“Believe in yourself. Believe in your own potential for greatness. Believe that you can change the world. It is something that is within each of us.”
– Evan Tanner 1971-2008
Created 11/29/08. This blog is a 100% independent blog that is not run by, sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with any other web site, organization, corporation, or entity. All views & opinions expressed in the blog are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of any other person or organization. All rights reserved. For entertainment purposes only.
All predictions for sports or MMA events made by the author are also for entertainment and fantasy sports game purposes only and should not be used as the basis for any real-life betting/wagering.
A little over an hour ago, the news broke that Abe Pollin, longtime owner of Washington Sports And Entertainment, which included Verizon Center, the NBA’s Washignton Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, and the old Capital Centre/USAir Arena (now an outdoor shopping center), is dead. Pollin died earlier this afternoon in his suburban Washington, DC home. He was 85.
I admittedly poked fun at him because of the Wiz and their performance in recent years by calling him “Dishonest Abe”, but he was a great man who did a lot for the Washington, DC area. He and his wife Irene were very active in the community and did a lot of charity work, and Pollin is in the B’nai Brith Hall Of Fame (I think that’s what it’s called), which recognizes outstanding contributions from Jewish-Americans. I have very fond memories of Capital Centre, attending many Capitals games as a child with my father (great times those were) and one Wizards game back when they were the Bullets, as well as other events. I only have been to one event at Verizon Center (a Georgetown baketball game years ago) but it really set off an amazing revitalization of downtown Washington in and around the Chinatown section of the city. And although I didn’t always agree with his decisions running the Wizards, I still admired his dedication, he wanted to own the team until they won another NBA Championship (their last and only one to date was in 1978). He also was very active with Abe’s Kitchen, his charity that helped provide meals and other services to the needy in the city.
The Wizards will host Philadelphia and old coach Eddie Jordan tonight, it’ll be the first time in a very long time, if not ever, that Pollin won’t own the team or probably be there to watch…a testament to the legacy of a great man. He will be very greatly missed.
Thanks for many great memories and for all you did for us and the area, Abe. We’ll always be very grateful. R.I.P. and God Bless…
UPDATE: The funeral will be Friday (November 27) in Washington. A public service is planned for December 8 in Washington, possibly at Verizon Center, the arena that essentially was his life’s lottery ticket. He gambled everything he had on it, paying for it completely out of his own pocket, in the hopes it would revitalize downtown DC like it did. As for the Wizards and Washington Sports & Entertainment, ownership is TBA but it’s likely going to wind up with Caps owner Ted Leonsis, who has/had right of first refusal aka first chance to buy the Wizards when Pollin died or retired.
Try telling that to Toronto Maple Leafs D Mike Komisarek. You have to look very carefully for it but in the clip below he had a puck go off his head in front of the Leafs’ net and past the goalie. OWN GOAL. But it counts only for Colorado. Here’s the clip:
I’m sure the last thing he wants to hear is the old entry theme for the wrestler Al Snow: “What Does Everybody Want? HEAD!” Let’s see if they play that when he returns to Colorado.
As seen and heard in this interview that, I presume, was done recently for the news program “Russia Today”. It’s in Russian but English dubbing has been provided. Most of it’s straightforward but there are some rather silly questions and responses that should elicit a few good laughs (especially from the 5-6 minute point!). The video’s after the jump, enjoy.
The past week-plus has really made me sick. Not just physically (as usual) but mentally, and especially with what’s been happening in the NBA, NHL, and more recently MMA. It seems to me that, at least during the postseason, sports isn’t doing what is in the best interest of the fans, but more like the ad execs who annoy us to death because of all the commercials, among other things. And I can’t stand that. Time to rant.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continued last night for several teams including my hometown Washington Capitals. Click below to read what unfortunately will be my final post on the Caps’ playoff run, last night’s Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7 between the Caps & Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Stanley Cup playoffs continue for a handful of teams including my hometown Washington Capitals. Click below to read my thoughts on last night’s Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 6 between the Caps and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Stanley Cup playoffs continue for several NHL teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Click below to read my thoughts on last night’s Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5 between the Caps and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue for several teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Click below to read my thoughts on last night’s Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4 between the Caps & Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue for several teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Click below to read my thoughts on last night’s Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3 between the Caps & Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue for several teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Click below to read my thoughts on last night’s Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 2 between the Caps & Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue for several teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Click below to read my thoughts on today’s Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 1 between the Caps & Pittsburgh Penguins.
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway for the playoff teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Throughout the playoffs I’ll offer my thoughts & observations on each Caps game after it’s over, today it’s last night’s all-or-nothing Game 7 between the Caps and the New York Rangers.
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway for the playoff teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Throughout the playoffs I’ll offer my thoughts & observations on each Caps game after it’s over, today it’s Game 6 between the Caps and the New York Rangers.
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway for the playoff teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Throughout the playoffs I’ll offer my thoughts & observations on each Caps game after it’s over, tonight it’s Game 5 between the Caps and the New York Rangers.
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway for the playoff teams, including my hometown Washington Capitals. Throughout the playoffs I’ll offer my thoughts & observations on each Caps game after it’s over, today it’s Game 4 between the Caps and the New York Rangers.
DCRage's Rants, Thoughts, & Other Stuff 