Sam Schulman
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sam" Schulman was an American
businessman
from New York
who was a founding owner and President of the Seattle SuperSonics
of the National Basketball Association
and an owner of the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
.
Born April 10, 1910, in New York City, Schulman graduated from New York University
with a bachelor of science degree in 1932. He earned a master's degree from Harvard Business School in 1934. A year later, he took over George McKibben & Son, a bankrupt Brooklyn bookbinding manufacturer, which he turned into a profitable business.
Schulman was a successful Los Angeles
businessman involved in the motion picture
industry. Although his company was the backer of a number of films, he was rarely listed in any film credits with the exception of a few, the most notable of which was as executive producer
of the 1985 production, To Live and Die in L.A..
Following the June 1966 announcement of the merger of the American Football League
and the National Football League
, on August 25 Sam Schulman and fellow Los Angeles
businessman Eugene V. Klein
headed a group of minority partners who purchased the San Diego Chargers
for $10 million, at the time, a record price for an NFL franchise. Klein served as the football team's president and on December 20, 1966, Schulman and Klein led another group of minority investors who were awarded the NBA franchise for the city of Seattle, Washington
. Schulman would be the active partner, serving as president of the team and head of operations. He ran the team until 1983 when he sold the franchise to Seattle media and entertainment company executive Barry Ackerley
.
One of the first big names Schulman brought to the SuperSonics from the American Basketball Association
was Spencer Haywood
, who had signed with the Denver Rockets as a college sophomore but quit the Rockets over a salary dispute. Haywood's signing with the SuperSonics in December 1970 was in defiance of the NBA rule that said a player could not be signed until four years after he graduated from high school. Schulman and his lawyer wound up taking Haywood v. National Basketball Association
to the U.S. Supreme Court. That March the court cleared the way for Haywood to finish the season with the SuperSonics. The ruling led to a revision of the NBA policy and opened the draft potential for many future young players.
Sam Schulman died from a blood disease in 2003 at the age of 93 at his home in Beverly Hills.
Sam Schulman received Pillar of Achievement award from the Southern California Jewish hall of Fame http://scjewishsportshof.com/schulman.html
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
who was a founding owner and President of the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
and an owner of the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Born April 10, 1910, in New York City, Schulman graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
with a bachelor of science degree in 1932. He earned a master's degree from Harvard Business School in 1934. A year later, he took over George McKibben & Son, a bankrupt Brooklyn bookbinding manufacturer, which he turned into a profitable business.
Schulman was a successful Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
businessman involved in the motion picture
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
industry. Although his company was the backer of a number of films, he was rarely listed in any film credits with the exception of a few, the most notable of which was as executive producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
of the 1985 production, To Live and Die in L.A..
Following the June 1966 announcement of the merger of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
and the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, on August 25 Sam Schulman and fellow Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
businessman Eugene V. Klein
Eugene V. Klein
Eugene Victor Klein was an American businessman who was Chairman of the Board of Directors and chief stockholder of National General Corp., an insurance and entertainment company based in Los Angeles, California...
headed a group of minority partners who purchased the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for $10 million, at the time, a record price for an NFL franchise. Klein served as the football team's president and on December 20, 1966, Schulman and Klein led another group of minority investors who were awarded the NBA franchise for the city of Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. Schulman would be the active partner, serving as president of the team and head of operations. He ran the team until 1983 when he sold the franchise to Seattle media and entertainment company executive Barry Ackerley
Barry Ackerley
Barry Allen Ackerley was an American businessman. He was the former Chairman and CEO of the Ackerley Group media company. He was the owner of the Seattle SuperSonics basketball franchise from 1983 to 2001. Ackerley died on March 21, 2011, two days after suffering a stroke.-References:...
.
One of the first big names Schulman brought to the SuperSonics from the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
was Spencer Haywood
Spencer Haywood
Spencer Haywood is a retired American professional basketball player.- High school :In 1964, Haywood moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he attended Pershing High School...
, who had signed with the Denver Rockets as a college sophomore but quit the Rockets over a salary dispute. Haywood's signing with the SuperSonics in December 1970 was in defiance of the NBA rule that said a player could not be signed until four years after he graduated from high school. Schulman and his lawyer wound up taking Haywood v. National Basketball Association
Haywood v. National Basketball Association
Haywood v. National Basketball Association, 401 U.S. 1204 , was a U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled, 7–2, against the National Basketball Association’s old requirement that a player may not be drafted by a NBA team unless he waited four years following his graduation from high...
to the U.S. Supreme Court. That March the court cleared the way for Haywood to finish the season with the SuperSonics. The ruling led to a revision of the NBA policy and opened the draft potential for many future young players.
Sam Schulman died from a blood disease in 2003 at the age of 93 at his home in Beverly Hills.
Sam Schulman received Pillar of Achievement award from the Southern California Jewish hall of Fame http://scjewishsportshof.com/schulman.html