Presenting our roundup of the top sports business newsmakers of '17.
BILL FOLEY: The Golden Knights owner oversaw a successful debut for his NHL team, connecting with a community reeling from a mass shooting just nine days before its regular-season home opener. Behind the slogan "Vegas Strong," Foley’s Golden Knights honored victims and first-responders in a pregame ceremony, then delivered a resounding win to start the season. As of Dec. 21, the Golden Knights were tied for first place in the Pacific Division with 46 points.
LAURENE POWELL JOBS: The billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist and president of the Emerson Collective bought a 20% stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, giving her the second-largest share of the company, behind Chair & CEO Ted Leonsis. Powell Jobs, widow of Apple co-Founder Steve Jobs, also holds a 4% stake in Disney and bought a majority interest in The Atlantic magazine this past summer. If Leonsis were to retire, she has the resources to assume his shares.
DALE EARNHARDT JR.: The checkered flag came down on Earnhardt’s 19-year run as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver with the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway last month. His career was marked by the death of his father in '01 at the Daytona 500, family dysfunction that led to his departure from Dale Earnhardt Inc., a series of crew chief changes and health concerns as a result of concussions. Voted NASCAR’s most popular driver for 15 years in a row, Earnhardt now moves to the broadcast booth as a race analyst for NBC.
TILMAN FERTITTA: The new owner of the Rockets vowed to build a winner and “do whatever it takes to win.” After spending $2.2B for the NBA team, Fertitta met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman for preliminary talks to bring an NHL team to town. Fertitta’s esports franchise, Clutch Gaming, also won a coveted spot in Riot Games’ NALCS.
JEMELE HILL: The “SportsCenter” co-host was a lightning-rod for criticism of liberal bias aimed at ESPN this year. She was suspended in October for suggesting on Twitter that fans boycott Cowboys sponsors in the wake of Jerry Jones stating players on his team would be benched for “disrespecting the flag.” In September, she came under fire from the White House and elsewhere after tweeting that President Trump was a white supremacist. ESPN issued a new social media policy following that controversy and others.
DEREK JETER: As the new CEO and part owner of the Marlins, Jeter oversees the day-to-day roster of a franchise that was witness to many roster sell-offs under previous ownership. Now, all eyes will be on Jeter as the Marlins try to regain financial stability by shopping some of their biggest stars, including a trade of NL home run leader and MVP Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees.
J.J. WATT: When Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston and Texas’ Gulf Coast, Watt organized an online fundraising push with a goal of $200,000 to help with relief efforts. Nearly three weeks later, more than $37M had been raised. Most of the money will go to four organizations to rebuild homes, restore child care centers, provide food and address the health needs of those affected, while the remainder will be distributed later in '18. Even though he was sidelined by injury early in the season, '17 could go down as one of Watt’s most impactful years.
