Related’s Stephen Ross launches anti-racism initiative: VIDEO

From the New York site: It’s been two years since a locker room bullying scandal rocked the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, and now Dolphins owner — and Related Cos. founder and chair – Stephen Ross is playing his part to combat racism in sports.

Ross launched his “RISE” campaign this week, which stands for the Ross Initiative of Sports for Equality. The real estate mogul made an appearance Friday on CBS This Morning to discuss the initiative, which has released a public service announcement featuring NFL players like Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Ryan Tannehill.

The athletes in the video repeat a pledge “to treat everyone with respect and dignity.”

Ross acknowledged the Dolphins bullying scandal in his CBS interview and said the “RISE” campaign seeks to use sports “to create change.”

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“It’s kind of unprecedented in using sports to create change,” Ross said. “Sports is the common denominator in the country, if not the world.”

The Related boss was also asked about friend and fellow real estate tycoon Donald Trump, whom he described as “the world’s best promoter.” But, he added, “I don’t think he’s in a position to run the United States of America.”

CBS This Morning host Charlie Rose also asked Ross about whether he was “optimistic about the economy,” to which Ross simply responded, “No.”

Ross recently placed 71st on the annual Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans with a net worth of $6.7 billion, making him the highest-ranked New York-based developer on the list. [CBS Miami]Rey Mashayekhi