Abe Pollin, who has owned the Washington Wizards since 1964 when they were the Baltimore Bullets, has died. He was 85 years old. Pollin had suffered from an undisclosed chronic illness for the past several years, one which confined him to a wheelchair but didn't keep him away from the Wiz. Pollin had previously owned the NHL's Washington Capitals, but sold the team to a group led by Ted Leonsis in 1999.
Pollin was the NBA's longest tenured team owner. Upon selling the Caps, Pollin told reporters his sons had "no interest" in running a sports team, and it's not known whether Pollin's wife Irene will maintain control of the franchise.
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Pollin is the fourth NBA majority owner to die in the past nine months, following Utah's Larry Miller, Detroit's Bill Davidson and Indiana's Mel Simon.
Pollin won one championship, the 1978 NBA title with Wes Unseld as the star. A year after the victory, Pollin took his players and their families on a goodwill tour of China, the first such visit from a professional American sports team. The visit is said to have helped infect the Middle Kingdom with a love of the game, one which began to manifest itself for decades forward. Pollin was unfortunately unable to join his team on a return visit this past summer.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pollin was a good owner who did alot for DC. Both of the arenas that he built were first class. He will surely be missed.
Abe was a class act.......I hate the Redskins but always routed for the Wiz......He's good deeds on earth will bring him peace in the next world.
The putz who owns the Redskins should learn from this CLASS ACT. RIP ABE!
Abe Pollin truly loved DC and we loved him as well. He inspired many with his heartfelt donations to the homeless, schools and youth sports programs. Whenever you see him, you see him smiling and appreciating you for stoping to say hi! May the Lord comfort his family always. DC will miss you Abe but we will never forget you!!!!!!!!!!
A class act who lied to Micheal Jordan. Everybody and their mother knew that Micheal Jordan was looking forward to getting his ownership shares back but Abe Pollin cheated the brother and now Mr. Pollin has to deal with all that. Hey ya'll might like what I'm saying but remember this (make a deal with the devil and he will come to collect).
Pollin gave him a chance. Jordan was a sucker for giving up his share of the team and going back to playing when he knew his best days were over. Pollin cut him loose because he didn't make good business decisions; Jordan treated Kwame Brown like trash ... please no whining for Jordan. He should have kept his eye on the prize. NBA ownership ... as should all the NBA players ... strive to be NBA owners. Have some vision!
I guess Abe Pollin said I die first before I let Micheal Jordan get his shares back with the Washington Wizards. So Mr. Pollin SEE YA AND I WOULD'NT WANT TO BE YA! ALWAYS BET ON BLACK!
Sorry you feel that way
Abe messed Micheal Jordan over and then hired another Jordan and thought we could'nt tell the differance, news flash we don't all look alike. Thats why all those brothers on the Wizards are taking his money and giving nothing in return. Gettig hot now ain't it, its time to shovel them dam coals.
Amala's Magic... I respect what your saying but lets look at one important thing you said ....Jordan was a sucker hmmm proves my point about Pollin... Treated K. Brown like trash guess you got me there because Jordan made him a millionare.....Pollin gave Micheal Jordan a chance how about Micheal gave him a chance. Either way you spin it I look at like this...Greed is all for nothing cause you can't take it with you and we all have to stand before God and guess what? God loves Micheal Jordan.
GOD LOVES EVERYBODY...EVEN YOU!!
Now I know you guys are going to be mad with me but lets look back to the day when Micheal Jordan was let go from the Wizards, lets be for real now no one saw it coming. Until that day everyone felt that was a good relationship until Abe Pollin said he did'nt want Micheal back. Micheal did everything he could for the Wizards and no he was'nt a sucker for giving up his shares he was bambozled, flim flamed and let astray. He did'nt land ond the Washington Wizards the Washington Wizards landed on him and now Micheal is setting back lighting a cigar by any means nessasary.
By the time MJ got to DC,,he was a over the hill, baseball player,,,not the player he was in Chicago! He came to DC with an agenda,,,albeit he had no idea what it was, but he was not astute enough to push his agenda forward, his ego put him back on court and he could not bring a championship to DC,,,awww,,,poor billionaire!
85 hell. I lived in D.C. in 1974 and 1975 and Abe was 75 then. He was at least 114.
Abe Pollin, was and is a class act! He will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him in person. He was first and foremost a businessman, but took a great interest in the communities where he lived. May you rest in peace Abe, you will be missed by all of the native Washingtonians.
wizards won!!!!!! they beat the 76er tonight!!! just for the owner R.I.P gooo Wizards!
Hey Sugakane.... micheal Jordan over the Hill still scored more points than most of those young guys that was'nt even in their prime. I bet you have something with Jordan on it in your closet and if you don't whats wrong with you? Shovel them coals in peace Mr. Pollin.
I won't miss him. I didn't even know him. How can you people miss him if none of you knew him?
Jordan's first name is MICHAEL no Micheal.
As a diversity trainer, some cultures forget to empower all other cultures.Philanthropy extends beyond ones own culture. If you just help your own culture , and model behavior to other cultures as
being less then your culture. You are not a Class Act, just very pompous, and a corrupt bully not a good business man.
Class and integrity can't be bought he lacked both.