This prevents rookies from receiving a huge, up-front signing bonus and deferring more salary than bonus beyond the next three seasons in order to fit under the salary cap. The largest signing bonus at that time was Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, which was $7 million, and Deion got $13 million so that was almost 100% more, so that took the signing bonuses to an all new level, recalls Parker.”
Shawn Lawson Cummings, Vice President International Corporate Sponsorship & Licensing, MLB Properties, 40: “She’s the closer for deals in foreign markets. Pitching American baseball to fans in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Europe, Latin America, and Canada, Lawson Cummings manages all aspects of international licensing and consumer products marketing. She also oversees corporate sponsorship. After nine seasons, she’s turned the MLB’s licensing program in Japan into the most successful sports property within the industry. Lawson Cummings previously worked in brand management for Kraft Foods and marketing at General Mills. Highlight Reel: Lawson Cummings was named one of the 25 Most Influential African American Women in Business by the Network Journal in 2004.”
Stu Jackson, Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations NBA, 49: “Rules are not made to be broken under Jackson’s reign. He is known for slapping some of the harshest penalties on misbehaving players, most recently for the 2004 Indiana/Detroit fiasco. As senior vice president of Basketball Operations, Jackson is in charge of all on-court procedures, including scheduling, officiating, game conduct, and discipline. He serves as chair of the senior men’s basketball committee of USA Basketball, which selects coaches and players for the Olympics. Highlight Reel: At the age of 33, Jackson became the second youngest head coach in NBA history.”
Isiah Thomas, President of Basketball Operations, New York Knicks, 43: “Currently the top guy at one of sports’ most storied franchises, the 43-year-old Thomas has had a stellar career with the NBA-on and off the court. A consistent all-star on the court, Thomas finished his career as the Detroit Piston’s all-time leader in points, assists, steals, and games played, becoming the key player in the Piston’s back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. Some two weeks after his retirement as a player in 1994, Thomas moved into the front office, becoming part owner and executive vice president of basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors. He left the organization in 1999 to become a studio analyst on NBC. He’d spend a few years restructuring the Continental Basketball Association before returning to the NBA to take the reins as head coach of the Indiana Pacers. Although he led that team to a 131-115 record and qualified for the playoffs each of his three seasons, he was unceremoniously fired in 2003. Steve Mills brought Thomas on board later that year. He immediately went to work after his 2003 hiring, orchestrating the trade that brought in two-time All-Star Stephon Marbury in from Phoenix. Another move was hiring Lenny Wilkens, the winningest coach in NBA history with 1,292 victories. The Knicks had a losing record when Thomas took