Byron Allen Buying Broncos at Right Time
Media mogul Byron Allen is going to make a bid to by the NFL’s Denver Broncos.
The news reported earlier today by Bloomberg News that comedian Bryon Allen is planning on bidding to become the majority owner of the now for sale Denver Broncos is a breath of fresh air for anyone who loves football and is socially conscious. The NFL and their franchises have been in the middle of a media firestorm since last week when former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the league alleging racial discrimination in their hiring practices. The solution to what many see as a legitimate problem is African American majority ownership. Up until now, there have only been minority owners of color in NFL franchises. Allen, if successful, would make history and would hopefully encourage other African Americans to make a play for NFL teams when they become available.
Allen, 60, rose to fame as a comedian in the 80’s. He has become a media mogul, owning the Weather Channel and 15 other stations. The married father of three keeps a low profile and is considered a quiet, behind the scenes leader in media. A successful businessman, Allen, according to the Bloomberg report, said he was first approached about purchasing an NFL team in 2019 by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
I for one would love to see Allen be successful in his efforts as would many other African Americans. Seeing that my NFL fandom is currently on the free agent market, Allen owning the Broncos would immediately shoot them to the top of the list for me and many other African Americans. Even those who have strong loyalties to their teams from my community would definitely be pulling for the Broncos success should Allen become the owner. We all see that things only change when we have an ownership stake and seat at the table. Rapper Jay Z understands this, which is why I understood his move a couple of years ago to get the deal to produce the Super Bowl halftime show. A mogul himself, I saw the move as Jay Z positioning himself to buy an NFL team in the future. Even if Allen beats him to the punch to become the first African American majority owner, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Carter was right behind him.
Ironically, last week when I interviewed Jarrett Payton, son of the great Walter Payton on the Shawn and Maya in the Morning Show in Chicago, Payton brought up the fact that his dad was in a great position to buy the St. Louis Rams in the early 90’s. The elder Payton’s untimely death from a liver disorder cut that dream short, but his son believes African American ownership in major sports teams are coming soon.
“I think about my dad and his situation. Everything that is going on today, the disparity of Black coaches in the NFL, it’s nothing new,” Payton said. “Before my dad passed he was on the verge of becoming the first Black owner. He was this close. I think about that opportunity and who he was in business with and how it all kind of went south and how devastating it was for him not to get that team.”
It has been devastating for us all. And it is time for it to stop. LET’S GO BRONCOS!