Hawks owner Levenson to sell team after self reporting racist email

[elcheato]

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/508635959705886720

 

[footballplaya52]

Taddle tale

 

[Big Bid'Ness]

 

Bruce Levenson to Sell Atlanta Hawks: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

For the second time in a year, an NBA owner will be giving up his team after making racially offensive comments.    
This time, Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson has agreed to sell the team after self-reporting his own racial comments in a 2012 email. The NBA tweeted the following statement from commissioner Adam Silver:
 
Over the past several years, I've spent a lot of time grappling with low attendance at our games and the need for the Hawks to attract more season ticket holders and corporate sponsors. Over that time, I've talked with team executives about the need for the Hawks to build a more diverse fan base that includes more suburban whites, and I shared my thoughts on why our efforts to bridge Atlanta's racial sports divide seemed to be failing.
 
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released the following statement regarding Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson: pic.twitter.com/H91NSEqf6t
— NBA (@NBA) September 7, 2014
 
In trying to address those issues, I wrote an e-mail two years ago that was inappropriate and offensive. I trivialized our fans by making clichéd assumptions about their interests (i.e. hip hop vs. country, white vs. black cheerleaders, etc.) and by stereotyping their perceptions of one another (i.e. that white fans might be afraid of our black fans). By focusing on race, I also sent the unintentional and hurtful message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans.
 
If you're angry about what I wrote, you should be. I'm angry at myself, too. It was inflammatory nonsense. We all may have subtle biases and preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them.
I have said repeatedly that the NBA should have zero tolerance for racism, and I strongly believe that to be true. That is why I voluntarily reported my inappropriate e-mail to the NBA.

Levenson said that in an e-mail he made stereotypical assumptions like “white fans might be afraid of our black fans.”
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) September 7, 2014
Hawks Levenson said he was wrong to send a “message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans.”
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) September 7, 2014

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com provides insight into the leadership of the organization while Levenson sells the team:

Hawks CEO Steve Koonin will oversee team operations while league begins sale process.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) September 7, 2014
This, of course, follows the very messy and public sale of the Los Angeles Clippers by longtime owner Donald Sterling after it was revealed he had made racist comments.
The fact that Levenson not only reported his own behavior but is also willingly entering the selling process should ensure this situation is far less messy than what transpired in Los Angeles, however.

 

[elcheato]

While he should definitely sell the team to avoid constant questions, controversy, and just being an all around distraction, this isn't close to the Sterling situation. This seems more like generalizations and stereotypes from someone uninformed. Still unacceptable, and I have no problem with him getting the heave-ho in essence. 

 

[Pugz]

While he should definitely sell the team to avoid constant questions, controversy, and just being an all around distraction, this isn't close to the Sterling situation. This seems more like generalizations and stereotypes from someone uninformed. Still unacceptable, and I have no problem with him getting the heave-ho in essence. 

and to add to this, i don't even think he'd be pressured to sell in the long run if that whole sterling fiasco didn't happen. but sale should be expected regardless.

 

[RipCity32]

He made the right move, gotta give him props for that.
 
Obviously dumb to be in the situation though. 

 

[$tunna]

It's a difficult situation especially since the hawks are owned by a group and all. Has to put a spotlight on the rest of the ASG about where they stand as owners