[Dilbert San Diego]

So what did he do? Marketing the NBA overseas and got TV contracts?

[Rummyfan]

Marketing the NBA overseas and got TV contracts?

And expansion. And cleaned up the drug problem. He also benefited greatly from the emergence of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and then - ta da! - Michael Jordan.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

He did much more than that. He aggressively marketed the game to inner-cities, and saving dozens of black kids from a lifetime in gangs or prison, or even ending up dead. He made sneakers almost as much of a prized commodity as a three-piece suit itself.

I grew up in the 70s, and let me tell you, even the PBA (Professional Bowling Association) was more enjoyable than the NBA at the time.