Last week, Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin passed away at age 85. Pollin was the longest tenured owner in the NBA, having owned the Wizards (formerly the Bullets) since 1964. Pollin moved the team from Baltimore to the nation's capital. Among his franchise's accomplishments was winning the NBA Championship in 1978.
Pollin was not only a long-tenured owner but also very well respected across the league and sports in general. He previously owned the Washington Capitals (National Hockey League) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA), both of whom he sold to a group led by Ted Leonsis of AOL (who will take over the Wizards with Pollin's passing). He was loyal to his employees, who were loyal to him as an employer. At the same time, Pollin was not afraid to speak up about his concerns internally or externally. Internally, Pollin gave Michael Jordan much power as a team executive, allowed Jordan to make a second comeback from retirement, then let Jordan go following Jordan's failures to put together a winning team from either position (executive or player). Externally, Pollin spoke up about the need for NBA players to be role models due to their public status and exposure.
Pollin is the fourth NBA owner to pass away in 2009. He follows Larry H. Miller of the Utah Jazz, Bill Davidson of the Detroit Pistons, and Melvin Simon of the Indiana Pacers.
The departure of Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon marks a time of reflection about what the NBA has been, is, and will be. The four deceased owners saw much change around the league, including the growing popularity of basketball nationally and internationally, with a growing number of players coming to the league from other continents; the emergence of iconic legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan; an intense collective bargaining period that resulted in the league's only shortened season, a 50-game regular season in 1998-1999 (all played in a 90-day span in 1999); and the expansion of the league to 30 teams. Rules have changed back and forth, as style of play has also fluctuated. The current collective bargaining agreement, which built on the lockout-ending deal of 1999, runs through the 2010-2011 season, with a league option year for the following season.
Despite concerns over the conduct and image of NBA players and the league as a whole, the NBA has managed to stay out of the steroids scandals that have invaded the National Football League and Major League Baseball, possibly in part due to the presence of owners such as Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon. With a series of non-death related ownership changes also occurring, the new emerging team owners throughout the NBA take on the responsibility to put together honorable, marketable teams in the midst of an economic crisis in the United States. In the early 1990s, endorsers of the league proclaimed, "I love this game." The past few years, the league has proclaimed that the NBA is "where amazing happens." In a few years, the stance taken by the league and its fans will be impacted by the actions and values of the emerging owners. To the deceased owners, rest in peace. To other previous owners, thank you. And, to the emerging owners and future ambassadors of the NBA, remember that, with great power comes great responsibility.
Pollin was not only a long-tenured owner but also very well respected across the league and sports in general. He previously owned the Washington Capitals (National Hockey League) and the Washington Mystics (WNBA), both of whom he sold to a group led by Ted Leonsis of AOL (who will take over the Wizards with Pollin's passing). He was loyal to his employees, who were loyal to him as an employer. At the same time, Pollin was not afraid to speak up about his concerns internally or externally. Internally, Pollin gave Michael Jordan much power as a team executive, allowed Jordan to make a second comeback from retirement, then let Jordan go following Jordan's failures to put together a winning team from either position (executive or player). Externally, Pollin spoke up about the need for NBA players to be role models due to their public status and exposure.
Pollin is the fourth NBA owner to pass away in 2009. He follows Larry H. Miller of the Utah Jazz, Bill Davidson of the Detroit Pistons, and Melvin Simon of the Indiana Pacers.
The departure of Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon marks a time of reflection about what the NBA has been, is, and will be. The four deceased owners saw much change around the league, including the growing popularity of basketball nationally and internationally, with a growing number of players coming to the league from other continents; the emergence of iconic legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan; an intense collective bargaining period that resulted in the league's only shortened season, a 50-game regular season in 1998-1999 (all played in a 90-day span in 1999); and the expansion of the league to 30 teams. Rules have changed back and forth, as style of play has also fluctuated. The current collective bargaining agreement, which built on the lockout-ending deal of 1999, runs through the 2010-2011 season, with a league option year for the following season.
Despite concerns over the conduct and image of NBA players and the league as a whole, the NBA has managed to stay out of the steroids scandals that have invaded the National Football League and Major League Baseball, possibly in part due to the presence of owners such as Pollin, Miller, Davidson, and Simon. With a series of non-death related ownership changes also occurring, the new emerging team owners throughout the NBA take on the responsibility to put together honorable, marketable teams in the midst of an economic crisis in the United States. In the early 1990s, endorsers of the league proclaimed, "I love this game." The past few years, the league has proclaimed that the NBA is "where amazing happens." In a few years, the stance taken by the league and its fans will be impacted by the actions and values of the emerging owners. To the deceased owners, rest in peace. To other previous owners, thank you. And, to the emerging owners and future ambassadors of the NBA, remember that, with great power comes great responsibility.