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SPORTS Friday 4 august 2023
Tom Brady enters the world of soccer as minority owner of English

club Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) investing in 49ers Enterpris-
— NFL great Tom Brady has es, which is in the process
become a minority owner of taking over the second-
of English second-tier soc- tier team.
cer team Birmingham and Basketball star LeBron
wants to bring a winning James has been a part-
mentality to an underper- owner of Liverpool since
forming club. 2011 because of a small
The seven-time Super stake in the club.
Bowl champion has part- Brady has partnered with
nered with the club’s hold- Knighthead Capital on sev-
ing company, U.S.-based eral other ventures and the
Knighthead Capital Man- club’s new chairman, Tom
agement, and becomes Wagner, is looking forward
chairman of a new advi- to Brady’s “direct impact.”
sory board, Brady and Bir- “Tom Brady joining the Bir-
mingham said Thursday. mingham team is a state-
“Maybe you are asking, ment of intent. We are set-
‘What do you know about ting the bar at world class,”
English football, Tom?’” Wagner said. “Tom is both
Brady said in a club vid- investing and committing
eo. “Well, let’s just say I’ve his time and extensive ex-
got a lot to learn. But I do pertise.”
know a few things about Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady stands on the field before an NFL football game “The goal,” Wagner added,
winning.”Birmingham said against the Cleveland Browns, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. Associated Press “that Tom has committed
Brady will “apply his ex- to own is to make Birming-
tensive leadership experi- ham a respected leader in
ence and expertise across club with so much history two major trophies the club recently became a minor- nutrition, health, wellness,
several components of the and passion and to be part has captured in its 148-year ity investor in Burnley, which and recovery across the
club.” That includes work- of the Blues is a real honor history. has just been promoted to world of football.”
ing alongside the sports for me,” Brady said. Brady joins a number of the Premier League, while Brady won six Super Bowls
science department to ad- Birmingham last played in other American sports stars PGA Tour golfers Jordan with the New England Pa-
vise on health, nutrition and the Premier League in 2011, to invest in English soccer Spieth and Justin Thomas triots and another with the
recovery programs. the same year it won the clubs. have said they will be mi- Tampa Bay Buccaneers in
“Birmingham is an iconic English League Cup one of Former NFL player J.J. Watt nority owners of Leeds after 2021.q

The Billie Jean King Cup has a new part-owner: Billie Jean King

By HOWARD FENDRICH team competition,” said Billie Jean King Cup, and men’s Davis Cup. ship, media rights, getting
AP Tennis Writer Ilana Kloss, a former pro- investing in the brand.” “We’ve made a commit- the word out. I guess no
The Billie Jean King Cup fessional tennis player and This year’s Billie Jean King ment to be bigger, better marriage is perfect, but this
has a new part-owner: Billie King’s wife, who will chair Cup Finals will be held in and bolder. And this is just one is pretty darn good.”
Jean King herself. the board of directors for Seville, Spain, on Nov. 7-12. kind of following on with Neither Haggerty nor Kloss,
The International Tennis the venture. For the second year in a that,” said David Haggerty, who both spoke to The As-
Federation and TWG Glob- “We think it’s very impor- row, the champions will re- the president of the ITF. sociated Press in a video
al, a holding company led tant to have a team fo- ceive the same prize mon- The intention, Haggerty call Thursday, would dis-
by Los Angeles Dodgers cused daily on building the ey as the winners of the said, is “to really make sure close the amount of mon-
principal owner Mark Wal- that we make this a sustain- ey being invested by Wal-
ter, signed a partnership able model that we grow, ter’s holding company.
agreement Thursday for a to give women the same Kloss called it “significant
joint venture to market and opportunities that men and substantial.”
promote the women’s ten- have, as well,” including as King and Walter have
nis competition that used players, coaches and na- been business partners in
to be called the Fed Cup tional federation officials in the past, including in the
and was re-named to hon- tennis. Dodgers ownership and a
or King in 2020. “It really is a true partner- new women’s professional
The new entity will be called ship. I mean, obviously, the hockey league launching
Billie Jean King Cup Limit- ITF have incredible exper- in January.
ed, with the ITF holding 51% tise in running events, know- Kloss, who won Grand Slam
and TWG Global 49%, and ing the rules, working with titles in women’s doubles
it will seek new sponsorships the nations all of the things and mixed doubles in 1976
and broadcast and com- that are critical to the com- and is the former chief ex-
mercial partnerships. petition,” Kloss said. “Our ecutive officer of World
“We don’t think enough Los Angeles Dodgers owner & chairman Mark Walter, left, hope is that we can bring TeamTennis, said King has
people know what the Bil- introduces tennis champion Billie Jean King at a news some expertise and more “always been about mak-
lie Jean King Cup is. It is still conference in Los Angeles, Sept. 21, 2018. focus on a daily basis on ing it better for others.”q
the largest women’s global Associated Press the selling of the sponsor-