Abe Pollin, 85, the Washington sports entrepreneur who owned the Wizards basketball team and the Capitals hockey team, died Tuesday.
- Washington Post
about 2 years ago
Becca H
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Washington sports fans owe Abe a huge debt for what’s he’s done to bring pro sports to the city. Condolences to his family.
Agreed. RIP Abe.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 24, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
Thank you for everything, Mr. Pollin.
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by winterion on Nov 24, 2009 4:28 PM EST via mobile reply actions
On be half of all capital fans we thank you for bringing and keeping this franchise in DC.
On a side note, does anyone know if Ted can finally get full control of VC?
Ted has first right of refusal on all of Abe’s properties, iirc (I feel a little morbid discussing it right now)
Your right, lets honor a great man and leave this matter to be sorted out later(Hopefully in ted’s favor).
This topic will make for interesting discussion in tomorrow’s Caps Clips…
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Nov 25, 2009 2:21 AM EST up reply actions
Just think, he built TWO arenas with his own money. The second when the city was broke and everyone thought he was nuts for building something downtown. Hard to imagine what the Gallery Place area would be like today had he not done that.
I always marvel at what has become of Chinatown since the construction of the Verizon Center. It’s probably the most important piece of public work in the city over the last, what 20 (50?) years. How many jobs were created and life’s changed by his generosity and vision.
RIP Mr. Pollin
DC, where Hockey is a baffling ordeal.
by Chris meet Alex on Nov 24, 2009 5:04 PM EST up reply actions
Pollin Quarter
It’s worth a moment to really remember what chinablock was like before Mr. Pollin (‘he must be losing it’) bypassed the public trough and built the Booth. Nick and Stef’s was most of your pregame options, unless you were a crackhead or a john. I believe the Spy Museum, or so, was a peep show arcade.
May the almighty forgive me for wanting to name a huge VC dehumidifier after the man: I will also continue to respect Abe Pollin as a civic hero to a town that right needed one.
I never met the man. There have been a lot of days where I thought he didn’t care about hockey as much as he should have. but………
Heck, we have hockey because of him, which is more than a lot of cities. We have a franchise with a lot of history and pride, one that welcomes everyone on the bandwagon. He hired GMGM and then sold the team to Ted. He took a chance with his own money and built an arena in Chiantown, now one of the most thriving neighborhoods in the city. He gave to those in need, he endowed and entire Boys and Girls Club. He loved DC, warts and all, and never stopped trying to make this city a better place. He made his fortune and never stopped giving back. Whatever the afterlife may be, he deserves a good one.
by RedBirdie on Nov 24, 2009 4:56 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
typed too fast…apologies, Pollin with two Ls.
by Natty Bumppo on Nov 24, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
Supranuclear Palsy, as I’ve said before, ranks really, really high on my list of ways not to go. I’m sad he’s gone, but I’m glad his suffering is over.
Rest now, Abe. Rest in peace.
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 24, 2009 6:22 PM EST reply actions
RIP Abe - thanks!
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 24, 2009 6:53 PM EST reply actions
Thank you, Mr. Pollin
I hope you’ll all indulge the length of this comment, but I think it’s important. I have lived in DC for my entire life, and I have a great deal of pride in that fact. I love this city dearly.
During a period of madness I watched as my city collapsed under dwindling population, corrupt government, appathetic federal involvement, and the plague of crack. In short, my town had become a national joke.
It was in this environment that Mr. Pollin decided to build the finest arena in sports in a bankrupt town with his own money. That gesture was a huge part, if not the largest part, of saving our city. It made it OK for other businesses to invest in the city. It brought people back to downtown. It was a huge gesture of faith in our town that made us feel that maybe we turned a corner.
Tonight, on my way home from work, I pulled over my car and wept for an old man who I’ve never met. I don’t care what his contributions to sports were, and in DC they were without measure, his contributions to my hometown were even greater.
On the night they opened the then MCI Center, the crowd in the upper deck spontaneously broke into a cheer for Mr. Pollin that I would like to end with here:
“Thank you, Abe.”
by Jonny Rod on Nov 24, 2009 7:43 PM EST reply actions 15 recs
I rec’d this for eloquence and fine sense of loss. Great tribute.
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 24, 2009 8:37 PM EST up reply actions
I’d post something, but you said it better than I could ever have.
Thanks Abe, for creating the Caps….
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 24, 2009 11:16 PM EST up reply actions
Thank you Abe, for all that you did for our city
Any man personally responsible for the financing of a $200 million building has a right to be proud, to pat himself on the back and crow about how wonderful his project is. When Wizards and Capitals owner Abe Pollin first began saying, “We’re building the best arena in professional sports,” my first response was to say, “Okay, Abe, it’ll be a great arena but let’s not get carried away.”
After yesterday afternoon’s guided tour, I’m done with the cynicism. Abe Pollin isn’t overstating the matter one bit.
Michael Wilbon, “A Center That Deserves Attention”, November 14, 1997
“I woke up at 4:45 this morning,” he said. "And I took the Metro down to the arena. I keep hearing how safe and easy it is but I wanted to find out for myself. It took 15 minutes from Bethesda. Then, the sun came out and after all the bad weather we’ve been having. I said, ‘The Good Lord is shining down on me.’
“Then tonight, I was walking around and citizens I’ve never met kept saying, ‘Thank you, Abe, for doing this for Washington, D.C.’ Somebody held up a sign that said, ‘We Love You, Abe’ and I’ve never seen anything like that before.
Abe Pollin, as quoted in the Washington Post, December 3, 1997
I don’t have much to add – you all nailed it. His is a presence that will be greatly missed in the community, and he will always be with us. In fact, probably none of you knows this, but he has been with us all along – the eye that is kpb’s avatar on the blog’s masthead is actually Abe’s.
Rest In Peace, Abe. And if you’ve got any pull up there, your baby hockey team could use it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 24, 2009 9:21 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Abe brought the Caps to the city against the odds, but DC would not be the same without the spark the Verizon Center provided. Does anyone remember driving down Mass Ave. from Dupont to Union Station? After 16th St. or so, it used to just be a derelict row of burnt out crack houses and neglected circles and parks. Now it’s one of the city’s most impressive stretches. All happened after Abe plopped down the phone booth right in the middle of that run. I used to work at the youth hostel at 11th and K, and would get approached by bums, hookers and drug dealers every night as I walked to work from Metro Center. Now the area is packed with gleaming office buildings, chic restaurants and expensive condos. DC’s rejuvenation started with Abe deciding to bring his teams downtown, and I now live in DC because he made it happen. Thanks, Abe.
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Washington
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|
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