When Jerry Colangelo was 7 years old, he was given his first basketball, a simple act that ignited the fuse to an extraordinarily successful career in national and international sports. “I smelled the leather, and it was the beginning of a love affair that has lasted a lifetime,” Colangelo tells Fra Noi in a wide-ranging interview about his life and myriad achievements as a player, coach, administrator, owner and overall leader. “Basketball opened the door to everything that happened.”

Colangelo has left an indelible mark on the sport while making major forays into baseball, hockey, arena football and indoor soccer. When people ask the 81-year-old sports mogul what his secret is, his answer is simple: He’s always had his priorities straight.