July 16, 2008

First Native team owner

Blazing a Trail From a Reservation Into OwnershipStyres, a Mohawk, has lived on the reserve his entire life. He built his businesses here. They include the raceway and a partnership in a tobacco company that employs 200 people at its plant in Ohsweken, and more at a second plant near Berlin.

In May, Styres paid $5.5 million to buy a 60 percent controlling share of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League, and an undisclosed price for the Americans. He says he thinks he is the first individual American Indian—known in Canada as First Nations people—to own a major professional sports franchise. The Mohegan Tribe owns the Connecticut Sun of the W.N.B.A.
Comment:  Uh, I don't think a team in the National Lacrosse League or the American Hockey League counts as a major professional sports franchise. It's more like a minor professional sports franchise.

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