A spirited anniversary By TIM TUCKER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 04/02/06 On Friday morning — two years to the day that Atlanta Spirit closed on its purchase of the Hawks and Thrashers — three members of the team's ownership group sat in the otherwise empty Philips Arena stands, answering a reporter's questions. Bruce Levenson, Ed Peskowitz and Michael Gearon Jr. had a lot to say about the teams and a little to say about their ongoing feud with estranged partner Steve Belkin. AJC: Two years ago today, you bought the teams. Levenson: "Time flies when you're having fun." AJC: Knowing all that you know now, would you do it again? Levenson: "I would do it again. I would do it differently." AJC: How? Levenson: "I think people will understand what I mean by that." AJC: Your assessment of the state of the Hawks? Levenson: "The people I talk to around the NBA that I hold in high regard tell me that we are closer [to being a winner] than probably I realize. . . . We added two very important pieces last year, Joe Johnson and Zaza Pachulia. Joe Johnson has been all that we hoped for and more." Peskowitz: "Compare Zaza to [last year's No. 1 draft pick Andrew] Bogut. They're in the same age bracket, play the same position; their numbers are comparable. And I think Zaza has greater upside." Levenson: "So in that first year, at the height of the dysfunctionality of the ownership group, that's what we were able to accomplish on the basketball side — adding two long-term valuable pieces. There's more work to do." AJC: Do you regret passing on Chris Paul in last year's draft? Gearon: "I think it's extremely easy after the fact to evaluate in every draft players you could or should have taken. . . . Marvin [Williams, whom the Hawks picked ahead of Paul] is going to be a great pro. He has gotten better every month." AJC: What is the Hawks' top priority this summer, point guard or center? Gearon: "Resolve the lawsuit with Belkin." Levenson: Billy [Knight, Hawks general manager] is, as you know, a very secretive guy. I'm a journalist by profession, I like accessibility, I like full disclosure, that's part of my DNA, but I've come to understand how important it is [in sports] to keep that stuff to yourself." AJC: How do you feel about the job [Hawks coach] Mike Woodson has done this season? Levenson: "I think it's a really hard question. I think Woody has grown with this team this year. Last year he was clearly a rookie NBA head coach, but he has grown with this team, has created a bond with his players." Gearon: "The biggest challenge is he's a young coach, and with a young coach you go through growing pains." Levenson: "There were times this season when we talked to our GM about Woody and his position as coach, and we also sought advice from people outside our team. And the advice we got was (a) be patient, (b) this guy is a consummate professional who works very hard, and (c) you have the youngest team in NBA history so you've got to understand that." Gearon: "[Earlier this season], without a doubt, there were a lot of questions. We all talked about what would make this team better. We challenged [Knight] on a lot of things, and he did his analysis, and he came back to us and gave us a lot of strong reasons to continue to be committed to Woody, and that's what we did. . . . We made a public commitment to support the coach, and after that the kids played a lot better." AJC: You've said that, regardless of whether the Thrashers make the playoffs, [coach] Bob Hartley and [general manager] Don Waddell will be back next season. Levenson: "Yes." AJC: Similarly, have you decided that Woodson and Knight will be back? Levenson: "Nobody has asked me that question, and we haven't had that conversation [among the owners]. That is a conversation we have had with regard to Don and Bob, and we have thoroughly vetted that conversation." Gearon: "I think the difference — the reason we've discussed that with hockey more than basketball right now — is hockey is farther along in the development process and the expectations are higher. The reality is if [goalie] Kari [Lehtonen] had been healthy at the start of season, we wouldn't be fighting for a playoff berth, we'd be fighting for a top seed. So we had that conversation. It's not something we've been worried about [recently] with basketball." AJC: Do you have any doubt whether hockey can succeed in Atlanta as a business? Levenson: "I have no doubts." Peskowitz: "Winning is everything — the on-court product, the on-ice product." Levenson: "Our model [in hockey] is Tampa. Look at what they're doing in terms of gate receipts. It's working. It's working in a much smaller market." AJC: Do you worry that when the legal dispute [with Belkin] plays out, you might not own the teams? Levenson: "It's inconceivable to me." 資料來源 http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/stories/0402sptbiz.html --

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