Email to Bruce and response.

[atlsun]

Dear Bruce,


I got to say that I'm very mad about the lack of direction that the Hawks have had since the Atlanta Spirit became the owners. It's been a very long time since you guys brought Joe Johnson over in the trade. While I admit that I thought you guys gave up to much at the time, it did end up working out in the Hawks favor.

However, since then Billy Knight has failed to make this team better. It's not really a huge surprise. After all, his win/loss record as a GM has to be the worst of any GM in the league at the present time. However, it's the job of the owners to force changes if the team is not progressing and the Hawks are not doing that anywhere near fast enough.


Look how far Portland has come in such a short time. Being honest with you, I have to wonder if Seattle might become a good team before the Hawks get there. My confidence in this team and ownership has been severely shaken as this is the worst I've ever felt as a Hawks fan. That says alot considering I'm 27 and have been a fan of this team for over half of my life.

Good teams and good franchises find ways to make things happen and don't have to make excuses. Take a look at the move LA just made. They had a pretty good team before, now they have traded for Gasol while giving up very little. They want to win, so they get the deals done. Why can't the Hawks get deals done? I have to wonder if you guys really want to win. It sure doesn't look like it from where I'm standing.

I have to say that I don't think I can support this team anymore. There is no sign of hope or life. The players are lifeless, and there is not accountability at all in this franchise from what I can see. I can't watch teams like LA win titles and then rebuild their team into contenders again before the Hawks can even become a decent team.

Lastly, if you can't afford this team, maybe you should consider selling or giving the team up to somebody that can give the rest of the Hawk fans some hope because they deserve better than this.




Signed,
Unhappy Hawks fan


Response:


Brian,
Three facts you need to know:

1. I am more than twice your age.
2. I have been a winner my entire life.
3. I have never bought anything I couldn't afford.

I spend every day focused on turning the Hawks into a championship
caliber team with quality players that I and the fans of Atl will be proud
to be associated with.

I will get the job done.

Best, Bruce.


Thumbs up from a hawks fan hawksmanic.

[betta1]

How does he know he's twice your age?

[dms269]

How does he know he's twice your age?

He said he was 27 in the letter.

[betta1]

Wow. I should not hit reply early in the morning. Banning myself before noon from now on.

[BAMABIRD]

-= original quote snipped =-



He said he was 27 in the letter.

lmao! did he read the letter

[gsuteke]

1. I am more than twice your age.

So is half the homeless population in the United States. What's your point?

2. I have been a winner my entire life.

Are we talking about chutes and ladders or sports here?

3. I have never bought anything I couldn't afford.

So how come there are like 10 of you lame brains that call youself owners? What is the ASG, a freaking commune? Do you guys grow your own vegetables in your "collective" backyard?

[betta1]

-= original quote snipped =-

lmao! did he read the letter

Take it easy

[jagstang76]

GSU, you obviously don't believe Bruce's respond is genuine. If in fact it is (which I have no reason to doubt atlsun), I would say that he is very serious about this team. First, he says he's been a fan of the team long enough to know how atlsun feels and probably has been through more. Second, the fact that he's been a winner in business his whole life to get to the point where he can be a part of this ownership group says a lot about how he hates losing. I'll bet he is more competitive than anyone else here, or maybe we'd be in his shoes. Third, I don't think he's afraid to spend money. Their hands are tied somewhat by the whole Belkin deal, but he must be ready to put the resources into making this team competitive. His last two statements should be enough for you alone. He remains focused and determined to make this team better. What more can he say?

Nothing.

IMO, Bruce and the other owners need to push BK hard to make a move. If they are in fact serious about making this team better, they have to make this mule of a GM get off his ego trip and do what's right for the team. I know things aren't as easy as they seem to us fans, but it's not about being able to make a deal happen. It's about being willing to see the bigger picture of how certain actions, or lack there of, might effect the morale of the team and the fans. Do you wonder what's wrong with JJ? From the beginning of the season, he was stating his displeasure with the lack of progress this team has made in bringing in talent. It sends a bad message to your players when you aren't doing more than status quo to improve their team.

I've already said this on another thread, but if BK and ASG are serious about making this team more competitive, they have to do something before the trade deadline this season. If not, we will have NO opportunities to improve for another 1 1/2 years. And that could hurt this team far more than questionable coaching.

[atlsun]

jagstang76, I didn't write the letter hawksmanic did. Bet you didn't see that coming. I got this from hawksquawk.

By the way I am not 27, I just turned 20.

[atlsun]

So how come there are like 10 of you lame brains that call youself owners? What is the ASG, a freaking commune? Do you guys grow your own vegetables in your "collective" backyard?

rolf, "vegetables in your "collective" backyard" well they are trying to cut costs.

[HMFFL]

Thank you for sharing atlsun.

