ESPN ran a rather interesting special last night before the New England Patriots took on the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. The piece centered around Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who took over the team in the early 90s and has rumbled to the tune of 48 Super Bowl titles in that span. They tell me that number is not accurate, but it certainly feels like 48. 

As it turns out, Kraft’s ownership and ultimate success with the Patriots traces back to the failure of Michael Jackson’s “Victory” tour in 1984. Then-Patriots executive Chuck Sullivan met with the Jackson family to sell them on coming to Sullivan Stadium on the tour. Sullivan ended up producing the entire run, which ended up a financial disaster, losing the family more than $20 million when it was all said and done. For collateral, the Sullivan family offered up the stadium forcing them to liquidate their assets shortly thereafter. 

Kraft, being the savvy businessman that he was, purchased the parking lot next to the stadium and ultimately bought the stadium itself for $25 million. With the following owner threatening to move the team to St. Louis, Kraft ultimately bought the Patriots in 1994 for $172 million to prevent the move. “I knew it was nuts,” Kraft said. “But I realized I probably wouldn’t get a second chance at this.” 

“We can really thank him for owning the New England Patriots,” he added. So, next time you’re cursing Tom Brady, just remember this is all because Michael Jackson’s “Victory” Tour was a disaster.