Wise Article on Abe's Condition

80sballboy · Post #1 » by **80sballboy** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:11 am

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 062_2.html

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #2 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:39 am

I hope they can some how come back and take two in Cleveland.

It would be great to get the focus on a great man and off of Lebron, the great basketball player.

People say various things about Pollin. He's above all a humanitarian. His team has entertained us for many years.

If they can win one in Cleveland for him and really turn it out in Verizon for game 6. That would bring Abe a lot of joy.

Macker · Post #3 » by **Macker** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:00 pm

Is Abe Polin a shareholdering in the Washington Post or something? Wow. What a fawning article.

I suppose you don't kick a man while he's down, though. So, above all, Abe, I wish you well in fighting this disease.

NbdyBeatsTheWiz · Post #4 » by **NbdyBeatsTheWiz** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:07 pm

I just read that two seconds before coming here. Hearing Caron talk about all Abe's done for him, including calling him and his family to check up on him in the offseason, is awesome to hear. It'd be very easy to become self-centered when you've got a degenrative disease, but Pollin still seems like a genuine class act. Much respect.

Post #5 » by **W. Unseld** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:26 pm

Abe truly has been a class act and great for DC. He should get more credit, especially when compared to other local owners...

Wizardspride · Post #6 » by **Wizardspride** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:42 pm

This article makes me more inclined to believe the rumor
I posted about the Wizards being sold to Leonsis soon.

80sballboy · Post #7 » by **80sballboy** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:43 pm

I do think the Post has let Abe get away with a lot of things over the last 35 years, like running this club into the ground because of bad decisions, because generally he seems like a decent and charitable guy. The guy is suffering right now and this team is his pride and joy. I just hope they go out there and do him proud and forget the other nonsense that's been going on.

Joe_Wiz · Post #8 » by **Joe_Wiz** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:01 pm

I have not always agreed with the management decisions of Mr. Pollin and his previous GM's, but I have nothing but respect for the man as a human being. I wish him the best and my hope for the Wizards to come back in this series is strengthened by the thought that it would bring him happiness.

Post #9 » by **jmrosenth** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:39 pm

80sballboy wrote:I do think the Post has let Abe get away with a lot of things over the last 35 years, like running this club into the ground because of bad decisions, because generally he seems like a decent and charitable guy. The guy is suffering right now and this team is his pride and joy. I just hope they go out there and do him proud and forget the other nonsense that's been going on.

I agree with your last sentiments. But, re, the Post letting Abe get away with stuff, the Post columnists who have covered basketball over the years, ie, Wilbon, agreed with almost every major move that the team made during the "blundered" period - Ike Austin, Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, and probably even Jerry Stackhouse. The Post DID, for the most part, slam him for his handling of Michael Jordan. I'm sure Abe himself would agree that he could have handled that better, but at the end of the day, it was the right call to go in another direction. Read Leahy's book on the MJ era here.

As for Abe, those of you who have been posting here over the years knows that I have special adulation for the man. Wise poignantly touched on several of the reasons why.

newslowsad · Post #10 » by **newslowsad** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:45 pm

Wizardspride wrote:This article makes me more inclined to believe the rumor
I posted about the Wizards being sold to Leonsis soon.

I expect Leonsis will be a little more liberal in the spending area, no? If so... :clap:

Wiz99 · Post #11 » by **Wiz99** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:57 pm

The Post also did a very cutting series on the Wizards after MJ's departure which really exposed Abe Polin's cheapness over the years. There were several interviews with former players who said how incredibly substandard the Wizards practice facilities once were - like no hot water in the showers sometimes. This is before the Verizon Center.

One thing I thought Abe Polin has always gotten a pass on was the complete sham of a contest he ran to rename the team and pick its color scheme. The fans had choices, but it all made complete sense to me when the winning logo and colors were almost completely the same as that of [now defunct telecommunications firm] MCI, which bought the naming rights to the new arena. It was sooooo obvious that the fan input was a sham.

As a fan, that really upset me.

newslowsad · Post #12 » by **newslowsad** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:58 pm

It really upset me that all the choices for the new team name SUCKED. Seriously, wasn't one of the potential choices the Postmasters?

Post #13 » by **jmrosenth** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:01 pm

newslowsad wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I expect Leonsis will be a little more liberal in the spending area, no? If so...

