Sports Business Journal has put out their list for the 50 most influential people in sports business. Agents, brands, commissioners and network executives make up the bulk of the who’s who on this list. Click here to see the full list and see what soccer folks made the cut.

[TheOriginalWinger]

“Whatever man, Call Me!”

Monday, Mayweather (40-0) released a statement through his publicist expressing concern that pound-for-pound and world welterweight champion Pacquiao hasn’t been more aggressive in pushing for a showdown that could be the most lucrative event in the sport’s history.

The release said Mayweather listened to several comments made by Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, and trainer, Freddie Roach, but “still has yet to hear Manny Pacquiao himself say he wants to fight him.”

Pacquiao, after the Cotto victory, said he does the fighting and lets Arum select who he’ll fight. He has also expressed doubt Mayweather wants to fight him.

“Manny Pacquiao is the fighter and every time someone asks him if he wants to fight me, he says it is up to my promoter … ,” Mayweather said in the statement. “I have yet to hear him actually say, ‘Yes, I want to fight Mayweather.’ We are the fighters and if one fighter is talking about fighting another fighter, then they should just come out and say it. Manny Pacquiao doesn’t say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it’s not a fight he can win.”

Defensive specialist Mayweather criticized Pacquiao for saying “Money” only cares about cash and not producing entertaining fights.

“Why is he talking about what I won’t do instead of what he wants to do?” Mayweather asked in the statement. “Plain and simple, it’s because he knows he can’t beat me under any circumstances.

“Less than an hour after his fight, … the talk turns to me. Their whole promotion was just a Mayweather sweepstakes. … The world is much more intrigued by the thought of someone fighting me who can beat me. … Manny Pacquiao’s people have done a good job of creating an image of him to be this unbelievable fighter and now the so-called guy to beat me. But like all the rest, he’s not the one.

“Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone, including his loudmouth trainer, talk for him. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself.”

Promoter Bob Arum declined to discuss the beginning of negotiations, and said he’s urging those around his company to keep quiet publicly.

“The one way this will be upset and not happen if it is negotiated through the newspapers,” Arum told The Times Monday. “All I want to say is that my guy [Pacquiao] has said, ‘We’re here, we’re ready to fight Mayweather.’ ”

Arum added he was deluged Monday by more interest from suitors looking to host the fight, including officials from the new New York Giants/Jets stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field in New York, the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, the City of New Orleans, and Las Vegas authorities pitching the construction of a 30,000-seat outdoor facility.

source, image via daylife

Air Jordan 2010. Thoughts?

image via daylife

Nubeo boasts that it has created the world’s most complex watch case (given all the parts), with overall designs of the watches being influenced by Jellyfish and the ocean environment.  At least three limited edition Nubeo Black Mamba watches will be made available – each with different amounts of decoration.

The most limited in number will be the pictured Black Mamba MVP, which has rings of baguette cutsapphire crystals which have a “Whiskey” color.

more pics and details after the jump

The 48mm wide case is made from black titanium (with some DLC coating) and ceramic – while black sapphires frame two of the chronograph subsidiary dials on the face. Inside is an automatic mechanical movement of undisclosed origin. The banner pictured model will go for about $285,000, less for the models without as many sapphires. It is true that the economic status quo does not make it an ideal time for a new luxury watch release, but with limited numbers and niche market appeal, Nubeo (and Bryant) are confident in the Black Mamba’s market success.

Here he is seen wearing a Black Mamba MVP model with black sapphires around the bezel.

Prices for the Black Mamba watches strap at about $25,000 (more for the black sapphire stone covered models).

source, image 1 2 3

Cincinnati Bengals receiver, Chad Ochocinco, is planning to form his own social news network on Twitter, using his player contacts around the league to develop news about other teams. The idea grew out of his partnership with Motorola, which will provide the technology. He’s dubbed the venture OCNN, for the Ochocinco News Network. He will try to compete with mainstream media to tell fans what’s going on with NFL teams.

He’s even got a slogan.

“If I break it, you might as well believe it,” Ochocinco told The Associated Press in a phone interview.
Ochocinco already spends a lot of time on social networking — he has nearly 300,000 followers on Twitter and does frequent Ustream episodes. This latest venture will be intriguing, given the way NFL coaches try to prevent news from leaking out.

The receiver plans to operate like a reporter, getting tips from players on other teams. He also might get other NFL players involved in his reports. “I am that source now,” he said. “I’ll be the leak for all 32 teams.”

Ochocinco has already had one occasion to break news about another player. When first-round draft pick Andre Smith was close to ending his holdout during training camp, Ochocinco tweeted that he had signed. Smith’s agent then tweeted that the report was premature. When Smith was in the locker room the next day after reaching a deal, Ochocinco took a photo and posted proof.

That got the receiver thinking about doing more news-based tweets. “I’m sort of still feeling this out,” he said. “It’s based on what I already do. I’ll bring in news the way I always do, and I’ll actually be adding to it.” Ochocinco used the example of a network reporter who relays what they hear from sources with various teams.

“I’m knocking out the middle man,” he said.

With a chuckle, he added, “Are you nervous?”

The receiver began promoting it on his Twitter feed following a practice on Saturday to get ready for a game against the Chicago Bears.

Motorola is using the venture to promote its MOTOBLUR technology. Ochocinco will use one of the company’s Cliq mobile devices for his new social network. Motorola marketing officer Bill Ogle said Ochocinco “brings order and clarity to a multifaceted lifestyle as a professional athlete, entertainer and devoted social networker.”

It’s been a busy week for Ochocinco’s social networking ventures. A week ago, his new iPhone app was introduced. The app was developed by a company that includes Bengals quarterback Jordan Palmer and features various ways to get news on the receiver.

Between football and networking, the receiver doesn’t have much extra time.

“This is how I stay out of trouble,” he said. “I don’t go to clubs, I don’t drink, I don’t party.”

The venture will have to stay within the NFL’s restrictions on social networking by players and coaches. In August, the league sent out guidelines, allowing them to use Twitter, Facebook and other social media up to 90 minutes before kickoff, and again after games when traditional interview sessions are finished.

Some NFL teams have taken a hard line on tweeting. The Dolphins imposed restrictions on players, reporters and fans during training camp. Other teams have restrictions on tweeting from practice fields. The Chargers fined cornerback Antonio Cromartie $2,500 for criticizing the food selections at training camp on his Twitter feed.

NFL head coaches routinely tell players not to talk about their injuries to the media because it could put them at a competitive disadvantage.

source image via daylife

I’m kindof 50/50 on this right now, but I’m pretty interested in seeing how this sorts itself out and what that would mean for sports journalism/information/news/whatever. I am as sick as anyone of talking heads, of espn coverage, of too many highlights angles, but I don’t know if I want it totally in the hands of “their people aka pr team” athletes spinning everything in their favor.

What do you guys think? Would you prefer to get your “news” straight from the athletes or do you think it will be a bunch of fluff and one sided information.