born february lawyer owner nba mlb chicago_white_sox started professional life tax attorney head years initial fortune real estate taking advantage united_states decision allowed economic owners sell property lease transferring tax title owner owner chairman turned franchise lucrative business won nba championships 1990s controversial involvement breaking championship team hiring key personnel hired jordan baseball player basketball moved chicago stadium baseball owner brought success franchise franchise playoffs time won world series time moved renamed new park cellular field sporting endeavors developed reputation anti labor union early 1990s considered influential basketball owners influential salary cap revenue sharing april elected contributor background born jewish family brooklyn new_york attended brooklyn son machine salesman lifelong baseball fan grew shadows stands day debuted breaking color barrier prevented black players serving major_league teams earned bachelor degree washington member alpha subsequently moved chicago lawyer registered mortgage certified review scholarship offer scholarship job graduating northwestern tax case time owned went private practice developed specialty real estate partnership tax shelters sold business interests real estate partnership formed raised million invest buildings construction sold million investment banking arm continued president company years sports ownership new purchases wealthy purchase million purchase arranged limited partnership followed previous eccentric owners known known team trading away promising prospects soon buying signed team promotional budget increased number team scouts major_league_baseball season playoffs best record team initially signed television deal newly founded new leadership chairman vice chairman arrangement quickly continued vice chairman death following footsteps purchased franchise purchased syndicate million quickly turned team averaged fans game seat chicago stadium person season ticket waiting list drafting grant trading join head coach team signed final piece championship puzzle november jordan retirement sold game months prior purchase milwaukee businessman awarded million judgment illegally blocked purchasing team purchased team ownership group included estate held million controlling interest team share team purchased estate purchase ended era managed committee decisions conference vote acquired majority interests march sold stake team january bringing interest following week ousted general manager replaced ownership history won american_league regular season division championships won world series addition place central division conclusion strike shortened major_league_baseball season world series victory owner history north american sports win championship different sports baseball championship boosted value franchise million signed jordan jordan announcement wanted play baseball thought jordan drawing power provided motive tried convince jordan basketball attempt jordan highest paid player game like feel basketball owner described time reference use baseball persona time eager traded rid contract baseball owner reputation militant anti union hard line owners newsweek described hardest heads baseball strike baseball offseason seasons completely free agent market labor agreement instituted salary cap retaining arbitration rights players signing news widely publicized general opposition player salaries million signing turning point decision baseball owners agree revenue sharing signing employer highest paid major_league_baseball player highest paid professional basketball player jordan time signed jordan nba season jordan career feel justify million salary business standpoint immediately realized going soon feel buyer remorse successful baseball team highly paid won world series 13th highest payroll major_league_baseball teams purchased team team experienced erosion fan media support led moving team complained old numerous view seats threatened threats moving team illinois real estate business purchased acres chicago mayor lobbied illinois legislature subsequently illinois governor promoted package incentives retain team chicago state floated bonds build let parking concession revenues million year owner contributed million fund construction largest arena united_states opened leased years collective agreement allowed exclude luxury suite revenue basketball related income revenue sharing income powerful baseball owner stopped sale texas_rangers later influenced sale attempted buy rangers said largely responsible commissioner baseball previously undermined vincent employing league labor salary higher vincent early 1990s acting baseball commissioner milwaukee brewers owner assumed baseball mantle power owner new_york_yankees owner turn taken sport brooklyn los dodgers owner owner owner 1980s american_league president dissuade philadelphia_phillies signing detroit_tigers free agent strike anti union hard liner expect baseball resume major_league_baseball season early 1990s able new cellular field teams fans accused breaking championship team straight title sixth years claiming competed titles good support rest team year span included coach accounts claim jackson feuded jordan linked jackson team broken forbes describes scenario example owner greed note decision return coach jordan retirement nba season impacted decisions players return chicago held hope convince jackson jordan return introduced president instead head coach clear jackson wanted phoenix commit relocating team july group approved ownership million official sale set occur bankruptcy auction place september august reported dropped bid leaving team bid ultimately prevailed league stated wishes sell franchise soon possible march reported possible buyer phoenix working arrangement deal feasible municipality arizona late august negotiations process purchase sold group investors include legacy largely responsible revenue sharing internet rights major_league_baseball teams shared equally known established sell naming rights cellular million year deal funded year million overhaul stadium ended prior major_league_baseball season overhaul included removal rows upper deck replacement baby blue seats traditionally colored green ones dozens upgrades prior seven year overhaul barely broke financially operating profit revenues million won major revenue sharing legal battle nba owners broadcasts game schedule audience million competed nba broadcasts permitted maintain contract recently continued profitable team earning million operating income having estimated million feels chief opposed testing baseball taken stand use sooner feels end delayed action cost players election accolades service involved likes chicago mayor initiative improve standardized test scores chicago public schools involved extensive charitable work including philanthropy community development notable near west community area near twice donated million particular attention funding baseball fields inducted august ceremony prior evening game wisconsin timber recognized club chicago white affiliate won consecutive early years ownership received jefferson award public service recognized greatest public service based efforts member board directors inc equity office properties numerous corporations charities currently serves wife née children grandchildren years active affairs baseball serving strategic planning legislative labor policy committees major_league_baseball serves businesses partnered found
Jerry Reinsdorf