The Chronicle News Small Business The Moneyball Sportswear Success Story: How Desmond Ferguson Became a Small Business Powerhouse

Courtesy Photo-Desmond Ferguson Owner, Moneyball Sportswear

---

Desmond Ferguson is a Lansing native who graduated from Everett High School. He attended the University of Detroit-Mercy and played professionally in the NBA and overseas. He spent eleven years playing professional basketball, including a stint with the Portland Trailblazers. After retiring from basketball, he returned home to Lansing, Michigan, and accepted a position as head coach at Everett High School. After working with the students, he was able to help the team once again live up to their legacy set by many great student athletes before them.

After speaking with Desmond Ferguson, I learned that he was able to focus on many positive aspects of life during the quarantine of 2020. He said the extra time from work allowed him to rebalance, spend time with family, and reorganize operations for his business. Desmond is the founder and owner of Moneyball Sportswear, a uniform company founded in 2002. Moneyball Sportwear specializes in unique, customizable uniform options that allow teams to display their personalities through the designs. The mission of Moneyball Sportwear is to provide the highest quality sportswear at an affordable price. Their motto is simple yet significant, “Grow with Us… Moneyball: The Only Way to Ball. The name comes from being a solid shooter. When he scored a basket, teammates would yell out “Moneyball! “Originally the company started producing t-shirts and basketball uniforms, but now Moneyball Sportswear creates sports apparel for men, women and children. When asked what the focus of in the next three-to-five years he says he would like to focus on organic growth of the business. Desmond currently owns three locations within Michigan, in hopes of expanding worldwide.

---

Ferguson’s business endeavors are not the only thing he is passionate about. He continues to give back to the community that helped him reach his dreams. Every summer, Desmond hosts free basketball clinics to reach inner city youth. He hosts youth basketball camps to stress the importance of hard work and accountability. The Desmond Ferguson Basketball Clinic was founded in 2004 to teach youth the importance of good physical conditioning, healthy eating habits, teamwork, good sportsmanship, self-discipline, and self-esteem. The free, three-day summer clinic puts many children’s aspirations in perspective. Ferguson and his team serve as mentors, providing insight on basketball and life skills. This endeavor is a way for him to take what he learned from basketball and share it with youth, so they can push forward and reach their goals.

If you would like to find out more information about Desmond Ferguson and Moneyball Sportwear, you can visit the website at: www.moneyballsportswear.com. You can also visit one of the two locations within Michigan:

927 W Saginaw St. Lansing, MI 48915

30215 Southfield Rd, Southfield, MI 48076