Mini Bio
Jess Jackson- Owner of Kendell-Jackson Winery,owner of Curlin and Rachel Alexandra, those two combined have won the 2007 Champion 3yo Male, 2008 Champion Older Male, 2009 Champion 3yo Female and 2007, 2008, 2009 Horse of the Year. Of course both Curlin and Rachel have won the Preakness and Woodward, Curlin also won the Jockey Club Gold Cup twice, BC Classic and Dubai World Cup, Rachel won the KY Oaks, Mother Goose and Haskell, beating the boys three times.
LeBron James- 2 time NBA MVP for the regular season when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers, just signed with the Miami Heat, compared to Michael Jordan, possibly the greatest basketball player of all time (depending on who you talked to).
Making Decisions
Jackson- Likes making them via press releases, sometimes via his trainer Steve Asmussen, and sometimes via his spokesperson.
James- Likes having a Prime Time Special on ESPN to announce his decision
Charity
Jackson: Susan G. Komen for the Cure (this was something that Churchill started last year, and a portion of Rachel's earnings go to this Breast Cancer foundation last year. Jackson also had a auction of various Rachel items (one including seeing Rach herself))
James: I believe various charities, however proceeds from his Prime Time Special will be going to the Boys and Girls Club of America.
and last, but not least.
PO'ing People
Jackson: He is well known for doing this (Curlin almost not going to the 08 BC, and then deciding to go only for him to lose, Rachel not going to the 09 BC, rushing Rachel into the New Orleans Ladies, deciding to send Rachel to the Lady's Secret etc.) However, when push comes to shove, this is how he is and in a way always will be. Sure people won't like it, but there are many other owners out there who wouldn't bring back his star 3yo's at 4. Besides compared how many people LeBron just PO'ed, it's a tiny amount.
James: Should I start, with his announcing that he was going to sign with the Heat, LeBron has PO'ed people in the following states:
Ohio (Especially Cleveland and surrounding areas)
Illinois (not as much as Ohio)
New York (not as much as Illinois)
New Jersey (not as much as New York)
So while they aren't exactly alike, their thinking is very simlar. Sometimes bussiness is bussiness, but then there is an image uphold. Jess is pretty good of upholding his image, while LeBron may have just destroyed his.
Don't forget there is a live chat tomorrow at 7:00, that will act as this past weekends recap instead of a post. There will be videos of this past weekend's races including Awesome Gem's Hollywood Gold Cup win and Blind Luck's Delaware Oaks.
Note: The horse you see in the picture is not a Jackson horse, that is Citrus Kid the winner of the Dover Stakes last year. I took the picture and added the little basketball in the corner. Enjoy!
