcats/Charlotte Sting, 48: “When Robert Johnson looked to create a new NBA franchise, he tapped Tapscott, a front-office veteran for teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, the Phoenix Suns, and the New York Knicks. During Tapscott’s first season, the Sting placed second in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs for the sixth time in the franchise’s seven-year history, one of only two teams to own that distinction. Recently, the team acquired the third overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft without relinquishing a starter. Tapscott also heads Carolinas Sports Television (C-SET). Highlight Reel: Tapscott is responsible for creating the Bobcats’ image-from the organization’s name to its logo and color scheme. He was also involved in getting the new Charlotte arena built.”

Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations, Detroit Pistons, 41: “Pacers-Pistons brawl aside, Dumars lifted Detroit from the belly of mediocrity to NBA champions. Under Dumars direction, the Pistons are amassing accolades: Ben Wallace is two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Chauncey Billups snatched up the 2004 NBA Finals MVP title. A former Piston himself, Dumars retired as the most tenured player in NBA history. He also maintains the Joe Dumars Fieldhouse in Shelby Township, Michigan, an indoor multisports and entertainment complex. Dumars is a member of the executive committee of the U.S. Tennis Association and an inductee of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. Highlight Reel: In 2004, Dumars shepherded the Pistons into their first Eastern Conference Championship and NBA Championship since 1990.”

Terdema Ussery, President/CEO, Dallas Mavericks, 46: “In his eighth year at the helm of the Dallas Mavericks, Ussery oversees virtually all operations. In addition, he serves as mediator between the often-fined Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban and the league. Ussery


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