Pray, do tell, what differences you expect, re, payroll, in a change of ownership from Pollin to Leonis? Before you answer, however, please look up how many teams exceeded the luxury tax last year.

Now - the area of scouting, medical care, player perks, etc, have no limits, of course. Those areas have improved, but don't expect any drastic increase in spenditures on those areas with a change of ownership.

Cramer · Post #14 » by **Cramer** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:04 pm

jmrosenth wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Pray, do tell, what differences you expect, re, payroll, in a change of ownership from Pollin to Leonis? Before you answer, however, please look up how many teams exceeded the luxury tax last year.

Come on JRo, all teams give no never mind to the luxury tax except cheap ol' Abe.

Don't bog 'em down in details, they KNOW that Leonsis or anyone else is going to spend money like a drunken sailor and all our problems will be solved.

AAEXPRESS · Post #15 » by **AAEXPRESS** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:05 pm

Abe Pollin has been a class act, I am in agreement that the Organization and the league should do something to honor him while he is still able to appreciate it.

I have always agreed with some of the basketball decisions he has made, but he is loyal to a fault and always looking to give back to the city and those less fortunate and bless then him.

Dan Snyder could learn a few things from him.

Wizardspride · Post #16 » by **Wizardspride** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:40 pm

Wiz99 wrote:
One thing I thought Abe Polin has always gotten a pass on was the complete sham of a contest he ran to rename the team and pick its color scheme. The fans had choices, but it all made complete sense to me when the winning logo and colors were almost completely the same as that of [now defunct telecommunications firm] MCI, which bought the naming rights to the new arena. It was sooooo obvious that the fan input was a sham.

As a fan, that really upset me.

Maybe it's wishful thinking but I think we will
be the "Bullets" again in the not so-distant future. :nod:

dandridge 10 · Post #17 » by **dandridge 10** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:56 pm

I think a lot of the criticism of Abe has been unwarranted. Most of the bad decisions that were made by the Bullets/Wizards were not made by him, but were made by people below him. I think the only legitimate criticism of Abe was he was loyal to a fault. However, I have never viewed loyalty as bad quality.

I also think the criticism of him being cheap is a bunch of crap. He spent his own dollars to build the wonderful arena that we all enjoy. He also has opened his wallet in situations where he felt it was necessary (Juwan Howard). In retrospect, the decision to pay Juwan all that money was a bad decision...however, most people in this town agreed with it at the time.

If you read the book on Leahy regarding Jordan and the Wizards and it is in fact true, you would also understand why he treated Jordan the way he did. If the facts in the book are true, which I have no reason to believe they are not, Jordan was a complete a** hole

The bottom line about Abe Pollin is that this world would be a better place with more people like him.

dobrojim · Post #18 » by **dobrojim** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:17 pm

I wish Abe nothing but the best.

About the only thing I can think of currently on which to criticize
mgmt/ownership is the prohibition on bringing food into the Phone
Booth. I understand why they do it. For money, and that's certainly
their prerogative. The thing that bothers me is the claim that it is
done for our safety. Puh-leaze.

But Abe is a class act. It would be a great story for the team
to play some inspired ball and bring it back home for at least
one more game.

Kanyewest · Post #19 » by **Kanyewest** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:15 pm

dandridge 10 wrote:I think a lot of the criticism of Abe has been unwarranted. Most of the bad decisions that were made by the Bullets/Wizards were not made by him, but were made by people below him. I think the only legitimate criticism of Abe was he was loyal to a fault. However, I have never viewed loyalty as bad quality.

And Abe Pollin associated himself with those people. He hired them and continue to pay them even though their actions were incompetent. Loyalty can be a fault when you fail to look what's going on in the outside world. Pollin also took a long time upgrade the team's facilities, team's scouting, executive office, and medical staff. The Washington franchise could have certainly used a more visionary owner.

I agree Abe Pollin was not all that bad because he did build a new stadium in Chinatown. He also did a great amount of charity work. But at this point, he is not known for being shrewd in what's best for this franchise.

Post #20 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:26 pm

AAEXPRESS wrote:Abe Pollin has been a class act, I am in agreement that the Organization and the league should do something to honor him while he is still able to appreciate it.

That's an excellent idea. It would be the right thing to do, and it would be good for the community.

Very nice article by Mike Wise.