Atlanta Hawks Owner Bruce Levenson Sent Racist Email, Will Sell Team

The Atlanta Hawks will be sold after a 2012 racist email from owner Bruce Levenson recently surfaced.

Sep 07, 2014
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In a shocking development, Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Atlanta Hawks will be sold following the revelation that owner Bruce Levenson sent a racist email in 2012:

According to commissioner Adam Silver, Levenson self-reported the email in July as something that was "inappropriate and offensive," which prompted the league to launch an independent investigation. Levenson then informed Silver late last night of his intention to sell the team.

Following the fiasco with Donald Sterling, the NBA and Silver clearly have no patience for racism of any kind. Ownership is being held to a higher standard, and now it will be interesting to see who emerges in what will be yet another high-stakes bidding war for an NBA franchise.

Here are the complete statements from both Levenson and the NBA:

Levenson:


"Over the past several years, I've spent a lot of time grappling with low attendance at our games and the need for the Hawks to attract more season ticket holders and corporate sponsors. Over that time, I've talked with team executives about the need for the Hawks to build a more diverse fan base that includes more suburban whites, and I shared my thoughts on why our efforts to bridge Atlanta's racial sports divide seemed to be failing.


In trying to address those issues, I wrote an e-mail two years ago that was inappropriate and offensive. I trivialized our fans by making clichéd assumptions about their interests (i.e. hip hop vs. country, white vs. black cheerleaders, etc.) and by stereotyping their perceptions of one another (i.e. that white fans might be afraid of our black fans). By focusing on race, I also sent the unintentional and hurtful message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans.


If you're angry about what I wrote, you should be. I'm angry at myself, too. It was inflammatory nonsense. We all may have subtle biases and preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them.


I have said repeatedly that the NBA should have zero tolerance for racism, and I strongly believe that to be true. That is why I voluntarily reported my inappropriate e-mail to the NBA.


After much long and difficult contemplation, I have decided that it is in the best interests of the team, the Atlanta community, and the NBA to sell my controlling interest in the Hawks franchise.


Hawks CEO Steve Koonin will oversee all team operations and take all organizational reports as we proceed with the sale process.


I'm truly embarrassed by my words in that e-mail, and I apologize to the members of the Hawks family and all of our fans.


To the Hawks family and its fans, you have my deepest gratitude for the past ten years. Working with this team and its extraordinary executives, coaching staff, and players has been one of the highlights of my life. I am proud of our diverse, passionate, and growing legion of Hawks fans, and I will continue to join you in cheering for the best team in the NBA."

Silver:


"Following Bruce Levenson notifying the league office this July of his August 2012 email, the NBA commenced an independent investigation regarding the circumstances of Mr. Levenson's comments.


Prior to the completion of the investigation, Mr. Levenson notified me last evening that he had decided to sell his controlling interest in the Atlanta Hawks. As Mr. Levenson acknowledged, the views he expressed are entirely unacceptable and are in stark contrast to the core principles of the National Basketball Association. He shared with me how truly remorseful he is for using those hurtful words and how apologetic he is to the entire NBA family – fans, players, team employees, business partners and fellow team owners – for having diverted attention away from our game.


I commend Mr. Levenson for self-reporting to the league office, for being fully cooperative with the league and its independent investigator, and for putting the best interests of the Hawks, the Atlanta community, and the NBA first.


We will be working with the Hawks ownership group on the appropriate process for the sale of the team and I have offered our full support to Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, who will now oversee all team operations.


The NBA and its teams have long had in place anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies in order to facilitate respectful and diverse workplaces. Earlier this summer, the league re-doubled its efforts by, among other things, making it mandatory for all league and team personnel to receive annual training on these issues."

And here is an excerpt of Levenson's original email:


The full version is available here.

UPDATE:

Here is a statement just released by Hawks CEO Steve Koonin:


​To the City of Atlanta and Hawks Fans,


Today’s statement from Controlling Owner Bruce Levenson is extremely disappointing and the email that he sent over two years ago was alarming, offensive and most of all, completely unacceptable and does not reflect the principles and values of the Hawks organization. In partnership with the NBA, we will work to ensure that a new ownership team will be put in place that is united and committed to the Atlanta community.


Steve Koonin


CEO, Atlanta Hawks

[via @WojYahooNBA] 

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