There were a record 290 newcomers to the Forbes list of billionaires in the last year and Michael Jordan joins the list at 1,746. 

Most of his cash comes from Nike payouts on his iconic brand. The Jordan brand grossed an estimated $2.25 billion in 2013, earning "His Airness" some $90 million. But his most valuable asset is his stake in the Charlotte Hornets, worth more than $500 million.

Jordan reached the billion dollar mark in 2014 after increasing his ownership in the Charlotte Hornets to almost 90 percent, pushing him over the top. Let's see if he can be as successful as an executive as he was a player. The jury is still out.

In an Era of Tremendous Social Change, Earl Lloyd Blazed a Trail

The 1950s; it was a decade of war, racial upheaval; and tumultuous change. The 1950s are the years following Jackie Robinson's entry into Major League Baseball, becoming the first black player to do so. It was the time when the U.S. was at war with Korea; when the U.S. decided the case of Brown vs. the Topeka, Kansas Board of Education; and when President Eisenhower had to dispatch the National Guard to escort black children to all-white schools in Arkansas and Louisiana.

It was also when Earl Lloyd became the first black player to appear in a professional basketball game organized by the National Basketball Association; it was October 1950 to be exact and the team was the Washington Capitols. Lloyd and three other black players who appeared in N.B.A. lineups soon afterward were nonetheless pioneers. Lloyd played nine seasons in the NBA with a reputation as a gritty and tireless defender. He also coached the Detroit Pistons in 1971-72.

Lloyd and his black teammates endured the indignities of segregated hotel and restaurant accommodations and racist jeers from spectators in some cities.

"...they'd yell stuff like, 'Go back to Africa,'" states Lloyd in his obituary in the New York Times. "My philosophy was: If they weren't calling you names, you weren't doing nothing. If they're calling you names, you were hurting them."

A rugged 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward, Lloyd played in the N.B.A. for nine seasons. He was a strong rebounder and so tenacious on defense that he sometimes guarded the Minneapolis Lakers' 6-foot-10 center George Mikan, the league's first superstar, states the New York Times. In 1955, Lloyd joined with Jim Tucker, also a forward, as the first two black players on an N.B.A. championship team, playing for the Syracuse Nationals.

Earl Lloyd died on Thursday in Crossville, Tenn. He was 86.

Standout Player Loses Battle with Congestive Heart Failure

Anthony Mason, most known for his time with the New York Knicks and who helped the New York Knicks reach the 1994 NBA Finals, has died today at the age of 48.

Although many people knew Anthony Mason was battling congestive heart failure, the news of his passing, sent shock waves throughout the entire National Basketball Association and through New York Knicks fans in particular.

Standing at 6' 7" with a body that looked like a Mac Truck and to competitors, it probably felt that way, Mason will be remembered most as a fierce competitor and a defender of the "paint." In some ways, Mason was the embodiment of the hip-hop generation with his signature hairstyles, which the establishment didn't understand and are lame by today's standards.

Hailing from the Springfield Gardens neighborhood in Queens, New York, Mason played college basketball at Tennessee State University and was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in the third round of the 1988 NBA Draft. Portland waived him shortly thereafter. Undeterred, Mason played basketball overseas in Turkey and Venezuela. He also played short stints in the CBA, USBL, as well as with the New Jersey Nets and the Denver Nuggets.

It was when Mason came to the New York Knicks in 1991 under Knicks Head coach Pat Riley, did his fortunes seem to change. Knicks fans knew Mason as the guy who came to work every day and gave the game everything he had. Mason led the league in minutes played in 1995-'96 (3,457), also setting a Knicks record with the number. He also led the league in minutes played per game in 1996-97 (43.1).

In 1994, along with Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks, and Charles Smith, Mason helped the New York Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1973. However, the team lost the NBA championship to the Houston Rockets in seven games. Mason won the NBA's Sixth Man Award in 1994-95 as a member of the Knicks. In teaming up with Pat Riley and the Miami HEAT in 2000, Mason made his first and only appearance in the NBA All-Star game in 2001.

In a 2014 interview with the Moose and Maggie Show, Mason compared his 1994 New York Knicks team with the 2013-14 team, "We imposed our will," Mason said. "We were going to make it hard on you. We were going to be up in your face the whole game and we wanted you to know that. People dreaded coming into the Garden and that's the thing you want to get back to."

It should be noted that Anthony Mason also played with the Charlotte Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks following his tenure with the New York Knicks.

Following Anthony Mason's passing, the Mason Family issued this statement:

"We would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt thoughts and strong prayers. Anthony felt each and every one. He fought like a warrior to the very end. Please keep your prayers and thoughts with us through this very hard time – it is a great loss for us. We ask for our privacy during this time."

