Time for ownership: Changing the game for good
By Selika Sweet, M.D.
JA Guest Writer
One of my favorite memories from attending the National Medical Association’s annual meeting was hearing the legendary humorist and activist Dick Gregory speak. He made a statement that has stayed with me ever since:
“Stop raising your children to be gladiators.”
When I worked in pediatric clinics, I was often struck by how many mothers proudly spoke of their children’s physical gifts – imagining their sons and daughters becoming star athletes, using their talents as tickets to a better life. Yet, rarely did I hear dreams of their children owning a team, leading a franchise, or sitting at the boardroom table. Only playing for one.
That memory – and Gregory’s words – came rushing back as I followed the story of Shedeur Sanders, the son of Coach Deion Sanders.
Despite an outstanding college career, Shedeur was drafted 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL) Draft.
From my vantage point, based on his talent, leadership, and discipline, he deserved a first-round selection.
But fairness, particularly for young Black men and women in America, has never been guaranteed – not even on the grand stage of the NFL.
To make matters worse, as Shedeur waited anxiously for his moment, an Ole Miss student prank-called him, pretending he had been drafted by the New Orleans Saints. For a young man who had worked tirelessly to achieve his dream, the experience must have been painful and infuriating.
Sports should be about joy, growth, and opportunity – not survival. Yet, too often, the system mirrors a gladiator’s arena: young people fighting for the favor of owners who ultimately control their futures.
Jackson State University’s son deserved better.
My advice to Coach Sanders is simple: it’s time to shift the focus from playing the game to owning it.
And maybe, just maybe, Mississippi – Coach Sanders’s old stomping ground – is ready for a professional team of its own.
A New Playbook
With today’s technology, crowdfunding opportunities, grassroots enthusiasm, and visionary leadership within the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), a new movement is not just possible – it’s necessary.
Ownership isn’t a dream.
Ownership is a mission.
Since removing the Confederate emblem from its state flag in 2020, Mississippi has undergone a remarkable transformation.
Recent studies show it is now the second-fastest growing economy in the nation, fueled by over $7 billion in new investments.
Consider a few examples:
• Amazon is investing $10 billion to build two data centers in Madison County, creating 1,000 jobs.
• Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Truck, and PACCAR are investing $1.9 billion in an electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall County, bringing 2,000 new jobs.
• Compass Datacenters is establishing a $10 billion hyperscale data center in Lauderdale County.
• GE Aerospace, Ergon Refining, ROCKWOOL, and others have collectively created thousands of jobs statewide.
Mississippi has also invested over $110 million in infrastructure, workforce training, and site development.
The state is phasing out its capital stock tax by 2028 and lowering its corporate income tax rate to 4% by 2026 – moves designed to enhance competitiveness and attract even more business.
Most importantly, business leaders consistently cite the symbolic power of the flag change. Mississippi’s new image signals progress, inclusion, and readiness for the future.
A Vision Within Reach
This shift presents an extraordinary opportunity for leaders like Coach Sanders – and for all of us.
Imagine a professional team – even an NFL franchise – based in Jackson, Mississippi, owned not by a single billionaire, but by thousands of everyday people across the country.
A team founded on values of equity, empowerment, and excellence – playing in a stadium built with a new kind of pride.
It would require billions of dollars.
But with strategic crowdfunding, celebrity leadership, private investors, and grassroots support, it is entirely within reach.
And if anyone can galvanize that kind of momentum, it’s someone with the charisma, vision, and relentless drive of Coach Deion Sanders.
Conclusion: Changing the Game for Good
We have spent too many generations raising our children to fight battles they were never meant to win.
Now it’s time to teach them to own the arena itself.
Ownership means freedom.
Ownership means wealth.
Ownership means a permanent seat at the table where decisions are made – not just a spot on the field.
Mississippi is changing.
America is watching.
And the game itself – even the NFL game – is ready for a new playbook.
One that moves beyond surviving the game to owning it.
Coach Sanders and Jackson State University have already changed the lives of countless young athletes. Now it’s time to change history – and bring an NFL team to Mississippi.
