Move over, Hollywood. Michael B. Jordan just did something no Premier League team owner has ever done before. He won an Oscar for Best Actor.
The Bournemouth minority owner took home the golden statuette at Sunday's Academy Awards for his role in "Sinners." That makes him the first person actively involved in Premier League ownership to win an Oscar. Talk about a unique double achievement.
Jordan joined Bournemouth's ownership group back in December 2022. The club was taken over by Bill Foley's Black Knight Football Club, and Jordan came in as part of the minority ownership team. It's been quite a ride since then.
From Goalkeeper Dreams to Premier League Owner
"As a kid, I used to play soccer a lot," Jordan told TST last March. "Funny enough, I was the goalie because I didn't like running a lot." Classic goalkeeper reasoning right there.
So why Bournemouth? Jordan saw potential where others might have missed it. "I invested in Bournemouth a couple of years ago. When the opportunity presented itself, I just saw a team with a lot of upside, a lot of growth, a lot of potential, and I love their story. I love the team's history."
That upside is looking pretty good right now. The Cherries currently sit in 10th place in the Premier League table. That's a solid mid-table position and shows the club is holding its own in England's top flight.
Oscar Night Was Historic All Around
Jordan's film "Sinners" absolutely dominated the 98th Academy Awards. The Ryan Coogler-directed movie earned 16 nominations, making it the most-nominated film of all time. That's not a typo.
Jordan won Best Actor, while Coogler took home Best Original Screenplay. Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman ever to win Best Cinematography. Ludwig Goransson rounded things out with Best Original Score.
After his acceptance speech, Jordan celebrated the traditional way – with an In-N-Out Burger run, Oscar statuette in hand. But he also got congratulations from an unexpected source: across the pond from his Bournemouth colleagues.
For punters keeping an eye on Bournemouth's fortunes, having an Oscar-winning owner certainly adds some glamour to the club. While it won't directly impact results on the pitch, the increased profile could help attract talent and investment. The Cherries' current 10th-place position suggests stability, which matters when considering season-long bets.
Jordan already played a memorable role in American football, starring as Vince Howard in "Friday Night Lights" from 2009 to 2011. Maybe an international football film is next on his agenda? With an Oscar now on his shelf and a Premier League club in his portfolio, anything seems possible.
