Are the Wizards still a mom-and-pop organization?

[TGW]

I'm just curious to see what people's opinions on this lie.

I've been arguing with a buddy of mine, and I told him that the Wizards are ran no differently than how Abe Pollin ran the team. He was trying to argue that Leonsis is more "progressive" and has a better vision for the team than Abe did. I disagreed...I said that Leonsis is just better at marketing and that's it.

What do you guys think?

[80sballboy]

I'm certainly not on the Ted bandwagon but he was wiling to spend for Durant and Horford, not just for guys like Anderson and I guess Noah. Just wouldn't overpay for most of the guys out there save for Mahimni, who as a starting center was paid about right for the market, but is expected to be a backup. The fact that he's getting a practice facility from the city but only paying a small portion shows he's very Abe-like except for one thing-Abe paid for the Verizon Center. So he might even be more mom and pop than Abe who finally started to spend at the end (Ted is also a lot wealthier).

http://deadspin.com/washington-d-c-makes-sure-no-billionaire-sports-team-1762288690

[Kanyewest]

I voted no, they are still incompetent in many ways but I wouldn't use that exact phrasing to describe it.

[montestewart]

I'm certainly not on the Ted bandwagon but he was wiling to spend for Durant and Horford, not just for guys like Anderson and I guess Noah. Just wouldn't overpay for most of the guys out there save for Mahimni, who as a starting center was paid about right for the market, but is expected to be a backup. The fact that he's getting a practice facility from the city but only paying a small portion shows he's very Abe-like except for one thing-Abe paid for the Verizon Center. So he might even be more mom and pop than Abe who finally started to spend at the end (Ted is also a lot wealthier).

http://deadspin.com/washington-d-c-makes-sure-no-billionaire-sports-team-1762288690

Even when an owner pays to build a stadium or arena, the public pays. The city donated land and made other contributions to Verizon Center valued at the time at $70 million, and later contributed $50 million to upgrade Verizon Center. Businesses in DC (including freelancers, like my wife) pay a "franchise tax" that goes largely to subsidize these giveaways. But Leonsis is much better at this game. His proposed contribution to the new practice facility is less than 10%.

Given the new national revenue available to all teams, and the greater percentage going to owners (Leonsis' was a key player there) Terd has plenty of money to spend. Going after Durant might have changed my view, had they not looked so bush league about it. I'm voting mom-and-pop. A very greedy mom-and-pop.

[Rafael122]

Mom and pop to me screams cheap. I don't think Ted is cheap, dude shelled out close to $300 million in contracts this offseason. Meanwhile it wasn't until Jordan came in that players stopped staying in two star hotels and got upgraded air travel.

[AFM]

It's a pop and pop organization. Terd and Ernie aka Terdie are just two regular pops

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Mom and poop.

At least Abe was a good person.

[fishercob]

crappy =/= "Mom and Pop." As an organization, the Wizards are all too corporate. So, no. They just suck.

[pineappleheadindc]

Mom and pop to me screams cheap. I don't think Ted is cheap, dude shelled out close to $300 million in contracts this offseason. Meanwhile it wasn't until Jordan came in that players stopped staying in two star hotels and got upgraded air travel.

I'm kind of where Rafael is. If you mean "mom and pop" by cheap, not sure that you can make that case -- urnial cakes are EXPENSIVE!

But if you mean mom and pop by amateur-like results, yup -- Wiz are still mom and pop.

[BigA]

Mom and pop to me screams cheap. I don't think Ted is cheap, dude shelled out close to $300 million in contracts this offseason. Meanwhile it wasn't until Jordan came in that players stopped staying in two star hotels and got upgraded air travel.

I'm kind of where Rafael is. If you mean "mom and pop" by cheap, not sure that you can make that case -- urnial cakes are EXPENSIVE!

But if you mean mom and pop by amateur-like results, yup -- Wiz are still mom and pop.

