AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > August > 09
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
Hawks’ ownership better than any warped reality show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
The Tuesday countdown:
- It’s Steve Belkin vs. The World today in court. The World is a 3-2 favorite. The winner of today’s game gets to own the Hawks, sort of.
- Wait. The WINNER gets to own the Hawks?
- Does Belkin even know the Thrashers just gave Bobby Holik a $12.75 million contract? Does Belkin even know he also owns the Thrashers? When Belkin wakes up in the morning, does he look down at his bracelet with the initials, WWSD (What Would Sterling Do)?
- I am not making this up: An online betting service has listed 3-1 odds that Rafael Palmeiro will be found guilty of perjury for telling Congress he never used steroids. In a related development, Palmeiro said $70 million is too much for Joe Johnson.
- In one paragraph, Kate Hudson says, “I don’t believe monogamy is realistic.� In the next paragraph, Kate Hudson says, “I will not disrespect my husband and stray.� See, this is why 26-year-old blonde actresses just shouldn’t talk. Or own sports franchises.
- ESPN has entered into a business relationship with Bob Knight for a new realty show (“Knight School�). I’m sure that won’t cloud ESPN’s judgment in the least bit when it’s time to do a news story on Knight. I mean, when they get to the news. Between the “ESPYs� and the “X Games� and bad late-night TV series.
- See, that’s the great thing about the Atlanta Spirit ownership group. We don’t need a reality show because the actual version is entertaining enough.
- The wholesome NFL, which was infuriated about the Janet Jackson Super Bowl de-robing a couple of years ago but directs soft-porn cheerleader webpages on every team’s website, has entered into a marketing venture with the Rolling Stones. Can’t wait to hear, “Brown Sugar,� “Let’s Spend The Night Together,� and “Jump On Top of Me� during all those sideline cheerleader shots.
- David McDavid is considering dropping his lawsuit against AOL/Time Warner, based on the fact that he hasn’t laughed this much in years.
- Speaking of which, how come nobody is complaining about AOL anymore?
Permalink | | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Jeff Schultz
Hawks’ debacle not just Belkin’s doin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Sometimes there comes a point when an owner asks himself, “How do we spin this?” and Himself responds: “You don’t, Bozo.”
Because the fact is, no matter how much everybody wants to pile on Steve Belkin � and you know something is wrong when even Billy Knight turns into a quote machine � this has been a group failure by the Hawks.
At the very least, the non-Belkin majority of Atlanta Spirit operated in Happy-Happy-Joy-Joy Land for too long, maybe. It’s the residue of inexperience. Belkin-related problems didn’t vaporize, as the others deluded themselves into believing. They grew. Like fungus.
You can’t spin this. Bruce Levenson, one of the lead owners and a nice guy, knows it’s way too late for that. He knows that from the outside, the nine-member ownership group might as well be fitted for red noses and exploding shoes.
On Tuesday, he addressed the damage that has been done to a Hawks franchise he mistakenly believed had hit bottom with a 13-win season. Didn’t take long for the words to morph into self-flogging.
“There is a plan to build this team into one Atlanta can be proud of, and Joe Johnson is a part of that plan,” Levenson said. “We really believe that if we follow [Billy Knight’s] plan, our team will blossom and we’ll have some success. If we’re successful, hopefully our fans will start to judge us by what we do on the court â€â€? and forgive us for our off-court foolishness.”
It’s not every day a sports owner calls himself a fool.
They’re still waiting for those words from Harry Frazee. And Donald Sterling, Ted Stepien, Denise DeBartolo York, Bill Wirtz â€â€? you get the idea.
“Look,” Levenson said. “The most well-intended marriages sometimes end in divorce. The reality is that when that divorce involves a sports franchise, it’s done in the light and, frankly, the heat of the media.
“This has been embarrassing. It’s uncomfortable to go through, and nobody understands that more than I do.”
Levenson and the others publicly remain optimistic that this sign-and-trade with Phoenix for Johnson somehow will go through. For that to happen, seemingly two things have to happen: 1) NBA commissioner David Stern agrees Belkin should be removed from the league’s Board of Governors; 2) A Suffolk County Superior Court judge in Boston does the same.
No. 1 is plausible. No. 2 is iffy, at best. In the end, this is about a document spelling out an ownership agreement and how a judge reads that document.
Regardless, here’s how things are viewed now: Atlanta Spirit is a dysfunctional group of millionaires. It’s hard to imagine Belkin sticking around, under the circumstances. Could he ever attend a home game? He would be less popular than a Hawks’ player, thought to be a scientific impossibility.
Even if Belkin sells his 30 percent, who is to say there won’t be disagreements among the others down the line? This is a business, not a Tuesday night poker group? These are first-time owners who have been successful in their own ventures. They are used to being the face on things.
Then there is the Hawks’ franchise. If it’s not viewed as the worst in professional sports, I’d like to hear the argument for finishing second. The Hawks used to be a punchline during the season. Now they’re a punchline in August.
The only thing worst than having to admit publicly, “I’m a Hawks fan,” right now might be, “I’m a Hawks employee.”
Levenson recognizes the stigma. It’s why he is flying back to Atlanta today to address workers in the front office.
“I know how difficult this is for the fans right now, but my more immediate concern is our employees,” he said. “This is a time when they need to hear from ownership directly, not read it in a press release or an article in the paper.”
Before Tuesday’s hearing, Belkin approached Knight with an outstretched hand and Knight looked away. A photographer caught the moment. Trade or no trade, images like that don’t fade easily.
Permalink | | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Jeff Schultz
