USA TODAY International Edition
Dolphins owner combats racism
NEW YORK Stephen Ross is no stranger to big ideas.
The multibillionaire built a real estate empire after essentially starting from scratch in the early 1970s. Deep down, the Miami Dolphins owner is clinging to hope that his team can rally with an interim coach and make the playoffs. This season.
More power to him. That’s how Ross thinks, with a lot of courage and ambition.
And that has led him to a new space, inspired to combat racism in society at large.
“It’s always been the elephant in the room,” Ross told USA TODAY Sports during an extensive interview recently at his Manhattan office overlooking Central Park. “Racism is an issue that has always been, and people don’t quite want to talk about it. People don’t want to deal with it, but it’s always there. The issues that we had ( with the Dolphins) ... I was shocked that this was news on the front page of the paper for such a long period of time.
“Right after that, we have Ferguson, Baltimore, New York, all these issues. It showed everybody — how much progress have we made? You can see it in the way our country grows, and you start seeing the disadvantages and how people are treated. I don’t like that.”
Ross, who described having something of an epiphany after the Dolphins’ bullying scandal two years ago that largely involved Richie Incognito ( who is white) and Jonathan Martin ( who is black) and included troubling racial overtones, undoubtedly adds a powerful voice to such dialogue. Yet in unveiling a nonprofit organization last month — the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality ( RISE) — his effort includes corralling many power brokers to join forces for a cause. The commissioners of every major pro sports league, the heads of the five networks that broadcast live sports, the NCAA and a who’s- who list of athletes — including Tom Brady, LeBron James and Larry Fitzgerald — are among those pledging support.
The stated mission of RISE ( RiseToWin.org) is to use sports as a tool to effect broader societal change. An educational curriculum aimed at youths and their coaches, public events that promote dialogue, an awareness campaign with public- service announcements and social media engagement are part of the plan.
And, of course, so is big talk from Ross. Keep in mind that Ross, 75, a longtime board member of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, admittedly has never shown any particular passion or leadership in combating racial inequalities. Better late than never, even if it’s a response to fallout from the bullying scandal. He could have opted to financially support existing groups but thinks he can have more impact by trying to incorporate a model built on the idea that sports can lead the way to greater change.
“Where sports can bring people to walk into a stadium together, you want it to bring people walking into society together,” Ross said. “The greatest thing will be how it impacts youth and how people look at it to create opportunity, economic opportunities and bring our country together where everyone works as one people. That’s what you’d love to see.”
That sounds good enough, but the layers of racism and discrimination in this society run so deep with many institutionalized components. As it evolves, RISE must determine whether it can serve a purpose beyond PSAs and education. RISE issued its first official statement as an organization Wednesday in response to the situation at the University of Missouri, where a boycott by football players helped trigger the resignation of system president Tim Wolfe, who was accused of not addressing issues brought forth by African- American students about racial tensions.
“It’s an example of how powerful sport is,” Ndidi Massay, executive director of RISE, told USA TODAY Sports. “They used sport to make a social statement.”
Massay says RISE will invite Mizzou athletes to join the organization.
Interestingly, there’s a line rife with racial connotations that Ross doesn’t dare cross. When I asked about the name of Washington’s NFL franchise, Ross declined to take a stand. This could be viewed as tacit approval.
“Right now, it’s not my issue,” Ross said. “It’s in the courts, and I don’t want to get involved. I don’t want that to confuse this. We’re dealing with racism, and the issue is to change things.” Like maybe a team nickname? I think Ross’ heart is in the right place, and I was interested to get a sense of how so many of the racial issues that have popped up in recent months have resonated with him. He seemed sensitive enough when I mentioned some of the cases.
But he came off as tone- deaf by not acknowledging Washington’s name. And a bit arrogant. Isn’t there a conflict between RISE’s purpose and the name?
“No, it isn’t,” he said. “We’re dealing with racism, as I see it. I’m not going to get involved.”
Ross better get used to people wanting his take on Washington’s name. Kenneth Shropshire, director of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania, whom Ross has enlisted as a key consultant for RISE, says, “Many experts will say it’s the most racist name for an organization.” There are also plans to address mascots in the educational curriculum.
No doubt, as his new organization evolves, Ross can, too. He sounds willing enough.
“As you get ideas from people, they help you shape things,” he said. “You see the idea, and it grows within you. You really buy into it a lot more, then you can really do something.”