Representing the New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, President, New York Knicks; and Steve Mills, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the New York Knicks; each issued a statement regarding the death of Anthony Mason:

Phil Jackson:

"As a competitor, there was none fiercer than Anthony Mason. Standing on the opposite end of the playing field, coaching in those great Chicago/New York battles, No. 14 in the Orange and Blue always stood out. On behalf of the entire Knickerbocker community, our condolences go out to his family. Rest in peace, Mase."

Steve Mills:

"For five seasons, Anthony Mason proudly donned a Knicks uniform like no other of his era. His New York City roots, his passion for the City game, his desire to win and his tenacity for defense made him a fan-favorite across the five boroughs, and beyond for every Knickerbocker. All of us here at the New York Knicks will remember Mase and cherish his legacy."

The Knicks held a moment of silence for Mason before Saturday night's game against the Toronto Raptors and aired a video tribute during the game.

Pat Riley, President, Miami HEAT issued the following statement.

"News like this is not only sad, but it's tragic. Anthony Mason was a very young man with a great family and friends. To lose him so quickly during his journey, especially to those of us that knew him, hurts. We had a great season in Miami experiencing Anthony as an All-Star with the HEAT, and I also had the privilege of coaching him for four years in New York, where he helped take us to the brink of a championship. There was so many great moments that we shared that I will never forget. Our prayers and sympathies are with his family. May God bless his soul."

Acknowledgements and condolences are coming in from around the NBA. Rest in peace, Anthony Mason, you will be missed.

Major League Baseball is entering a new era. Former MLB Commissioner Allan Huber "Bud" Selig has exited the stage and entering the spotlight is Rob Manfred. Today, the newly minted MLB Commissioner Manfred wrote a letter to Major League Baseball fans.

Here is Major League Baseball Commissioner Manfred in his own words:

Dear Fans:

On the night of August 14, 2014, I left a Baltimore hotel after being elected Commissioner of Baseball. As I began to reply to the overwhelming number of congratulatory messages coming in, it hit me that I'd just been entrusted to protect the integrity of our National Pastime and to set a course that allows this great game to continue to flourish -- now and in the years to come. Needless to say, I was deeply honored by the trust the owners placed in me.

Today is my first day as Commissioner, and I am incredibly excited to get to work. I am grateful to Commissioner Selig for his expertise and friendship. His leadership set a direction that led to historic success.

The mission before us is clear: To honor the game's history while welcoming new people to our great sport -- people who will one day pass their love of baseball down through the generations. That is what our parents and grandparents did for us, and it is what we are doing for our own children. Baseball is a game firmly rooted in childhood experiences, and its vitality and growth rely heavily on giving young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to play and watch baseball.

This notion that baseball is the game of children is central to my core goals as Commissioner. Maybe that is because my own Little League experience in upstate Rome, New York was such an important part of my childhood. I will never forget my intense dedication to that club and to my teammates -- each of whom I can still name to this day -- and being part of a perfect game.

My top priority is to bring more people into our game -- at all levels and from all communities. Specifically, I plan to make the game more accessible to those in underserved areas, especially in the urban areas where fields and infrastructure are harder to find. Giving more kids the opportunity to play will inspire a new generation to fall in love with baseball just as we did when we were kids. Expanding Little League, RBI and other youth baseball programs will also help sustain a steady and wide talent pool from which our clubs can draw great players and create lifelong fans.

As Commissioner, I will draw closer connections between youth baseball and MLB. I want to inspire children's interest in baseball and help parents and coaches foster that passion. In the coming years, MLB will work with college, high school, amateur and youth baseball programs to help grow our game and to ensure that the best players and talent have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. I call it "One Baseball" -- a partnership between all professional and amateur groups involved in our game.
Our children can look at MLB today and find a wave of new stars worthy of emulating both on and off the field. Players like Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Trout and aces Madison Bumgarner,Felix Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw have powerful stories to tell -- and MLB will tell them across every platform. We will continue to internationalize our game and to celebrate the fact that we have the most diverse rosters in the world. Our mission is to build upon this recent success by creating opportunities for the next wave of baseball talent. We also must continue to nurture inclusive environments for all the contributors to our game and our loyal fans.

Another priority for me is to continue to modernize the game without interfering with its history and traditions. Last season's expanded instant replay improved the game's quality and addressed concerns shared by fans and players. We made a dramatic change without altering the game's fundamentals. I look forward to tapping into the power of technology to consider additional advancements that will continue to heighten the excitement of the game, improve the pace of play and attract more young people to the game.
The Major League Clubs have bestowed an extraordinary opportunity upon me. My pledge is to work every single day to honor their faith in me and your love of this game.
Sincerely,

Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
Commissioner of Baseball

MLB pitchers and catchers start reporting to Spring 2015 training on February 19, woo-hoo!!!