Abe Pollin
Encyclopedia
Abe Pollin was the owner of a number of professional sports
teams including the Washington Capitals
in the National Hockey League
(NHL), the Washington Mystics
in the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA), and the Washington Wizards
in the National Basketball Association
(NBA). Pollin was the longest-tenured owner of an NBA team, holding the Packers/Zephyrs/Bullets/Wizards franchise for 46 years.
Abe Pollin is a member of the Levy family as well. A successful construction contractor in the Washington area, he headed an investment group that bought the then Baltimore Bullets
in 1964. He moved the team to the Washington area in 1973 after building the Capital Centre
. In 1996, Pollin announced that he was changing the team's name because he felt the name "Bullets" had too many negative connotations. "Our slogan used to be 'Faster than a speeding bullet,' but that is no longer appropriate," Pollin told the press. A "name-the-team" contest yielded the name "Wizards."
Beginning in 2002, an award called "The Pollin Award" has been awarded annually in his honor. People are chosen for the Pollin Award based on their dedication to the Washington DC community and the impact they have on it. Winners of the award have included Georgia M. Dickens, 2002 Executive Director, The S.T.E.P.U.P. Foundation Of Greater Washington, D.C. Inc., Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.
, 2005 Teacher of the Year, Jason Kamras
and 2006 Miss District of Columbia
, Kate Michael
.
On December 3, 2003, a party was held in honor of Abe Pollin's 80th birthday at the Verizon Center
. A slideshow was presented about the history of Abe's career as owner of the Bullets/Wizards. Tony Bennett
also performed during the festivities as the guest entertainer. Celebrites such as Jackie Mason
and the late Tim Russert
, although Mason actually performed for Abe.
Pollin died on November 24, 2009, of corticobasal degeneration
, a rare brain disease.
He had made donations totaling $3 million toward finding a cure for the disease.
Kercheck) were married on June 10, 1945 in Washington, DC.
of his company, Washington Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Wizards and the Verizon Center
, amongst other entertainment interests. He was also the builder and owner of the Capital Centre
, former home of the Washington Bullets (Now Wizards) and Capitals. Irene was co-owner of the Washington Wizards along with the Verizon Center.
for 45 years. December 3 became "Abe Pollin Day" by order of the mayor of Washington D.C.
On March 9, 2009, Pollin was inducted into the George Washington University
School of Business Sports Executives Hall of Fame. In March 2011, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Pollin's building and financing of the Verizon Center
is often given credit for revitalizing Downtown Washington, D.C.
The Verizon Center
block of F Street NW is named "Abe Pollin Way" in his honor. The Irene Apartments at 4701 Willard Ave, Chevy Chase, Maryland
, were built by Abe and named after his wife.
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
teams including the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL), the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA), and the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). Pollin was the longest-tenured owner of an NBA team, holding the Packers/Zephyrs/Bullets/Wizards franchise for 46 years.
Biography
Pollin was born on December 3, 1923 to Mr. and Mrs. Morris Pollin. When he was 8, Pollin's family moved to the Washington area from Philadelphia. Pollin graduated from The George Washington University in 1945 and took a job with his family’s construction company for 12 years. The Pollins launched their own construction company in 1957.Abe Pollin is a member of the Levy family as well. A successful construction contractor in the Washington area, he headed an investment group that bought the then Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in 1964. He moved the team to the Washington area in 1973 after building the Capital Centre
Capital Centre
The Capital Centre was an indoor arena located in Landover, Maryland, unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland; a suburb of Washington, D.C. Completed in 1973, the arena sat 18,756 for basketball and 18,130 for hockey....
. In 1996, Pollin announced that he was changing the team's name because he felt the name "Bullets" had too many negative connotations. "Our slogan used to be 'Faster than a speeding bullet,' but that is no longer appropriate," Pollin told the press. A "name-the-team" contest yielded the name "Wizards."
Beginning in 2002, an award called "The Pollin Award" has been awarded annually in his honor. People are chosen for the Pollin Award based on their dedication to the Washington DC community and the impact they have on it. Winners of the award have included Georgia M. Dickens, 2002 Executive Director, The S.T.E.P.U.P. Foundation Of Greater Washington, D.C. Inc., Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.
Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.
Colonel Harvey Curtiss Barnum, Jr. , is a retired United States Marine Corps officer who received the Medal of Honor for valor during the Vietnam War. He was the fourth Marine to receive the medal for valor in Vietnam. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1989 after more than 27 years of service...
, 2005 Teacher of the Year, Jason Kamras
Jason Kamras
Jason Kamras was selected as the 2005 National Teacher of the Year. He is the Chief of the Office of Human Capital and former director of human capital strategy for teachers in D.C. Public Schools, and was an adviser on education policy to the Barack Obama presidential campaign...
and 2006 Miss District of Columbia
Miss District of Columbia
The Miss District of Columbia competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the District of Columbia in the Miss America pageant. The District has twice won the title of Miss America....
, Kate Michael
Kate Michael
Kate Michael, from Lilburn, Georgia, holds the Miss District of Columbia 2006 title. Michael succeeded Shannon Schambeau as Miss D.C. on July 1, 2006 and also competed in the Miss America 2007 pageant held January 29, 2007.-Education:...
.
On December 3, 2003, a party was held in honor of Abe Pollin's 80th birthday at the Verizon Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
. A slideshow was presented about the history of Abe's career as owner of the Bullets/Wizards. Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
also performed during the festivities as the guest entertainer. Celebrites such as Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason is an American stand-up comedian and movie actor.-Early life:Born Yacov Moshe Maza in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City....
and the late Tim Russert
Tim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
, although Mason actually performed for Abe.
Pollin died on November 24, 2009, of corticobasal degeneration
Corticobasal degeneration
Corticobasal degeneration or Corticobasal Ganglionic Degeneration is a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease involving the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia. It is characterized by marked disorders in movement and cognitive dysfunction...
, a rare brain disease.
He had made donations totaling $3 million toward finding a cure for the disease.
Personal
Pollin and his wife, Irene Lee (néeMarried and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Kercheck) were married on June 10, 1945 in Washington, DC.
Holdings
Abe Pollin was the chairman of the board, chief executive, and the majority shareholderShareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
of his company, Washington Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Wizards and the Verizon Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
, amongst other entertainment interests. He was also the builder and owner of the Capital Centre
Capital Centre
The Capital Centre was an indoor arena located in Landover, Maryland, unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland; a suburb of Washington, D.C. Completed in 1973, the arena sat 18,756 for basketball and 18,130 for hockey....
, former home of the Washington Bullets (Now Wizards) and Capitals. Irene was co-owner of the Washington Wizards along with the Verizon Center.
Accomplishments and honors
Pollin owned the Washington WizardsWashington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
for 45 years. December 3 became "Abe Pollin Day" by order of the mayor of Washington D.C.
On March 9, 2009, Pollin was inducted into the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
School of Business Sports Executives Hall of Fame. In March 2011, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Pollin's building and financing of the Verizon Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
is often given credit for revitalizing Downtown Washington, D.C.
Downtown Washington, D.C.
Downtown is a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., as well as a colloquial name for the central business district in the northwest quadrant of the city. Geographically, the area extends roughly five to six blocks west, northwest, north, northeast, and east of the White House...
The Verizon Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
block of F Street NW is named "Abe Pollin Way" in his honor. The Irene Apartments at 4701 Willard Ave, Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
, were built by Abe and named after his wife.