Bruce could easily turn things around on hawksmanic and question his loyalty too the team. It's not like Bruce has owned the team for 10 years. The ASG has had to face a rebuilding period, a time when Joe was the only star wanting to play here, and now they're trying to move forward from the past. While the majority of the fans can agree Billy has not fully put the best talent on the court, I do know he's added some good talent that's going to move this franchise towards the right direction, and now it's time to for the ASG to question Woody's coaching ability.

I'd like to think that Billy's on the phone trying to improve this team as often as possible. Bruce wants to make money along with the rest of the owners, so they're also going to look to improve this team, and at some points I feel a trade will come.

Also take into consideration they may feel it's best to wait until Josh Smith signs his extension this off season. I truly believe if a extnesion happened during the off season, the ASG would fully know what to expect our cap to look like, and they could go after someone like Andre Miller.

Speaking of Andre, I would love for us to acquire him now, so he can learn the system and form some chemistry with the rest of the team going into the final year of his contract next season. I also believe Andre is better suited to help Acie Law compared to Tyronn Lue and Speedy. However, it's going to cost some of our future to acquire him, and I doubt Philly's desperate at this point to move him (Maybe next year).

[JoshB914]

I bet Bruce regrets trying to make contact with the fans and posting on this board. Ever since then people want to make threads speaking directly to him simply because they know he reads it. In short, they are taking advantage of him for trying to get to know the fans. This always happens and is why owners are so tight lipped.

[HMFFL]

I bet Bruce regrets trying to make contact with the fans and posting on this board. Ever since then people want to make threads speaking directly to him simply because they know he reads it. In short, they are taking advantage of him for trying to get to know the fans. This always happens and is why owners are so tight lipped.

I hope Bruce doesn't feel that way at all. The entire ASG group accepted the baggage of the past the minute they signed the contract to purchase the franchise. I look at it as constructed criticism for the ASG. This city has ignored the Hawks mistakes for years and it's time for the fans to speak out.

The Sports talk shows are fast to criticize the Hawks. However, they censor the callers and only allow the PG callers to ask the Hawks representatives questions. It's not like Billy or any of them want to go on the radio and have to hear frustrated fans speak out.

[JoshB914]

Yes but Bruce posts on this board, and magically we have threads directly addressed to him (I bet a lot didn't even know who he was before). Coincidence? I think not.

[Lue_4_MVP]

I bet Bruce regrets trying to make contact with the fans and posting on this board. Ever since then people want to make threads speaking directly to him simply because they know he reads it. In short, they are taking advantage of him for trying to get to know the fans. This always happens and is why owners are so tight lipped.

With the bull that Hawks fans have to put up with, it's the least they could do..

[BMF Jet Jaguar]

who is he on the board?

[atlsun]

^ he goes under the name of "nightlight"

[HMFFL]

Yes but Bruce posts on this board, and magically we have threads directly addressed to him (I bet a lot didn't even know who he was before). Coincidence? I think not.

I really don't see the big deal necessary. I would understand if it's getting out of hand, however it's not, and the fans here are just voicing their opinion. Now if we had Bruce threads all over the board I would do something about that. For the most part I believe Hawk fans are being respectful.

Take into consideration what Hawk fans have had to deal with over the years. We still don't have a true contender on the floor night out and there are still many holes that need to be filled before we get there.

Hawks fans are not at fault for the lack of responsibility when it came down to the court papers. I believe many Hawk fans could be more heated and directly stronger opinions towards the entire ASG group. It's just we are sitting here and basically having to put up with the "what ifs" with the past, present and future of this organization.

We don't know how far the ASG is willing to go to put a contender on the court. They've never informed the fans if they will truly exceed the salary cap and if they do how far they're willing to go.

I'm glad Bruce is willing to respond to Hawk fans and offer discounts to us on this site. Bruce along with everyone part of the organization needs to be able to handle the opinions of the fans and know how to deal with it. I believe Bruce responded well, it's not like he's going to inform one fan of all the future plans, but it would be nice to hear from this organization more. The ASG needed to get the respect of the fans the minute they signed the ownership papers and I don't think they've done a good job at it.

[atlsun]

^ Great post hmffl. I think thats how 99% of the fans feel about the hawks and their ownership. We are in the fourth year of the rebuilding project and we have yet to solidify ourselves as a playoff team, and yeah we haven't really exceeded the cap because the ownership refuses to make a big move. We have all the resources necessary to make a move but ownership has to ask its self what they want to do with this team. Do they want to run this thing cheap or do they wanna make a move to make this team a force to be reckoned with.

When I say a move I don't mean a sideways move like Aj for a second rounder or John Barry for T-Lue I mean a real good move to get a high quality player, a border line all star type player eg Andre Miller.

[atlsun]

who is he on the board?

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?topic=745947