RIP Abe Pollin

Ted Leonsis  breaks down why Abe Pollin (the recently deceased owner of the Washington Wizards) was so important to the city of Washington:

“He was the catalyst … that revitalized the surrounding area,” said Ted Leonsis, who bought the Capitals from Pollin and was supposed to assume the Wizards whenever and however Pollin’s ownership ended. “Anyone walking down 7th Street, seeing the throngs of excited fans, the host of popular restaurants, hotels and nightspots, can attest to the lasting legacy of Mr. Pollin’s deep commitment to D.C.”

It’s really stunning how far this part of the city (where I live) has come in the last 20 years. I mean, it’s shocking. For before and after pictures just check this out: downtown DC went from parking-lot-infested wasteland to a beacon of hope for a beleaguered city all because of the MCI Center (now known as the Verizon Center) that he built with his own money (as opposed to getting public funding as most owners do). I’m not a Wizards fan, but I’m definitely an Abe Pollin fan for all he did for the city.