Right, it depends on what you mean. The perception of the Pollin-owned Bullets-Wizards as "mom and pop" was based on things like the unwillingness to spend money (although I think Abe Pollin's bad rep was to some extent undeserved there), goofy amateurism, and strong loyalty to longtime members of the "family," Wes Unseld in particular.

The current era is quite different in terms of the atmospherics. Ted's public demeanor related to the team is marked by a kind of faux-sophisticated arrogance of a self-styled management guru.

The interesting question is whether the Ted era Wizards are perceived around the league as being more competently run than they were in the Pollin era. Maybe the poll should have another choice "not mom and pop but still not any good."

[montestewart]

Mom and pop to me screams cheap. I don't think Ted is cheap, dude shelled out close to $300 million in contracts this offseason. Meanwhile it wasn't until Jordan came in that players stopped staying in two star hotels and got upgraded air travel.

I'm kind of where Rafael is. If you mean "mom and pop" by cheap, not sure that you can make that case -- urnial cakes are EXPENSIVE!

But if you mean mom and pop by amateur-like results, yup -- Wiz are still mom and pop.

Right, it depends on what you mean. The perception of the Pollin-owned Bullets-Wizards as "mom and pop" was based on things like the unwillingness to spend money (although I think Abe Pollin's bad rep was to some extent undeserved there), goofy amateurism, and strong loyalty to longtime members of the "family," Wes Unseld in particular.

The current era is quite different in terms of the atmospherics. Ted's public demeanor related to the team is marked by a kind of faux-sophisticated arrogance of a self-styled management guru.

The interesting question is whether the Ted era Wizards are perceived around the league as being more competently run than they were in the Pollin era. Maybe the poll should have another choice "not mom and pop but still not any good."

When Pollin died, I think he was one of the the longest tenured NBA owners (if not the longest tenured), and he apparently had some cheap spending habits left over from the old days. MJ schooled him a bit on that. But give Pollin credit for where he did spend money. He coughed up more dough than most owners do to build an arena, and whether you like the moves or not, he coughed up $160 million to retain Arenas and Jamison.

I agree that the "cheap" reputation is a bit exaggerated, and I don't think Leonsis comes off well in comparison to Pollin. Is Leonsis really that much freer with his money, or does he just have more money to spend from the new TV contract, the bigger slice of NBA revenue (that he fought hard for) and the cap space that he emptied out to get impact players the team failed to land? I'll bet he gets cheaper if this boycott ever goes anywhere (not holding my breath).

[FAH1223]

6 years in and yes, it's still mom and pop because Ted is doing exactly what Abe did.

He's letting an incompetent person run the team. And he will never fire him.

[nate33]

No. A mom and pop organization means well but just lacks the sophistication and resources to get the job done properly.

This team is now run by professionals. Unfortunately, they're professionals with the goal of making money and squeezing the fan base dry. Whether or not they win games is purely coincidental.

[montestewart]

No. A mom and pop organization means well but just lacks the sophistication and resources to get the job done properly.

This team is now run by professionals. Unfortunately, they're professionals with the goal of making money and squeezing the fan base dry. Whether or not they win games is purely coincidental.

Good point. More like Dr. Evil than mom and pop (moms and pops may vary)

[closg00]

Michael Jordon was right when he said the Wizards were and a
Mom n Pop org, what has Ted changed really? How-many years combined have Wes and Ernie run the Wizards?

[gtn130]

I voted no, they are still incompetent in many ways but I wouldn't use that exact phrasing to describe it.

This is how I feel.

[TheBabyMaker]

Man we suck. SERIOUSLY

[montestewart]

Maybe it isn't a mom n pop
But it definitely isn't the cream of the crop
Seems more like a mismanaged flop
Whatever you call it, just make it stop

[Ed Wood]

Not my pejorative of choice, no.

[AFM]

Let's leave the moms and dads out of this

Terdie doesn't deserve being compared to loving parents. They're more like a single alcoholic dad who bangs hookers in front of the kids