Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 4:32 pm  |  20 responses

Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies, 85

by Lang Whitaker

Longtime Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin died today after a long battle with a rare brain disease. According to the Washington Post:

“Pollin was among the last of the old-school pro sports owners who ran his teams as a family business, shaped by his strong personality and his intense loyalties. His teams lost more than they won, and fans often criticized his personnel moves and his failure to spend more money, but Pollin invariably remained set in his ways.”

Pollin was 85 years old.

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  • Ben Osborne Posted: Nov.24 at 4:35 pm
    RIP. Les Boulez forever.

  • 360vue Posted: Nov.24 at 4:36 pm
    RIP fighter

  • Hussman25 Posted: Nov.24 at 4:39 pm
    RIP Mr. Polin; im not from DC, but I have a profound respect for their city and sports teams… to me Mr Polin was the best Owner of all the sports teams in that city (even with the questionable contracts dished out to his players). Especially after he changed the name of the Bullets to the Wizards… That took guts!

  • JD Posted: Nov.24 at 4:40 pm
    RIP Abe

  • JE Posted: Nov.24 at 4:41 pm
    I never knew he was so old. But then again, all I really knew was the name. RIP.

  • Jo-Jo Baby Posted: Nov.24 at 4:45 pm
    R.I.P. Abe, thanks for giving MJ some ownership and stuff.

  • Cheryl Posted: Nov.24 at 4:47 pm
    I’m in DC now, spending time with the fam, and you’d think a head of state just passed. RIP, Mr. DC.

  • Brad Long Posted: Nov.24 at 4:52 pm
    Thank God you changed the pic, this one is alot better. R.I.P.

  • Dr. West Posted: Nov.24 at 5:07 pm
    I hope this will cause the Wizards to bond together since their Dad just passed away. RIP Abe, you’ve never been a great owner but a respectable human being nonetheless

  • Hoodsnake Posted: Nov.24 at 5:10 pm
    RIP

  • OneSun Posted: Nov.24 at 5:19 pm
    SLAM apparently pre-empted this tradgedy with their post yesterday ‘Somehow, things about to worsen in DC’.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.24 at 5:19 pm
    RIP Abe.

  • piedie Posted: Nov.24 at 6:54 pm
    rest in peace…

  • nastierthanu Posted: Nov.24 at 10:03 pm
    Man dc is a dangerous place to ball. I wouldn’t mind having a brick n the ymca with my name on it. To leave a legacy like a franchise is a impressive. RIP

  • LebronGOAT Posted: Nov.24 at 10:13 pm
    R.I.P Abe.

  • Tzvi Twersky Posted: Nov.24 at 11:24 pm
    RIP to Mr. Pollin. Bill Davidson and him in the same year, that’s almost too much.

  • Jack Posted: Nov.25 at 5:15 am
    R.I.P. Mr. Pollin.

  • rav Posted: Nov.25 at 5:23 am
    from what i know he built the arena out of his own money instead of running to the local governments and threatening to move if they dont cater to them like many other owners – for that he deserves all of our respects. RIP

  • Trout Posted: Nov.25 at 6:55 am
    I hope this serves as a wake up call to all those ball players who take their positon for granted. Not sharing the ball, lack of defense … who cares!Recognize here are more important things in life to really get upset about. The world is poorer for the loss of this good man there are only a few left RIP Abe.

  • Danny W UK Posted: Nov.25 at 7:45 am
    RIP Abe, he did it his way. David Aldridge wrote a great piece on nba.com. http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/david_aldridge/11/24/pollin.obit/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

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