Jamal Mosley, a 28-year-old FAMU Grad and entrepreneur from Washington, D.C., has rejoined the Central Virginia sports community as the first owner of the Richmond Spirit, the city's embryonic franchise in the National Women's Football Association.Mosley, a former high school quarterback, said "owning a sports franchise has been a dream of mine for a long time - probably since Jerry Jones bought the (Dallas) Cowboys" in 1989.
He said he discovered the while browsing on the Internet. The Cleveland Fusion was the first franchise to catch his eye. "But then I thought about it and said, 'You know what? Richmond is a heck of a lot closer [to Washington] than Cleveland.'"
Mosley said he chose football because "that's where my background is." The sport, he said, "is almost a religion with me." He acknowledged that some might perceive women's full-contact football as "a niche or novelty kind of thing," but added, quickly, that he sees it as a seed tossed onto fertile soil.
"I've always been intrigued by the Richmond market and the fact that there are no major-league teams there," he said. "I hope I can make a contribution that will help not only the league but also the city."
How much of a contribution? NWFA officials declined to discuss typical expenses but said the cost of a license to operate a league franchise is $35,000.
Mosley, an information technology contractor, does extensive work with the U.S. Navy. He also operates a Washington-based recording label, MG Records.
The Spirit, an expansion franchise, will begin competing in 2007. Mosley said Larry Walker, a long-time educator at Armstrong High School, will serve as the club's head coach. Walker, who has experience as a football, baseball and soccer coach, replaces Wolf Williams, the team's league-appointed interim coach.
Mosley said his team will hold tryouts later this summer. For additional information on the tryout schedule, contact Mosley at richmondspirit@yahoo.com.