Johnson wins team, will be first black owner

Charlotte, N.C. — Robert Johnson, the billionaire founder of Black Entertainment Television, has been chosen as owner of the NBA’s new Charlotte expansion franchise.

Johnson, 56, will become the league’s first black majority owner, according to two sources familiar with the decision. The league scheduled a news conference today in New York. Johnson could not be reached for comment.

Johnson and the other group seeking the team, headed by Boston businessman Steve Belkin and former Celtics great Larry Bird, made presentations to the league’s expansion committee Monday.

Forbes magazine estimated Johnson’s wealth at $1.3 billion earlier this year.

The franchise is to begin play in the 2004-05 season and replaces the Hornets, who moved to New Orleans earlier this year.

Jordan contends woman agreed to $250,000

Chicago — Michael Jordan contends in court papers that the woman seeking $5 million from him agreed to take $250,000 to keep their relationship quiet once tests determined he did not father her child.

He is suing Karla Knafel to keep her from collecting on an alleged extortion attempt. Knafel and her lawyer have countered that Jordan agreed to pay $5 million for her silence so he could protect his image.

In court documents filed Monday, Jordan said Knafel demanded $5 million — $1 million immediately and the remainder after paternity testing — while she was pregnant in 1991. After the child’s birth, according to Jordan, she and her lawyer agreed to a $250,000 payment.

Juanita Jordan filed for divorce last January but later withdrew the case.